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Bello Starts-Off Sox Second Half

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CHICAGO – (Staff and Wire Service Report)Taking advantage of a starting pitching staff ravaged by injuries, Boston Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello is quickly starting to establish himself as an ace.

Bello has been rolling since late April and will look to continue dominating opposing lineups when the Red Sox open a three-game series against the host Chicago Cubs on Friday night to begin the second half of the season.

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After seeing left-hander Chris Sale hit the 60-day injured list due to a stress reaction in his shoulder blade, the Red Sox suddenly found themselves in more danger when right-handers Garrett Whitlock (elbow) and Tanner Houck (facial fracture) both landed on the 15-day IL.

But Bello (6-5, 3.04 ERA) has come to the rescue.

Over his last 12 starts, the 24-year-old has gone 6-4 with a 2.35 ERA. In addition to allowing no more than three earned runs in each of those 12 outings, Bello has worked at least five innings on 11 occasions during that stretch.

In his most recent start, Bello held the Texas Rangers’ high-octane offense at bay on July 5, surrendering two runs on eight hits in seven innings. He didn’t issue a walk while striking out three.

“The sinker is my best pitch and it always gets me out of trouble, and (July 5) was no exception,” Bello said through a translator. “(July 5) was a really good day for me, everything was working well, the changeup and sinker, and I was glad to be able to get quick outs after those first couple innings.”

Bello has never faced the Cubs.

Right-hander Kyle Hendricks (3-3, 3.04) will oppose Bello and try to bounce back from a rough outing against the New York Yankees on Sunday.

Hendricks was tagged for four runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings, but he escaped with a no-decision after Chicago scored six unanswered runs en route to a 7-4 win.

“That’s a really nice team win, something I think we needed going into the break,” Cubs manager David Ross said. “These guys have fought really hard. The way we’ve come back here lately has been really impressive.”

Chicago has won four of its last six games after going 1-7 over its previous eight. The Cubs have received a boost from right fielder Seiya Suzuki, who is 9-for-22 (.409) with a home run, two RBIs and three runs in his last six games.

Suzuki would be the hottest hitter heading into Friday’s matchup had it not been for Japanese countryman and Boston left fielder Masataka Yoshida, who is on a historic run.

Yoshida has logged seven consecutive multi-hit games, becoming the first rookie in Red Sox franchise history to accomplish the feat since Johnny Pesky did so in 1942. He is batting .517 (15-for-29) with two homers, five RBIs and seven runs during his streak.

If Hendricks wants to contain Yoshida and the rest of Boston’s lineup, he will need to replicate his only previous performance against the Red Sox. On April 30, 2017, Hendricks limited Boston to two runs on three hits across six innings while walking three and striking out six.

The Red Sox and Cubs last met in July 2022, when Chicago took two games of a three-game set at home. Prior to that, the clubs hadn’t faced each other since 2017.

–Field Level Media

Elias Diaz the Hero for NL All-Stars

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SEATTLE — The streak is mercifully over for the National League.

After nine consecutive All-Star Game defeats to the American League, the NL finally snapped the streak with a come-from-behind 3-2 win at T-Mobile Park on Tuesday night.

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The AL was six outs away from extending its run of dominance to a full decade when Philadelphia’s Nick Castellanos led off the top of the eighth inning with a walk off Felix Bautista. Pinch hitter Elias Diaz then drilled the fifth pitch he saw from Baltimore’s closer 360 feet to left field — a homer that earned him MVP honors.

“When I was running the bases, I was overcome by emotion,” Diaz said through an interpreter after the game.

It was the first lead of the game for the NL, whose bullpen threw three scoreless innings to finish the game. That included San Diego’s Josh Hader holding the lead in the eighth inning and Philadelphia’s Craig Kimbrel surviving a 30-pitch ninth to pick up the save.

After Tampa Bay’s Wander Franco flied out to the warning track in right field, Kimbrel struck out Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who had won the Home Run Derby the night before. However, Kimbrel then issued consecutive two-out walks to Houston’s Kyle Tucker and Seattle’s Julio Rodriguez before striking out Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez.

NL manager Rob Thomson said it was Kimbrel’s final batter of the game no matter the outcome so that he will be available when the Phillies return to action Friday.

“The drama in the ninth, it was great,” Thomson said.

He also said he wasn’t sure that Diaz, the 32-year-old All-Star rookie, would make an appearance Tuesday night. But Diaz said NL teammate Orlando Arcia told him earlier in the game that he would get an at-bat, hit a home run and win MVP honors.

“It feels incredible,” Diaz said when asked about helping to end the NL’s All-Star Game losing streak. “We all talked about it when we got here. I just didn’t realize it would be me, but it feels amazing to contribute.”

AL manager Dusty Baker said Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman told him it was the first home run that Bautista has given up off his split-fingered fastball all season.

San Francisco’s Camilo Doval pitched a scoreless seventh inning, picking up the win courtesy of the winning homer by Colorado’s catcher.

The AL had pulled ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning when Toronto shortstop Bo Bichette hit a sacrifice fly to score Kansas City’s Salvador Perez, who had singled after entering the game in place of designated hitter Shohei Ohtani. Perez was moved to third on a double by Oakland’s Brent Rooker off Cincinnati closer Alexis Diaz.

The AL took the first lead of the game in the second inning, when Tampa Bay’s Yandy Diaz opened the scoring with a 383-foot home run to left field off Pittsburgh’s Mitch Keller.

The NL evened the score when Miami’s Luis Arraez, the league’s batting leader, singled home the Dodgers’ J.D. Martinez, who had opened the top of the fourth inning with a double off Seattle right-hander George Kirby. Kirby, who was named to his first All-Star Game as an alternate, was bailed out of further potential trouble when Arraez was caught stealing on a call that was overturned following a challenge by Baker.

Starting pitchers Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees and Zac Gallen of the Arizona Diamondbacks both pitched scoreless innings, but they accomplished the feats in different manners.

Cole, starting for the AL in his sixth All-Star Game, was taken to the wall twice. The first was by Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr., whose deep shot to right field on the second pitch of the game was snagged on a jump by Texas’ Adolis Garcia.

Not to be outdone one batter later, Tampa Bay’s Randy Arozarena made a leaping catch against the left field wall to rob the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman.

Gallen had a far less eventful time in the bottom of the inning. He retired his first two batters before giving up a single to Arozarena, who was promptly thrown out attempting to steal by Atlanta catcher Sean Murphy.

NOTES: Toronto closer Jordan Romano left with one out in the seventh inning with what Baker said was a stiff lower back. … The AL now owns a 47-44-2 advantage in 93 All-Star Games. … This was the second All-Star Game held at T-Mobile Park, with the venue also playing host to the event in 2001, when it was called Safeco Field.

–Field Level Media

MLB All-Star Game Preview

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SEATTLE – (Staff and Wire Service Report from Field Level Media) – Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson could rely heavily on a division rival’s players when he takes charge of the National League lineup in tonight’s All-Star Game in Seattle.

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Eight Atlanta Braves made the All-Star team, including three starters: catcher Sean Murphy, shortstop Orlando Arcia and outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr., who earned the most All-Star fan votes of any player.

But from his roster of reserves, Thomson can slot in three more Braves — Matt Olson at first base, Ozzie Albies at second and Austin Riley at third — and play with the entire Atlanta infield if he so chooses.

“I guess there could be a chance that we have an all-Braves infield,” Thomson said Monday.

Thomson is managing in the All-Star Game after he took over the Phillies in June 2022 and guided them to the World Series after a disappointing start to the season. The Phillies lost to the Houston Astros, whose skipper, Dusty Baker, will be in charge of the American League on Tuesday.

The Phillies are a respectable 48-41 and in third place in the NL East at the break. However, the division rival Braves are 60-29 with a plus-147 run differential and look primed to make a run at their second World Series title in three years.

“…They have got a great club,” Thomson said. “They put up some really good offensive numbers, and they have all have earned that right to be on this team. So I’m really looking forward to getting to meet them, everybody in the clubhouse really, but I’m really looking forward to get to meet them and be with them and it’s really an honor to be managing this group of talent.”

Baker has a similar option available to him on the AL side.

The Texas Rangers — who hit the break leading Baker’s Astros by two games in the AL West — got a whopping five starters in the All-Star Game. Catcher Jonah Heim, second baseman Marcus Semien, shortstop Corey Seager, third baseman Josh Jung and outfielder Adolis Garcia will all be in the starting lineup on Tuesday.

Baker can’t make it an all-Texas infield, but he could insert Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi so that all six members of the organization are in the game simultaneously.

“Well, I hope so. I haven’t spoken to him yet,” Baker said Monday. “I haven’t spoken to our pitching coach yet who is going to talk to him.

“So, yes, right now we’re planning on getting everybody in there probably on one inning that’s available. But we’ve had to mix and match a little bit on who is available, who pitched Sunday, who pitched Saturday. So, above all, we have to try to take care of other people’s players.”

–Field Level Media

Vlad Jr. Joins Dad as HR Derby Champ

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SEATTLE – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Vladimir Guerrero Jr. eliminated record-setting hometown favorite Julio Rodriguez in the semifinals and then made history of his own Monday night.

The Toronto Blue Jays slugger beat Tampa Bay’s Randy Arozarena 25-23 in the finals to win the 2023 Home Run Derby at T-Mobile Park, completing the first father-son duo to claim Derby titles. Vladimir Sr. won the Derby in 2007 as a member of the Angels.

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“I feel very happy,” Guerrero Jr. said via an interpreter on the field after Arozarena fell two homers short of matching him. “I’m just happy to be in this moment right now.”

Guerrero Jr. nearly accomplished the feat in his first appearance in 2019, losing to Pete Alonso in the finals. Four years later he proved he had learned from that experience, using his timeouts wisely en route to winning all three of his matchups.

After cruising past the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts in the first round and hitting a walk-off homer in bonus time against Rodriguez, it was Guerrero who had to sweat out the final seconds in the finals. The 24-year-old went first as the No. 6 seed and set the mark for Arozarena to beat with 25 home runs.
Arozarena smashed 20 in two minutes and earned 30 seconds of bonus time. However, the 28-year-old was clearly fatigued and with 15 seconds to go it became clear Arozarena would run out of time. Guerrero insisted he wasn’t worried.

“I felt pretty good,” Guerrero said of watching bonus time. “I felt like the pressure was on him.”

Trying to become only the fourth player to win the Derby in his own ballpark, Rodriguez put on a show before running out of gas for the second consecutive year. After clubbing a single-round record 41 homers in the first round, the seventh seed managed only 20 in the semifinals — the third fewest hit in any round of the night.

Guerrero Jr. matched that total during regulation, then walked off the win with his 21st homer with 43 seconds remaining in his bonus time.

“It feels like your mind is there, but your body is not. That’s the best way to explain it,” Rodriguez said of being tired in the second round.

Meanwhile, saving time proved beneficial for Guerrero, who faced a quick turnaround to the finals.

After opening the event with 24 homers, good for only fourth most in the first round, Arozarena put on a display by smashing 35 in the semifinals. He easily dispatched top-seeded Luis Robert Jr., with the Chicago White Sox star fading after a decent start to finish with 22 long balls.

Arozarena kicked off the event by eliminating Texas’ fourth seed Adolis Garcia, but the competition picked up in earnest when Adley Rutschman stepped to the plate.

Baltimore’s second-year star catcher smashed 21 home runs from the left side in regulation. The only non-right-handed hitter in the contest, Rutschman brought cheers from the crowd when he switched to the right side for his 60 seconds of bonus time. The former Oregon State star then clubbed six more for a total of 27.

“It was kind of on the fly, we were debating about whether to do it,” the eighth seed said.

However, the mark didn’t last long, with Robert equaling it during regulation and walking off after hitting his 28th homer during his bonus time.

Next up, Guerrero Jr. easily eliminated the third-seeded Betts, with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ star managing only 11 homers to the Toronto slugger’s 26.

The momentary lull from Betts’ session was quickly followed by fireworks.

Rodriguez blasted 32 home runs in regulation — four more than anyone else in the first round managed including bonus time. Needing eight in 60 seconds to set the single-round Derby record, Rodriguez smashed nine more for a total of 41, bringing a roar with each one from the sellout crowd of 46,952.

“I wanted to live in the moment. Kind of be able to give a show to the Mariners fans and just kind of give it my all,” he said. “It was electric. Just like the fact that we’re out here and the whole crowd was into it and they were supporting me, all that. I feel like it meant the world for me, I really enjoyed it and I hope they enjoyed it, too.”

That performance didn’t guarantee a spot in the next round with two-time Derby champion Alonso the final batter of the first round. Attempting to join Seattle legend Ken Griffey Jr. as the only three-time champions, Alonso started strong before fading and finishing with 21 homers — falling to Rodriguez for the second consecutive year.

Despite failing to get out of the first round, Alonso did add to his all-time Derby home run lead — the Mets’ slugger now has 195 in four career appearances. Rodriguez has 142 in five combined rounds through his first two appearances.

Guerrero Jr., who does not have a single home run in 10 career games at T-Mobile Park, hit a combined 72 Monday night to up his career total to 163.

2023 HOME RUN DERBY RESULTS
FIRST ROUND
#5 Randy Arozarena (24)
#4 Adolis Garcia (17)

#8 Adley Rutschman (27)
#1 Luis Robert Jr. (28)

#6 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (26)
#3 Mookie Betts (11)

#7 Julio Rodriguez (41)
#2 Pete Alonso (21)

SEMIFINALS
#5 Randy Arozarena (35)
#1 Luis Robert Jr. (22)

#6 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (21)
#7 Julio Rodriguez (20)

FINALS
#5 Randy Arozarena (23)
#6 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (25)

LSU Players Top MLB Draft

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SEATTLE – (Staff Reports from Official News Release) – Less than two weeks after helping LSU win the College World Series, right-hander Paul Skenes and outfielder Dylan Crews were not done making history.

Skenes was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the No. 1 overall pick and the Washington Nationals followed by taking Crews at No. 2 at the 2023 MLB Draft in Seattle on Sunday night. It marked the first time in MLB draft history that a pair of teammates were taken with the top two picks.

Skenes is the sixth No. 1 draft selection in Pirates franchise history, joining third baseman Jeff King (1986), catcher Henry Davis (2021) and right-handers Kris Benson (1996), Bryan Bullington (2002) and Gerrit Cole (2011).

“It’s cool,” Skenes told ESPN, referring to his feelings about being the top pick. “But I think the biggest part is that my college career is over now (and) I get to keep playing baseball and hopefully do it for a long time.

“So I’m just super grateful for that.”

After spending the first two seasons of his collegiate career at Air Force, Skenes shined during his time with the Tigers, going 12-2 with a 1.69 ERA in 19 starts in 2023. He was named National Player of the Year and National Pitcher of the Year before helping LSU prevail at the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., where he earned CWS Most Outstanding Player honors.

In addition to his time with the Tigers and Falcons, Skenes also played for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League in the summer of 2021.

Crews hit .380 with 58 homers and 184 RBIs across three seasons with the Tigers. He put up video-game numbers in 2023, recording the third-best batting average in the nation (.426) while ripping 18 home runs and racking up 70 RBIs.

In addition to being named Southeastern Conference Player of the Year this past season, Crews won the Golden Spikes Award as the top amateur baseball player in the country.

Red Sox Draft Teel, Zanetello

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Red Sox selected catcher Kyle Teel out of the University of Virginia with their first-round pick (14th overall) in the 2023 MLB First-Year Player Draft. The club also selected shortstop Nazzan Zanetello out of Christian Brothers College High School (MO) in the second round (50th overall). Red Sox Director of Amateur Scouting Devin Pearson made the announcement.

Teel, 21, was ranked among the top 10 prospects available in this year’s draft by MLB.com (No. 7) and Baseball America (No. 10). Named the 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year and a consensus First Team All-American, the left-handed hitter batted .407 (105-for-258) with a 1.130 OPS, 25 doubles, 13 home runs, and 69 RBI while starting as the catcher in all 65 of the Cavaliers’ games as a junior this season. He threw out 15 of 24 runners attempting to steal while managing Virginia’s pitching staff to the fourth-lowest ERA in Division 1 (3.81), earning honors as the Buster Posey Collegiate Catcher of the Year and Top NCAA Male Baseball Catcher as part of the Johnny Bench Awards.

The New Jersey native is a graduate of Mahwah High School (NJ), where he was named the 2020 New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year and the No. 1 overall player in the state according to Perfect Game. He played eight games for the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League in 2022 and was selected to play on the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team in both 2021 and 2022. His brother, Aidan, played alongside him on the University of Virginia baseball team. Their father, Garett, was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 12thround of the 1989 MLB Draft (316th overall) and spent five years with the organization as a player and catching coach.

Zanetello, 18, was a 2023 First Team All-State selection in Missouri, batting .421 (45-for-107) with nine doubles, three triples, nine home runs, 33 RBI, and 21 stolen bases in 38 games during his senior season. In 2022, the right-handed hitter was a Perfect Game All-American and participated in their National Showcase, while also being named MVP of the Breakthrough Series and playing for Team USA in an 18-and-under World Cup qualifying tournament, during which he led the team in hitting (.429). The Missouri native had committed to play for the University of Arkansas.

Less than two weeks after helping LSU win the College World Series, right-hander Paul Skenes and outfielder Dylan Crews were not done making history. Skenes was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the No. 1 overall pick and the Washington Nationals followed by taking Crews at No. 2 at the 2023 MLB Draft in Seattle on Sunday night. It marked the first time in MLB draft history that a pair of teammates were taken with the top two picks.

Skenes is the sixth No. 1 draft selection in Pirates franchise history, joining third baseman Jeff King (1986), catcher Henry Davis (2021) and right-handers Kris Benson (1996), Bryan Bullington (2002) and Gerrit Cole (2011).

“It’s cool,” Skenes told ESPN, referring to his feelings about being the top pick. “But I think the biggest part is that my college career is over now (and) I get to keep playing baseball and hopefully do it for a long time.

“So I’m just super grateful for that.”

After spending the first two seasons of his collegiate career at Air Force, Skenes shined during his time with the Tigers, going 12-2 with a 1.69 ERA in 19 starts in 2023. He was named National Player of the Year and National Pitcher of the Year before helping LSU prevail at the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., where he earned CWS Most Outstanding Player honors.

In addition to his time with the Tigers and Falcons, Skenes also played for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League in the summer of 2021.

Crews hit .380 with 58 homers and 184 RBIs across three seasons with the Tigers. He put up video-game numbers in 2023, recording the third-best batting average in the nation (.426) while ripping 18 home runs and racking up 70 RBIs.

In addition to being named Southeastern Conference Player of the Year this past season, Crews won the Golden Spikes Award as the top amateur baseball player in the country.

Red Sox Streak Into MLB Break

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BOSTON –  (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Masataka Yoshida went 2-for-4 with a go-ahead home run in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Boston Red Sox rallied to sweep the visiting Oakland Athletics with a 4-3 win on Sunday afternoon.

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After dropping the first two games of the series, Oakland scored first and held a 3-1 lead through six innings.

Boston tied the game on Adam Duvall‘s solo homer and Christian Arroyo’s RBI double in the sixth inning before Yoshida’s solo shot into the Green Monster seats two innings later, extending its winning streak to five games entering the All-Star break.

Duvall finished with a pair of RBIs, while Yoshida also scored two runs.

Chris Martin (3-1) earned the win.

Brent Rooker went 3-for-3 with a solo homer for Oakland, which held an 11-6 advantage in the hit column but committed three errors in the field. Jace Peterson and Manny Pina both had two hits.

Ken Waldichuk (2-6) allowed the winning run over 1 1/3 innings after Paul Blackburn, who had been scheduled to start Saturday before an illness scratch, pitched in relief of starter JP Sears.

The A’s got out to a first-inning lead as Ryan Noda hit a one-out double before advancing on a wild pitch and scoring on Red Sox catcher Jorge Alfaro’s subsequent throwing error.

Red Sox opener Tayler Scott got out of the first inning, allowing just the one unearned run.

Rob Refsnyder drew a leadoff walk and scored a tying run on Duvall’s sacrifice fly in the Boston half of the opening frame.

Oakland took the lead when Noda drew a bases-loaded, two-out walk against Boston reliever Chris Murphy in the second. Murphy worked three innings in relief of Scott, striking out four, walking four and yielding two hits.

Rooker added to the A’s lead with a one-out solo shot to left in the fifth.

–Field Level Media

As MLB Breaks, It’s All Hot-Sox

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) –  The Boston Red Sox have clicked on all cylinders over their first two games against the Oakland Athletics this weekend. Entering today’s series and unofficial first-half finale, Boston has won four straight games and seven out of eight, while scoring 27 runs in just the last three games.

The Red Sox have put together seven consecutive games with at least 10 hits after pounding out 15 in Saturday’s 10-3 triumph.

Jarren Duran went 3-for-5 with a double, home run, three RBIs and three runs to lead the way. It was his sixth three-hit game of the season and extended his hitting streak to five games.

“Man, he’s on fire,” James Paxton, Saturday’s starting pitcher for the Red Sox, said of Duran. “It’s fun to watch. You know, he’s such an athletic guy, and so many tools on the field. He’s an exciting player, and I’m glad he’s on our team.”

Boston’s recent success has hardly been a one-man effort. Justin Turner has also been on a hot streak with at least one RBI in eight straight games.

Nonetheless, Red Sox manager Alex Cora knows how crucial Duran’s surge has been.

“We know about Alex (Verdugo). We know about (Masataka) Yoshida. We know about the power of (Adam) Duvall,” Cora said. “But when we talk about Jarren, give credit to the front office. They stuck with the kid, and we have found ways to play him. He’s been very dynamic.”

Cora is expected to use Tayler Scott (0-0, 7.71 ERA) as an opener less than a week after his Red Sox debut. He was acquired from the Dodgers in a trade late last month. While with the Seattle Mariners in 2019, Scott made one relief appearance against the Athletics, surrendering two unearned runs over two innings.

Left-hander JP Sears (1-6, 4.09) is scheduled to make his team-leading 18th start for the Athletics, making him their only pitcher to remain in the rotation all season.

“One of the goals was just to be available every fifth day — give my team 30 starts by the end of the year,” Sears said. “Hopefully, I can just keep it up. Stay on top of my routine and stay healthy so we can be there by the end of the year.”

Sears has allowed two or fewer runs in six of his last eight starts, including Tuesday in Detroit. He worked 7 1/3 shutout innings and allowed just five hits while striking out four in Oakland’s 1-0 win. It was the longest start of his career in the majors.

“Probably the best start of the year for us by a starter,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said, calling that outing “the definition of how to pitch. He used his weapons. Kept the ball out of the middle of the plate.”

In his first career start against Boston, Sears will look to break the A’s out of a 6-16 drought. They allowed nine extra-base hits Saturday and have won just four road series all season.

Brent Rooker and Manny Pina homered Saturday against Paxton.

–Field Level Media

Sox Reinstate Rodriguez, Drop Garza

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BOSTON – Before Saturday’s game, the Red Sox reinstated left-handed pitcher Joely Rodriguez from the 15-Day Injured List. To make room for Rodriguez on the active Major League roster, the club optioned right-handed pitcher Justin Garza to Triple-A Worcester following Friday night’s game against the Oakland Athletics. Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom made the announcement.

Rodriguez, 31, was placed on the Injured List on June 4 due to left shoulder inflammation. The left-handed made five rehab appearances with Worcester (three games) and Double-A Portland (two), posting a 4.15 ERA (2 ER/4.1 IP) with six strikeouts. Signed by Boston as a free agent on November 23, 2022, Rodriguez has allowed eight runs in 4.0 innings pitched over five outings with the Red Sox this season, and owns a 4.92 ERA (82 ER/150.0 IP) in 162 career games with the Philadelphia Phillies (2016-17), Texas Rangers (2020-21), New York Yankees (2021), New York Mets (2022), and Red Sox (2023).

Garza, 29, has pitched in 16 games (one start) for the Red Sox this season, posting a 6.11 ERA (12 ER/17.2 IP). The right-hander also owns a 3.38 ERA (2 ER/5.1 IP) in four appearances for Worcester. Claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels on April 28, Garza has pitched to a 5.24 ERA (27 ER/46.1 IP) in 37 career Major League games (one start) with the Cleveland Guardians (2021) and Red Sox (2023).

Red Sox Defeat Lowly A’s

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BOSTON – A five-run second inning gave the surging Red Sox all the offense they needed en route to a 7-3 win over the visiting Oakland Athletics on Friday night.

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Jarren Duran, Justin Turner and Alex Verdugo all went 2-for-4 with an RBI to lead Boston, while recently activated SS Yu Chang drove in two runs.

Boston’s Nick Pivetta (5-5) allowed two earned runs in five innings to earn the win following a strong starting effort of opener Brennan Bernardino.

Seth Brown homered and scored twice for Oakland in the losing effort.

The Red Sox offense rallied for its second big inning in as many nights, scoring five runs while batting around in the bottom of the second.

After Verdugo and Enrique Hernandez singled and Triston Casas walked to load the bases, A’s opener Sam Long (0-1) was pulled in favor of Luis Medina, who allowed three straight one-out singles that produced the opening runs.

Chang hit a ground ball single into center field to bring in the first two runs. After Medina uncorked a wild pitch, Duran and Turner laced back-to-back base hits to increase the Boston lead to 4-0. Rafael Devers finished the scoring in the inning with an RBI fielder’s choice.

Oakland got on the board with Tony Kemp’s two-out single in the fifth. Kemp was able to advance on a subsequent throwing error by Devers, but Pivetta got out of the jam with a popup.

Brown added to the Oakland offense with a one-out homer to right-center following Shea Langeliers’ double in the seventh