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Red Sox Close Road Trip vs Lodolo

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CINCINNATI – (Staff an d Wire Service Report) – The Cincinnati Reds will send one of the National League’s hottest pitchers to the mound Sunday afternoon when they try to win the rubber match of a three-game series against the visiting Boston Red Sox.

Left-hander Nick Lodolo (8-2, 2.76 ERA) is listed as Cincinnati’s starter for Sunday’s matchup. Lodolo won his fifth consecutive start Tuesday when he pitched seven innings in a 2-1 victory over Pittsburgh. He recorded eight strikeouts, gave up four hits and didn’t walk a batter. Lodolo has limited opponents to seven runs in 30 1/3 innings over his past five outings.

“I thought, overall, I just felt in control,” Lodolo said following Tuesday’s victory. “I just want to go out there and give us a good chance to win. … The goal is for me to go out there and get myself in position to win.

“I’m really just five days at a time. I feel like you start looking ahead, you never know. I just have to stay present and do it again in five days.”

The only run Lodolo allowed against Pittsburgh was a solo home run to Ke’Bryan Hayes with one out in the seventh inning. He retired 11 in a row before giving up the home run.

Lodolo is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in his career against the Red Sox. He’s made one appearance against Boston and allowed three runs on three hits — including two homers — in five innings of a 5-3 setback on Sept. 20, 2022.

Cincinnati opened the three-game series against Boston with a 5-2 victory on Friday. The Reds, however, squandered a three-run lead in a 4-3 loss on Saturday and fell to 2-5 in their past seven games.

Boston has won six of its past seven. Saturday’s win improved the Red Sox to 4-1 on their current road trip.

“Secures a good week, right,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “That’s four (wins) this week. We get a chance tomorrow against a good lefty. He’s really good, so we’ll see what we do. It feels good winning this one.”

“A good team win,” Boston’s Rob Refsnyder said. “Just looking back at it, it feels like everyone contributed.”

The Red Sox are expected to employ a bullpen game Sunday after sending right-handed starting pitcher Cooper Criswell to Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday. Criswell made 11 starts for the Red Sox after being recalled from Worcester.

Right-hander Zack Kelly (2-1, 1.75) is expected to get the start. Kelly is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in two career appearances (1 1/3 innings) against Cincinnati.

The Red Sox didn’t play Thursday and have three days off during a 12-day stretch that begins June 27. That could allow Boston to use its top four starters — Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford and Nick Pivetta — until at least early July.

The Reds have hit five home runs in the first two games of the series but had two players thrown out at the plate and another picked off second base Saturday.

“We’re going to be an aggressive baserunning team,” Cincinnati manager David Bell said. “We have to continue to learn from each thing and get every edge on the bases. It’s going to be a part of our game.”

–Field Level Media

Birmingham Game a Tribute to Mays

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BIRMINGHAM – The death of baseball legend Willie Mays heightens the emotions for the special game between the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals at Rickwood Field in Alabama tonight. Major League Baseball is staging the game as tribute to Negro Leagues stars such as Mays, who played for the Birmingham Black Barons at Rickwood in 1948 before signing with the Giants.

Mays died Tuesday at the age of 93.

“Obviously, we wish he was here with us to see it, but he’ll be watching over the game,” Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski said to MLB.com. “It’s definitely one of those times to reflect on the important things in life. He had such an impact on this game and on so many people. To be able to be involved in a celebration for him is an incredibly humbling experience.”

The event gives today’s players an opportunity to reflect on the sport’s history.

“It means the world to me, and to my stepdad, who came into my life early on and taught me about the history of Black baseball players and their significance in our community,” rookie Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn told MLB.com. “He told me about what it means to represent the African-American community. So playing in this game, it’s going to be amazing.”

The Giants petitioned MLB to activate LaMonte Wade Jr. from the injured list for just one game so he could play in Birmingham, but the request was denied.

San Francisco has lost four of its past six games, including each of the past two after the death of Mays, a franchise legend.

The Cardinals won five of six games through Monday to climb over .500 for the first time since early April, but they also have lost their past two.

The Giants will start Keaton Winn (3-7, 6.66 ERA), who had a no-decision in a loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday in his latest start. The right-hander allowed three runs on five hits, including two homers, in six innings while striking out six and walking two.

In his previous four starts, Winn gave up 24 runs on 23 hits in 12 2/3 innings. He rebounded by mixing an effective splitter with a high-90s fastball.

“Honestly, it was just becoming more synced with myself,” Winn said. “I threw a lot of slide-steps (vs. the Angels), and I think that really helped sync everything up.”

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Red Sox Take the Fifth

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TORONTO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston’s Enmanuel Valdez and Jarren Duran hit solo home runs and visiting Boston defeated the Blue Jays, 7-3. Duran also had an RBI single to help the Red Sox sweep the three-game series and extend their winning streak to five games.

Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman (5-6) allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out four in 5 2/3 innings.

Red Sox Keep On Rollin’

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TORONTO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston’s Ceddanne Rafaela had three hits, including the go-ahead, two-out single in the eighth inning, and the visiting Red Sox defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 on Tuesday.

Tyler O’Neill’s home run to center leading off the eighth tied the game for the Red Sox, who have won the first two games of the three-game series and four straight overall.

Toronto right-hander Chris Bassitt allowed two runs, seven hits and two walks while striking out six in six innings.

Boston right-hander Tanner Houck gave up three runs (two earned), six hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings. He fanned five.

The Red Sox opened the scoring in the second inning. O’Neill led off with a double to left and scored on Dominic Smith’s two-out bloop single to center.

Toronto took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning. Justin Turner and Addison Barger began the frame with singles, and both scored on Ernie Clement’s two-out double.

Boston tied the game in the sixth. Rafael Devers doubled to left-center with one out and scored on a two-out single to center by Masataka Yoshida.

Toronto regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Daulton Varsho reached first on an error and stole second. Turner walked. Alejandro Kirk’s one-out grounder to third forced Varsho before Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit a soft RBI single past first base. Zack Kelly (1-0) replaced Houck, escaped the jam and pitched 1 1/3 innings.

Nate Pearson took over from Bassitt and allowed a double and a single in the seventh before being replaced with two outs by Brendon Little (0-1), who struck out Devers to end the threat.

O’Neill tied the game when he opened the eighth against Little with his 15th homer of the season and his third of the series. Smith singled with two outs, prompting Toronto to replace Little with Chad Green. Pinch runner David Hamilton then stole second and scored on Rafaela’s single to left.

Kenley Jansen pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his 13th save of the season and fourth in seven days.

Toronto put shortstop Bo Bichette (right calf strain) on the injured list Tuesday and recalled infielder Orelvis Martinez from Triple-A Buffalo. Boston reinstated right-hander Chris Martin (anxiety) from the IL and optioned right-hander Cooper Criswell to Triple-A Worcester.

–Field Level Media

Say, Hey – It Isn’t So

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SAN FRANCISCO – (Staff and wire Service Report) – The death of baseball legend Willie Mays at age 93 on Tuesday prompted tributes from across the sports world.

Mays’ Godson, Barry Bonds, posted on Instagram, “I am beyond devastated and overcome with emotion. (broken heart emoji) I have no words to describe what you mean to me — you helped shape me to be who I am today. Thank you for being my Godfather and always being there. Give my dad a hug for me. Rest in peace Willie, I love you forever. #SayHey”

Ken Griffey Jr. wrote in a statement issued by the Seattle Mariners, “I’m at a loss for words. I’m devastated. Heartbroken. Numb. I’ve been lucky enough to know Willie since I was a little kid. And my appreciation only grew over time. From the stories, the videos and then meeting him. He was a true giant off and on the field. A person I looked up to and respected. A friend. And someone I could call when I needed to talk who always had time for me, and my best interests in mind. I considered him an uncle, and, to me, he’ll always be the Godfather of all center fielders.”

Six-time All-Star pitcher CC Sabathia, a San Francisco Bay Area native, posted on X a photo of himself with Mays, writing, “I’ll never forget this day when I walked in and heard, ‘that’s that boy who wears his hat like this.’ RIP Willie Mays. You changed the game forever and inspired kids like me to chase our dream. Thank you for everything that you did on and off the field. Always in our hearts”

Tennis legend Billie Jean King posted online, “The great Willie Mays has passed away. It was a privilege to know him. We were both honored by @MLB in 2010 with the Beacon Award, given to civil rights pioneers.

“He was such a kind soul, who gifted my brother Randy a new glove and a television during his rookie year with the @SFGiants. My deepest condolences to his family. He will be missed.”

Former Chicago White Sox slugger Frank Thomas wrote on social media, ” R.I.P to Willie Mays! There’s great players and then there’s True Legends. God Bless”

On the New York Mets’ broadcast, Keith Hernandez got choked up while discussing his encounters with Mays.

“What always came off was, he was the Say Hey Kid. He had that ebullient personality,” the former first baseman said. “Infectious and genuine. I got to tell him that he was the greatest player I ever saw.”

Ex-New York Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams posted online, “There will never be another Willie Mays. You don’t play centerfield without thinking of Mr. Mays. We should all celebrate and salute his legacy — he transcended baseball, served our country and is a true American legend & icon.”

Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley spoke on CNN regarding Mays’ upbringing in the South, “We have no idea what these guys have been through … To try to be great at a sport, and then deal with all the racial strife that these guys had to deal with, that’s what makes them heroes.”

Baseball Hall of Famer Dave Winfield wrote, ” It was my pleasure and honor to have played against arguably the best @mlb @MLBPA player of all time. And to call #WillieMays my friend is incredibly special #RIP “Say Hey” Kid”

–Field Level Media

 

Sox Visit Power-Broker Blue Jays

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TORONTO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Blue Jays will be looking to carry a rare power surge into the opener of a three-game series with the visiting Boston Red Sox tonight. Toronto used a grand slam by Daulton Varsho and a two-run blast by Ernie Clement to beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-6 on Sunday in the rubber match of a three-game series.

The Blue Jays will complete a six-game homestand with their series against the Red Sox, who set a franchise record with nine stolen bases on Sunday night in a 9-3 drubbing of the Yankees. Boston took two of three games from New York and has won seven of its past 11 overall.

David Hamilton had four of the nine steals for the Red Sox, and he also had two hits, three runs and an RBI.

“(Hamilton) kind of carried the load there,” said Boston left fielder Jarren Duran, who went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases. “It just kind of shows that when we can run the bases like we can, it does a lot for the team and puts us really in a good spot.”

Ceddanne Rafaela went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and one steal and is 11-for-19 (.579) during a five-game hitting streak.

“Like I always say, we’re gonna battle, we’re gonna make mistakes and we’re gonna win games,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “But that was good baseball (Sunday). Expect that from us. We’re gonna push the envelope. We have a bunch of athletes, and it just happens that the three of them are getting on base.”

Perhaps Toronto could take a page out of Boston’s book, as the Blue Jays have not been able to rely on the long ball to generate offense. They have 58 homers this year, tied with the Washington Nationals for third fewest in the majors.

Toronto manager John Schneider is hoping that Sunday’s grand slam gets Varsho and the entire offense going.

“I think I’ve hit him everywhere in the lineup, which isn’t ideal,” Schneider said of Varsho. “We joke about that almost every day, me and him. That’s a huge swing, obviously. Varsho is getting a better and better understanding of where he can handle the ball.”

Still, Toronto knows it has to get creative if it wants to challenge opposing pitching staffs.

“We can obviously hit the long ball, but we’ve also got to play some small ball at times,” Varsho said. “That’s what helps us win a lot of ballgames. Isiah Kiner-Falefa does it really well — I think better than anybody else on our team — being able to play small ball and move runners.”

Right-hander Nick Pivetta (3-4, 3.88 ERA) will try to contain the Blue Jays’ lineup on Monday.

Pivetta faced the Philadelphia Phillies in his last start, getting roughed up for four runs and six hits in four innings on Wednesday. He did not factor into the decision.

In 15 career appearances (13 starts) against Toronto, Pivetta is 2-4 with a 5.35 ERA.

Kikuchi came away with a win against the Milwaukee Brewers last Tuesday, giving up three hits across five scoreless innings. He is 0-2 with a 6.11 ERA in seven career appearances (five starts) vs. Boston.

–Field Level Media

Red Sox Double-Up Yankees

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Tyler O’Neill and Jarren Duran each collected two hits and scored twice as the Boston Red Sox beat the visiting New York Yankees 8-4 on Saturday night.

O’Neill scored in each of the first two innings, as Boston built a 5-2 lead. He had an RBI double in the first and singled in the second. Duran doubled in the first, hit an RBI single in the eighth and scored in each inning.

Juan Soto hit a solo home run for the Yankees — his 18th of the season – off reliever Justin Slaten (4-2). Giancarlo Stanton had two of New York’s six hits.

Boston’s Kenley Jansen recorded the final four outs to earn his 11th save.

New York starter Carlos Rodon (9-3) exited after throwing 109 pitches in five innings. The left-hander gave up five runs on seven hits, walked three and struck out seven.

Ceddanne Rafaela had three of Boston’s 12 hits.

The Red Sox hit three doubles in the bottom of the first, when they took a 3-0 lead. In addition to O’Neill’s RBI double, Boston received an RBI single from Connor Wong and an RBI double from Jamie Westbrook.

The Yankees cut Boston’s lead to 3-2 when DJ LeMahieu’s two-run single drove in Stanton and Anthony Rizzo in the top of the second, but Boston regained a three-run lead when Rafael Devers hit a two-run double in the bottom half of the second.

Boston starter Cooper Criswell gave up two runs on three hits in four innings, notching six strikeouts and issuing two walks.

The Yankees trailed 5-3 after Soto’s home run in the seventh.

Boston added to its lead in its half of the seventh. Masataka Yoshida hit a two-out, ground-rule double and scored when pinch hitter Enmanuel Valdez singled to center.

Rizzo scored on a fielder’s choice to make it a 6-4 game in the eighth, but the Yankees stranded runners on first and third when Jansen retired Anthony Volpe for the final out in the inning.

Duran’s RBI single drove in Rafaela to put the Red Sox in front 7-4 in the bottom of the eighth, before Duran made it 8-4 when he scored from third on catcher Jose Trevino’s errant pickoff throw.

–Field Level Media

MLB: Yanks Visit Sox at Fenway Tonight

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BOSTON – After a series victory over the National League-leading Philadelphia Phillies, the Boston Red Sox will look to continue the momentum against the American League-leading New York Yankees as a three-game set begins Friday night. The AL East archrivals will be meeting for the first time this season. The series opener in Boston will be the 70th game for the Red Sox and the 72nd for the Yankees.

The Red Sox have won three of their past four games after winning the final two games of the three-game series against the Phillies. Tyler O’Neill hit a three-run home run while Jarren Duran and Enmanuel Valdez hit two doubles apiece to power Boston to a 9-3 win on Thursday.

“We’ve got a good team,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We’re gonna lose some games and we’re gonna win some games. I know everybody thought the must-win was Sunday in Chicago (against the White Sox) because they have the worst record in baseball. We don’t see it that way. We show up every day and work hard.”

The Red Sox had 14 hits in the finale against Philadelphia, including five straight during a four-run second inning against Phillies ace Aaron Nola. Duran, whose two-run double capped the frame, produced his seventh game with multiple extra-base hits this season.

“We were finding barrels and hitting the ball hard,” O’Neill said. “It was awesome to see.”

Brayan Bello (6-3, 4.78 ERA) is scheduled to start for Boston on Friday. He took a loss Saturday against the White Sox after allowing five runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Bello is 2-2 with a 1.45 ERA in five career starts against New York.

The Yankees’ four-game winning streak was snapped with a 4-3, walk-off loss to the Kansas City Royals on Thursday. New York also saw its eight-game road win streak come to an end.

Kansas City was up 2-0 until Anthony Rizzo homered, Anthony Volpe drove in a run with a groundout and Juan Soto hit an RBI single to put New York in front in a three-run eighth.

“All losses hurt, especially when you’re up and you’re leading, but then again, (the Royals) are also professionals,” New York left-hander Nestor Cortes said after his Thursday start.

The Red Sox will face Yankees right-hander Luis Gil (8-1, 2.04 ERA), who had won seven straight starts before taking a no-decision Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He allowed three runs on five hits with five strikeouts and a walk in 5 2/3 innings during his latest outing.

“In the small time I’ve seen him, he lives for those moments,” Yankees star Aaron Judge said. “I look forward to more.”

The Yankees are 11-2 in Gil’s starts this season. He had thrown at least six innings and given up no more than one run in each of his previous seven outings, a feat that no Yankees pitcher had accomplished.

With Gil returning from Tommy John surgery, his innings — currently at 75 — are being monitored.

“We’re not putting any kind of a limit on him, but there may be a natural one that happens,” New York manager Aaron Boone said. “But I don’t necessarily think that’s our expectation.”

 

Red Sox Beat White Sox in 10th

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CHICAGO – (Staff and Wire Service Report)  – Boston’s Jamie Westbrook and Rob Refsnyder drove in 10th-inning runs to help the visiting Red Sox rally for a 6-4 win against the Chicago White Sox on Sunday. Refsnyder and David Hamilton had two hits apiece for the Red Sox, who earned a split of the four-game series.

Paul DeJong and Corey Julks contributed two hits each for Chicago. DeJong belted a three-run home run in the fourth to give the White Sox a 3-1 lead. Gavin Sheets delivered a go-ahead, opposite-field single to left in the seventh, but the Chicago bullpen was unable to maintain the lead.

Tanner Banks blew a save opportunity for Chicago in the ninth when Hamilton hit a leadoff double, stole third base and scored on a Reese McGuire RBI sacrifice fly.

Michael Soroka (0-7) took the loss, allowing two hits and a pair of unearned runs in the 10th while striking out two. Soroka dropped the ball on a throw to first base at the start of the inning, giving the Red Sox runners on the corners with no outs.

Boston pitched a bullpen game, with seven relievers beginning with Zack Kelly combining to scatter seven hits with four walks and 17 strikeouts.

Kenley Jansen improved to 2-1 after pitching two innings of one-run ball with five strikeouts. Cam Booser picked up the save, striking out two in the 10th.

White Sox starter Chris Flexen took a no-decision after scattering two runs and two hits in five innings with two walks and three strikeouts.

Flexen retired the first nine Red Sox before Jarren Duran lined a triple to right field to lead off the fourth inning. Enmanuel Valdez worked a walk before Refsnyder grounded into a double play to drive in the game’s first run.

White Sox Take Another from Red Sox

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CHICAGO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Chicago’s Gavin Sheets belted a grand slam among his three hits, Paul DeJong homered and four pitchers delivered 4 2/3 innings of three-hit relief to lift the host Chicago White Sox to a 6-1 victory against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.

After stopping a franchise-worst 14-game losing streak Friday night, the White Sox used a five-run fifth Saturday en route to winning consecutive games for the first time since May 14-15.

Chicago collected six of its 10 hits against Boston starter Brayan Bello (6-3) in the fifth. Sheets punctuated the rally with his first career grand slam one batter after Andrew Vaughn tied the game at 1 with an RBI infield single.

DeJong and Lenyn Sosa added two hits apiece for the White Sox, who out-hit the Red Sox 10-5. DeJong provided the final margin in the seventh with his team-leading 11th home run.

White Sox rookie right-hander Nick Nastrini was unable to earn his first victory despite delivering the best start of his young career, scattering one run and two hits in 4 1/3 innings with five strikeouts.

While he needed 71 pitches to do it, an effectively wild Nastrini held Boston without a hit over the first four innings.

Nastrini issued five walks but made pitches when he needed to, including when he induced Dominic Brown on a double-play grounder on a 3-1 count to end the third inning.

Bobby Dalbec delivered Boston’s first hit and the game’s first run with a solo homer that narrowly cleared the right field wall leading off the fifth.

David Hamilton followed with a bloop single to left. Jarren Duran walked two batters later to spell the end of Nastrini’s outing, but Chicago escaped further trouble. Tanner Banks picked Duran off at first base before throwing a pitch and then struck Jamie Westbrook out looking.

Home plate umpire Alan Porter ejected Boston manager Alex Cora for arguing balls and strikes moments later.

Banks (1-2) was the winner, allowing one hit in 1 2/3 innings to go with two strikeouts.

Bello allowed five runs in 4 2/3 innings with three walks and two strikeouts.

The Red Sox finished 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position while stranding nine. Hamilton had two hits.

–Field Level Media