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MLB Trade Deadline: Sox Make Moves

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BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox traded catcher and team mainstay Christian Vázquez to the Houston Astros in exchange for minor league infielder/outfielder Enmanuel Valdez and minor league outfielder Wilyer Abreu. The move coincided with the Sox activating pitcher Rich Hill and recalling catcher Ronaldo Hernandez from Triple-A Worcester.

Vázquez, 31, has hit .262 (610-for-2,329) with 54 home runs in 698 Major League games, all with the Red Sox. Selected by Boston in the ninth round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, he ranks fifth in franchise history with 651 games at catcher. Vázquez caught the final pitch of the 2018 World Series, as the Red Sox went 9-1 in his 10 starts during their Postseason run. In the 2021 American League Division Series, he ended Game 3 against the Tampa Bay Rays with a 13th-inning home run, the latest walk-off homer in Boston’s Postseason history. Since the start of 2019, Vázquez leads the majors in games caught (371).

Valdez, 23, is ranked by Baseball America as the Astros’ No. 12 prospect. The left-handed hitter has split the 2022 season between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land, batting .327 (107-for-327) in 82 games with a 1.016 OPS, 26 doubles, one triple, 21 home runs, 77 RBI, and 66 runs scored. This season, he has made 36 starts at second base, 17 at third base, 14 in left field, and eight at designated hitter. Born in the Dominican Republic, Valdez was signed by the Astros as an international free agent in July 2015. He is one of only four minor leaguers in 2022 with at least a .300 batting average, .400 on-base percentage, and 20 home runs.

Abreu, 23, is ranked by Baseball America as the Astros’ No. 21 prospect. The left-handed hitter has spent the entire 2022 season with Corpus Christi, playing in 89 games and batting .249 (82-for-329) with 24 doubles, 15 home runs, 54 RBI, 81 runs scored, 78 walks, a .399 on-base percentage, an .858 OPS, and 23 stolen bases in 24 attempts. He has made 44 starts in center field this season, as well as 22 in left field, 17 in right field, and five at designated hitter. Among all minor leaguers, Abreu ranks third in walks and is tied for third in runs scored. Born in Venezuela, he signed with the Astros as an international free agent in July 2017.

Hernandez, 24, is batting .279 (81-for-290) with 23 doubles, 10 home runs, and 45 RBI in 74 games this season, including .326 (56-for-172) with an .876 OPS, 23 extra-base hits, and 29 RBI in 43 games beginning June 4. He has made 48 starts at catcher this season, throwing out 10 of 46 attempted base stealers (21.7%). Hernandez was recalled on April 19 but did not appear in that night’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays before being optioned to Worcester the following day. His first appearance will be his Major League debut.

Hill, 42, was placed on the 15-Day Injured List on July 2 with a left knee sprain. The left-hander made one rehab start, allowing one run over 3.0 innings on July 28 for Double-A Portland at Hartford. Hill is 4-4 with a 4.20 ERA (33 ER/70.2 IP) in 15 starts for Boston this season, allowing three earned runs or fewer in 12 of his outings.

On Monday, the Red Sox acquired outfielder Tommy Pham from the Cincinnati Reds, in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

Pham, 34, is batting .238 (81-for-340) with 11 home runs and 39 RBI in 91 games for the Reds this season, making 82 starts in left field. The right-handed hitter ranks third among Major League left fielders with seven outfield assists. Against left-handed pitching this season, Pham has hit .290 (27-for-93) with an .833 OPS, four doubles, and four home runs.

Selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 16th round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft out of Durango High School (NV), Pham has hit .261 (717-for-2,743) with 108 home runs and 339 RBI in 823 games for the Cardinals (2014-18), Tampa Bay Rays (2018-19), San Diego Padres (2020-21), and Reds (2022). He has played in 15 Postseason games for the Cardinals (2015), Rays (2019), and Padres (2020), hitting .352 (19-for-

Red Sox Sticks Can’t Get It Done

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FENWAY – Milwaukee’s OF Christian Yelich (2-for-4, run scored, 2B, RBI, BB) hit a RBI single in the 7th inning to give Milwaukee a 2-1 lead that they never relinquished as the Boston Red Sox lost their eighth of the last 10 games and 12th of their last 15 games, in a 4-1 defeat to the Brewers Friday night at Fenway Park.

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Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff (6.1 IP, four hits, two BB, nine strikeouts) retired 17 of his first 19 batters faced before giving up back-to-back doubles to tie the game at 1-1 in the 6th inning. Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez and OF Alex Verduga strung the two extra base hits together. Woodruff is 4-0 with a 2.06 ERA in six starts since coming off the MLB injured list on June 28. He hasn’t allowed an opponents’ home run in his last 36 innings.

The Brewers’ victory marked their first win at Fenway Park since April 6, 2014 as the team is now 6-1 since the MLB All-Star break and winners of three in a row.

Milwaukee reliever Josh Hader recorded his 29th save of the year, the most in the majors heading into Saturday’s afternoon game at Fenway.

 

 

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | July 24

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While We’re Young (Ideas) Looks at the Baseball Hall of Fame, Clemente and Some Notes

Roberto Clemente (photo by Getty Images)

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – On the National Baseball Hall of Fame weekend in Cooperstown, NY, David Ortiz will be rightfully enshrined along with honorees Bud Fowler, Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Minnie Miñoso, Tony Oliva, and Buck O’Neil. Earlier in the week, on the 100th birthday of Mrs. Jackie Robinson (Rachel Isum), Major League Baseball played its annual All-Star Game in Los Angeles with a grand salute to Rachel and Jackie, Dodgers Blue through and through. It was terrific.

But I’ve got a place in my heart and thoughts for three of the best position players I’ve ever seen play and they are: Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente (pictured above).

What an amazing honor for the seven gentlemen being inducted to the Hall this weekend to have their names alongside the greatest players the game has ever seen. From Honus Wagner and Ty Cobb to Tom Seaver and Derek Jeter, the names of the greatest ballplayers will live on forever.

In no way am I suggesting Baseball do anything differently to celebrate the life and accomplishments of Robinson, but as a true fan and admirer ofRoberto Clemente, I’d like to see the Office of the Commissioner honor the great No. 21 with a day of service every December 31 or January 1st and once during the MLB summer season to recognize the charity work Clemente accomplished and the code he lived by each and every day of his short 38 years on earth.

Clemente’s tragic death is one of the saddest stories in the history of baseball, or in our lifetimes, really. In December of the off-season of 1972, Managua, the capital city of Nicaragua, experienced a massive earthquake, Clemente immediately went to work arranging emergency relief flights for supplies and medical evacuations. He soon learned, however, that the aid packages on the first three flights had been diverted by corrupt officials of government and they never reaching victims of the quake.

Clemente, himself, decided to accompany the next relief flight, hoping that his presence would ensure that the aid would be delivered to the survivors. The airplane he chartered for a New Year’s Eve ‘72 /‘73 flight, a Douglas DC-7 cargo plane, had a history of mechanical problems and was short the proper flight personnel, missing both a flight engineer and co-pilot. The plane was also overloaded by 4,200 pounds and the weight caused it to crash into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Isla Verde, Puerto Rico immediately after takeoff on December 31, 1972. The cause was due to engine failure.

A few days after the crash, the body of the pilot and part of the fuselage of the plane were found. An empty flight case apparently belonging to Clemente was the only personal item recovered from the plane. Clemente’s teammate and close friend in catcher Manny Sanguillén was the only member of the Pittsburgh Pirates not to attend the memorial service. The Pirates catcher chose instead to dive into the waters where Clemente’s plane had crashed in an effort to find his teammate. The bodies of Clemente and three others who were also on the four-engine plane were never recovered.

Clemente was voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in a special ceremony in 1973, the Hall waiving the mandatory waiting period of five years. In 1973, the Commissioner’s Achievement Award was re-named the Roberto Clemente Award and it is presented annually to a player, team or group who “best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team,” as voted on by baseball fans and members of the media.

Each MLB team nominates a player for consideration. Last season, Nelson Cruz was honored by Baseball and presented with the award during the Postseason.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: First, some business: Fitness company Whoop Inc. is the latest Massachusetts-based technology play to lay-off workers with the uncertainty of the economy stuck with increasing pandemic key indicators. The company, valued at $1 billion in October 2020, confirmed to the Boston Business Journal on Friday it “reduced the size of its corporate team by 15% and reorganized multiple departments. Impacted employees worked across all departments and all levels.” … Back in late 2020, Whoophoped to increase its workforce to 700+ from 330 in place at the time. Sixty percent of the staff was based in Boston, near Fenway Park.

ORIGINAL TEE: There will be a Noon ET shotgun start today as The Original Tee celebrity golf tournament returns at Crystal Springs Resort and Wild Turkey Golf Club, in Hamburg, New Jersey. Original Tee is a culture club that amplifies inclusion in golf by preserving the history of the game’s diverse Black pioneers and celebrating other iconic golf enthusiasts who are ambassadors of excellence. In honor of its 23rd year, OTGC will present Miami Heat champion, USA Basketball Olympic Gold Medalist, FIBA World Champion, NBA Legend, philanthropist, and golf enthusiast Alonzo Mourning with its prestigious True Original Award.

DUKE OF DIMWIT: The move is to “let it go,” but since the great Jerry Westchose to volley-in on the dimwitted comments of J.J. Redick from this past April, it’s cannon fodder once more. Let’s hit the rewind button to note that Redick was comparing the players from one NBA era to another, an impossible concept, to say the least. Redick was noting that the talented players of NBA yesteryear, namely Hall of Famer and six-time NBA champion Bob Cousy of the Boston Celtics, were being guarded by ‘fireman and plumbers’ interjecting that the low paid NBA pioneers of the 1950s and 1960s had to work ‘real jobs’ in the off season to support their families. Redick conveniently overlooked the fact that the likes of Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, nevermind West, John Havlicek, Jerry Sloan, Walt Frazierand dozens of other tough-nosed defenders, were among the greatest players the sport of basketball has ever seen.

Now, Cousy and Bill Sharman might’ve struggled to advance the ball past Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in their prime, but so did John Stockton and Jeff Hornacek for arguments sake.

Regardless, West – while doing an interview Friday – took exception and defended Cousy saying, “I know J.J. just a little bit, he’s a very smart kid and everything, but tell me what his career looked like?” West said on Sirius XM NBA Radio.

“What did he do that determined games? He averaged 12 points a game in the league. Somewhere along the way, numbers count. J.J. certainly wasn’t going to guard the elite players. So you can nitpick anyone.

“The only reason I’m talking about him is because he was not an elite player, but he was a very good player, but he had a place on the team because of the ability to shoot the ball.

“Winning is all that mattered, that’s what drove me,” added West. “I subtly got better every year. We didn’t have the facilities to get better. We had to work in the summers to support our family.

“JJ should be very thankful that he’s made as much money as he’s made, and (to say that about) Bob Cousy, whom I played against a couple of years, not very long — I just think it’s disrespectful.”

To wrap this in a bow, a simple question. Why is it that the baseball players of today highly respect the abilities of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Henry Aaron, Willie Mays, and Roberto Clemente – along with many of the great pitchers of yesteryear like Bob Gibson, Sandy Koufax or Tom Seaver, yet the basketball players – like Redick – can’t imagine that the likes of Russell, Chamberlain, Baylor or West would dominate in the NBA of 2022 much the way they did in the NBA of 1965 or 70?

All-Star Break Turns to Sox Break Down

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By TERRY LYONS

FENWAY – The score of 28-3 has significant meaning to New England sports fans as it was the score the New England Patriots trailed by when they came back to win 34-28 over the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI held in Houston in 2017. As of Friday night at Fenway Park, the new score to reckon with for all Boston Red Sox fans is 28-5.

Twenty-eight to five! In baseball!

Universal sign of distress

You have to look back in the record book a full 99 years to see that Friday night’s 28-5 Toronto Blue Jays shellacking of the Red Sox which set a franchise record for most runs allowed in a single game. The previous record of 27 runs came on July 7, 1923 in the first game of a twin bill scheduled that woeful summer day in Cleveland.

Aside from the record-setting embarrassment of the Sox in front of a sold-out but stoic Fenway, the loss marked Boston’s third consecutive game in the “L” column. They are (1-7) over their last eight games and (3-11) over their last 14 games, dropping Boston to fourth place in the competitive American League East and just one game in that important and previously mentioned “L” column ahead of the surging Baltimore Orioles.

On the flip side of the ledger, the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian football League are envious of the Blue Jays who set franchise records in both runs scored (28) and hits (29) in a single baseball game.The Blue Jays are only the sixth team in MLB history to score 28+ runs in a single game with the most recent being the Atlanta Braves scoring 29 against the Miami Marlins on September 9, 2020.

Other team records were plentiful

  • Toronto Became the first team to have all nine starters record multiple hits and runs scored
  • The Jays had multiple players record six or more RBI in a game for the 1st time in franchise history (Tapia and Jansen)
  • Toronto scored 11 runs in the top of the 5th inning, their most runs in one inning since 9/11/21 at BAL-G2 (7th inning, also 11 runs)
  • 12 straight Jays’ batters reached base via hit or walk in the 5th inning, all with 2 outs (10 H, 2 BB)
  • Toronto tied the major league record for runs scored in a game’s first 5 innings (25, also CHC on 8/25/1922 vs. PHI).

On the player side:

  • OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. went 6-for-7, scoring three runs, hitting a double, and recording five RBI which tied the Blue Jays’ franchise record for hits, joining Frank Catalanotto on 5/1/04 at CWS-G2.
  • OF Ramiel Tapia went 3-for-7, scoring twice, hit a 2B, and had six RBI, four resulting from an inside-the-park grand slam in the third inning to extend the Toronto lead to 10-0. He set his career high in RBI.
  • Catcher Danny Jansen recorded his fourth career multi-HR game (previous: 5/24 at STL) and tied a single-game franchise record for RBI by a catcher (6 RBI – four times with the previous: J.P. Arencibia 5/18/12 vs. NYM).
  • Pitcher Kevin Gausman went 5.0 IP, with seven hits allowed, three runs, 10 strike-outs) tied a season high in strikeouts
  • Gausman has struck out 28 batters in his three starts against Boston this year (20.0 IP).

“It was tough to be in the dugout to be honest with you,” said Boston Manager Alex Cora to the Boston Globe. “And, they know that it’s not a lack of preparation. It’s not a lack of effort, because we keep working on our stuff and we keep going through the process the right way. I love to say that this happens, but it doesn’t happen often, you know, and we just got to turn the page.”

The page is turned and the book re-opened at 4:10pm Saturday afternoon. Same two teams.

They Gave Me a Break, Now Play Ball

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MLB All-Star Break is Over; It’s Time to Play Ball

BOSTON – The hometown Boston Red Sox (48-45) will play a 10-game, 10-day homestead to begin the second half of their MLB season and they do so with an (11-6) record over their last 17 games at Fenway Park. The 10-game stretch will be followed by another seven straight games (three at Houston and four at Kansas City), making Boston’s next day off August 8th.

It’s safe to say, that between July 22 and August 8, the Red Sox season will set sail, and they’ll do so – most likely – without Chris Sale, who left the game last Sunday at New York with a fractured left fifth (pinky) finger. The Sox ace was in the very first inning of his Major League Baseball return and he fell victim to an Aaron Hicks line drive that came back at the pitcher clocking 106.7 mph off his pitching hand. Sale was placed on the 15-day IL list today, retroactive to July 19th.

As the post MLB All-Star break begins, the Red Sox will throw right-hand pitchers Nathan Eovaldi and Kutter Crawford in the first two games against the Toronto Blue Jays, but then the Sunday matinee is marked with the same pitcher the Sox tossed in the last week before the break – a guy named TBD.

Sale and Eovaldi’s absence contributed to the problem as Boston was forced to start pitcher-after-pitcher straight from Triple A Worcester. From May 28 to June 8, Eovaldi enjoyed a three-game win streak, while in two of his other recent games, the Red Sox registered a “win.” Eovaldi’s Friday night start will be his second after missing 33 games. (June 8-July 15).

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The All-Star break was just what the Red Sox needed to assemble something that might pass for a major league starting rotation. With Sale a goner, James Paxton no where to be seen, Michael Wacha out with right shoulder inflammation and Rich Hill out with a left knee sprain, that is likely to be:

  • Nathan Eovaldi
  • Kutter Crawford
  • Nick Pivetta
  • Garrett Whitlock
  • Possibly Austin Davis or Josh Winckowski (out with COVID+ as of July 14).

The Sox experimented by promoting RHP Brayan Bello (recalled from Worcester today) and RHP Connor Seabold (10-day IL) with a right forearm extensor strain). Too say the least, it wasn’t pretty.

Boston begins its second half 15.5 games behind American League East leader New York (64-30), the best team in baseball. But after losing six of their last seven games before the break, Boston fell to 4th place in the AL East, trailing the Yankees, Tampa Bay and their opponents this weekend, Toronto (50-43).

During the recent span, the Seattle Mariners are on a 14-game winning streak and have moved into Wild Card slot No. 2, at (51-42). That places Boston two games behind in the American League Wild Card race, bunched up with those pesky Cleveland Guardians, the surging Baltimore Orioles and the Chicago White Sox.

As of this beautiful, but warm, Friday night at Fenway, it’s time to Play Ball.

Can anyone pitch?

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | July 17

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TL’s While We’re Young (Ideas) With Mid-Summer Thoughts; Classic, Open and Otherwise

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – The annual “Mid-Summer Classic” marks the halfway point of the Major League Baseball season as much as it does the middle of summer in North America. After the MLB All-Star Break, baseball gets pretty serious, as does the stretch run for the PGA Tour, as The Open Championship and the (why do they even bother) Barracuda Championship mark a short four weeks remaining in the FedEx Cup regular season.

First, a quick look at Baseball:

Raise your hand if you predicted two of the three hottest teams in Baseball at the break would be the Seattle Mariners (10-0 over last ten and 13 in a row overall) and the Baltimore Orioles (9-1 over last ten). Those two teams, along with the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers (9-1 over last ten, as of Saturday morning) are the talk of baseball.

Seattle has won 13 in a row and is +1 game up in wild card standings and in position, along with Tampa Bay for postseason play. Baltimore is only 2.5 games out from a Wild Card place, trailing Tampa Bay, Seattle, Boston and Toronto, as well as a half-game behind Cleveland on the outside, looking in.

Seattle’s baker’s dozen in the W column includes victories at Texas, four in a row over Toronto, two at San Diego, and two out of three against the Orioles to start the Mariners’ streak.

Center fielder Julio Rodriguez has been leading the way with three of his 16 home runs, including a Grand Slam on Friday night, pacing the ball club along with a rejuvenated Eugenio Suarez , each with 50 RBI. First baseman Ty France is back from injury while left fielder Jesse Winker is swinging the bat again. Both Winker and Suarez were sent to Seattle from Cincinnati in a March 14, 2022 multi-player trade.

As far as Baltimore is concerned, the O’s 10-game winning streak came to an end on Friday night in a 5-4 loss at Tampa. Previously, they’d beaten the Cubs twice in Chicago, four against the LA Angels and three games against Texas. Since Fathers day, the Orioles are 16-7.

Outfielder Anthony Santander and first baseman Ryan Mountcastle are leading the way, while center fielder Cedric Mullins leads the club in hits. Tyler Wells and Jordan Lyles have been pleasant surprises on the pitching staff which lost ace John Means to Tommy John surgery early this season.

Although Seattle and Baltimore are simply darlings of baseball, there is no denying that the teams to beat are the LA Dodgers and New York Mets in the National League and the New York Yankees and Houston Astros in the American League. Division-leaders Milwaukee (NL-Central) and Minnesota (AL-Central) can not be ignored.

And on the links:

With The Open Championship heading into its final round, a quick look at the game of golf must address the impact of the new LIV Golf Invitational Series entity which grabbed dozens of popular PGA Tour players from mothership of all worldwide professional golf circuits. Some gold industry bigshots, including Royal & Ancient (R&A) CEO Martin Slumbers, are saying the LIV has “harmed the perception” of golf.

The United States Dept. of Justice is looking into the PGA Tour’s handling of member players and whether the Tour engaged in anti-competitive behavior during its ongoing battle with the LIV, the circuit being financed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The PGA Tour suspended players who jumped to the LIV.

Lastly, even basketball Hall of Famer and Turner Sports’ Inside the NBA studio commentator Charles Barkley is getting in on the act. After he participated in last week’s Celebrity Golf tournament, Barkley has been quotes as saying, “It’s nothing that’s imminent. I actually don’t know everything they want from me, or what they technically want me to do, but you’ve got to always look at every opportunity that’s available,” Barkley said. “So the answer to your question is, 100 percent yes, I’m going to meet with LIV.”

The PGA Tour has been countering with the announcement of bigger purses, a better schedule and more lenient qualification of young players turning professional. On this weekend, when The Open grabs most attention, shouldn’t the Tour stage a “once a year” Korn Ferry Tour midseason tournament where the winners from the previous full year play for a five-year PGA Tour card, winner take all?

One thing is for sure, the PGA Tour leadership must rethink their sport, their schedule, their approach and innovate, far more than just its great TV coverage, the PGA Tour Live cash cow on ESPN+ and ShotLink.

In hindsight, the Battle of the Bogey-boys seems reminiscent of the 1967-76 pro basketball landscape which pitted the mighty NBA against the up & coming ABA, complete with a red, white and blue basketball and a three-point field goal for long, terrible 26+ foot shots that have become the rage and analytic flavor of the day for the NBA in 2022.

Maybe the LIV should make its players hit red, while and blue golf balls and chip-ins from 100 yards or more would subtract a stroke or reward a monetary bonus of say, $1 million of that Green as Grass Saudi cash?

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TIGER: By shooting a cringe-worthy 78-75 (153), Tiger Woods missed the cut at The Open Championship and bid farewell to the Old Course at St. Andrews which next hosts the British Open in 2026, at the earliest. Woods’ performance again reminded sports fans of other players who could no longer compete at the ultra-high level they set during the prime years of their careers. … A while back, when Tom Brady switched teams and NFL jerseys from New England to Tampa Bay, we listed a few of the players who looked so strange in another team’s uniform. That list also coincides with this list, of players who stayed on a bit too long:

  1. Tiger Woods at The Open
  2. NY Jets all-time great Joe Namath with the Los Angeles Rams
  3. Giants all-time great Willie Mays with the New York Mets
  4. Bruins all-time great Bobby Orr with the Chicago Blackhawks
  5. Orlando/LA/Miami’s Shaquille O’Neal with Phoenix, Cleveland and Boston
  6. NYK’s Walt “Clyde” Frazier with the Cleveland Cavaliers
  7. Colts all-time great Johnny Unitas with the San Diego Chargers
  8. NYK’s Patrick Ewing with the Seattle SuperSonics
  9. Green Bay’s Brett Favre with the New York Jets
  10. Cowboys great Emmitt Smith with the Arizona Cardinals

Sometimes, You Just Need a Win

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BOSTON – On Saturday night, the Boston Red Sox needed a win more than Boston Harbour needed a Wynn. The Red Sox and manager Alex Cora needed a win more than Patrick Ewing and the 2021 Georgetown Hoyas needed a win. Sox starter Kutter Crawford needed a win more than the imprisoned WNBA star Brittany Griner needs a win. The Sox were jammin’ on the 4th of July, 10 games over .500. But on Saturday night, after starting AAA level pitchers for four consecutive games, the Boston Red Sox earned their much-needed win with a come-from-behind and eventually walk-off 6-5 win over the AL East division-leading New York Yankees.

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The glory went to Boston left-fielder Alex Verdugo who hit a game-tying single in the 8th inning and the game-winning, two-run single in the bottom of the 10th. The win was a step in salvaging a four-game series against the Yankees, now with a chance to split the series when the teams play Sunday night. As importantly, the big 6-5 win quelled an anger emanating from loyal Red Sox fans, frustrated with Triple A rookies staring in place of injured rotation pitchers, like Nathan Eovaldi (might be back this week), Michael Wacha, Rich Hill, Garrett Whitlock, along with relievers Matt Barnes, Tyler Danish, and Josh Taylor.

Four straight starts rather than the Red Sox feasting on opponents with ace Chris Sale on the mound. Four straight rookie starts, a mark Boston hasn’t set since the last four games of the 1945 season instead of having off-season signee Jim Paxton on the mound. Sale’s been rehabbing at Triple-A Worcester and Double-A Portland (New Hampshire), hoping to get back to the mothership before the All-Star break.

Paxton, signed for a cool $10 million a year but Tommy John surgery in April 2021 set him back until his recent trio of bullpen sessions showed glimmers of light for the lefty.Should he return to form, the Sox rotation might improve over Sunday starter Nick Pivetta, a bunch of rookies trying their best to make enough of an impact to stick in the majors when the dust settles and there’s no more need for a late-game a mound appearance by Jackie Bradley Jr. like that of  thismpsdt                                                                                                                                     on Friday night.

On 4th of July, Sox Check the Standings

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Red Sox Open Series vs Tampa with 4-0 Win


By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – It’s far too early to do any scoreboard watching, but on the 4th of July, every baseball fan in the land should buy a newspaper and clip-out the standings. It is like breaking a fortune cookie and reading about your future. For the Boston Red Sox – tailspinning at (2-4) over their last six games entering today’s games- but coming off an important seven-game win streak before that – the 2022 MLB season will be decided now, as in July.

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Now, as in the next 16 games when the Red Sox play against the American League East only as they close-out the first half of the 2022 season with 17 consecutive game days before the annual All-Star break. Looking further, past the break, the Red Sox will play 27 of their next 28 home games against teams with winning records (as of today). Only an August 11th game against the division cellar-dwelling Baltimore Orioles will be the exception.

Now, as on a wonderful, humidity-free, 82-degree, sunny 4th of July day game, a game which began that gauntlet of “put-up or shut-up” for the Sox who earned a home game on the 4th  at Fenway Park for the first time since 2016.

Now, as in today, the Red Sox defeated division rival Tampa, 4-0, with impressive pitching performances by opener Austin Davis (second career start) who was followed by Worcester WooSox call-up Kutter Crawford. Davis threw 30 pitches over the first two innings, walked one batter and struck-out two before giving way to Crawford. With a name like “Kutter,” you better be able to deliver and that he did. The Sox top pitching prospect, No. 24 in all of baseball, went 5.1 IP, allowing only two hits of shutout baseball while striking-out eight Rays batters. Reliever John Schreiber came in for the final 1.2 innings and kept the sheet clean, earning his third save of the season.

On the offensive side, Boston second-baseman Trevor Story had the game-winning hit, his 13th home run of the season, a solo blast, which came in the fourth inning. Boston scored a run in the fifth when shortstop Christian Arroyo led-off with a double and scored on a Rafael Devers infield hit and 46th RBI of the season.

Boston added two insurance runs in the eighth inning when third baseman Devers, DH J.D. Martinez and catcher Christian Vazquez each singled to load the bases before left-fielder Alex Verdugo reached base on a fielding error by Tampa’s relief pitcher Josh Fleming, scoring Devers. Boston right-fielder Franchy Cordero delivered a timely base hit to score Martinez to make it 4-0 to hand Fleming (2-4) his fourth loss of the year.

Crawford earned the win, his second of the year against two losses. The Rays were held scoreless for the sixth time this season after being shutout only eight times all of 2021.

The opening of the series win marked the 12th time of their last 16 series that Boston took a series lead as they are 11-4-1 when they take a series opener. Boston is 17-7 (.708) over their last 24 games and undefeated in their last five home games. The pressure remains, however, as Boston is 0-7-0 in series against the AL East while 12-3-3 against all others.

The Red Sox are now 13 games behind the division-leading New York Yankees, who somehow had the 4th of July as an off-day. Boston is bunched up with these Rays and the Toronto Blue Jays with only two games separating the trio when you peruse those standings.

After a horrendous 10-19 start through early May, Boston is now 10 games over .500 for the second time this season. They’re amongst the best four teams in baseball (NYY, HOU and ATL) since May 10th, and they’re staying 10-games over .500 with starting pitchers Chris Sale, Nathan Eovaldi, Rich Hill, and James Paxton on the injured list, along with relievers Garrett Whitlock, Matt Barnes and Josh Taylor.

Sale has been ramping-up with a four-inning, 52-pitch, four-hit, one-run outing for AA Portland last Thursday. He’ll do another rehab assignment this Wednesday, upping the competition to AAA Worcester.

Notes: Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts sat out today as he recovers from a six-stitch thigh laceration suffered during the series vs. the Chicago Cubs. … Boston’s Nick Pivetta (8-5, ERA 3.23) is scheduled to pitch against Tampa’s lefty Jeffrey Springs (3-2, ERA 2.25) July 5 at 7:10pm at Fenway. … A starter for Boston on Wednesday has yet to be determined while the Rays will throw righty Corey Kluber (3-5, ERA 3.91). … Boston will go on to host the NY Yankees from July 7-10.

Red Sox July 4th Roster Moves

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Boston recalled right-handed pitcher Kutter Crawford from Triple-A Worcester. To make room for Crawford on the active Major League roster, Connor Seabold was optioned to Worcester following yesterday’s game against the Chicago Cubs. Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom made the announcement.

Crawford entered the game (July 4) after Red Sox lefty Austin Davis held the Tampa Bay Rays scoreless in his two inning “opener” effort.

Crawford, 26, is ranked by MLB.com as the Red Sox’ No. 24 prospect. In 10 appearances (two starts) for Boston this season, the right-hander is 1-2 with a 6.41 ERA (14 ER/19.2 IP). He has also pitched in six games (four starts) with Worcester, going 1-0 with a 5.18 ERA (14 ER/24.1 IP).

Seabold, 26, started yesterday’s game against the Cubs, allowing one run on six hits in 4.0 innings. Ranked by MLB.com as Boston’s No. 14 prospect, the right-hander is 5-1 with a 2.09 ERA (12 ER/51.2 IP) in 11 starts for Worcester this season.

Boston activated Seabold to pitch in Chicago on July 3 and in doing so, optioned right-handed pitcher Phillips Valdez to Worcester.

Bradley Gets a Dad Break

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official Team News Release) – The Boston Red Sox placed outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. on MLB’s paternity leave list and recalled outfielder Jarren Duran from Triple-A Worcester to fill his roster spot. Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom made the decision.

Bradley Jr., 32, recorded a season-high four RBI on Wednesday against the Cincinnati Reds, including a three-run triple in the eighth inning. The left-handed hitter is batting .227 (34-for-150) with 20 RBI in 48 games this season. Bradley has made 37 starts in right field and three in center field in 2022, leading major league right fielders in ultimate zone rating (4.2).

Duran, 25, has played in one game for Boston this season, going 1-for-4 with a triple and run scored on May 6 against the Chicago White Sox. The left-handed hitter is batting .314 (48-for-153) with a .916 OPS in 37 games for Worcester this season, recording 20 extra-base hits and stealing 11 bases.