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Some Good, Some Bad in Red Sox Eventful Weekend

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It was an eventful weekend at Fenway Park, wasn’t it?

On Friday came the news that Pablo Sandoval was designated for assignment and that his Red Sox career was effectively over. The Panda’s time on the disabled list was nearing its end and so the time had come for Sox management to decide whether to hold ’em or fold ’em. Justifiably, they ended the game.

In all, Sandoval played 161 games with the Sox (2015-17), slashing .237 AVG/.286 OBP/.360 SLG in that time compared to a .294/.346/.465 line over seven seasons (869 games) with the Giants. Red Sox baseball president Dave Dombrowski credited ownership for the willingness to write off the $49 million remaining on Sandoval’s guaranteed contract, which runs through 2019.

Over the weekend CBS Sports reported that Panda could reunite with the Giants, though a reporter closer to the scene throws some cold water on the prospect of that actually happening. If Pablo wants to be reunited with San Francisco, Andrew Baggarly wrote, he’ll follow through with a five-step program that seems somewhat arduous for a man of Sandoval’s significant financial means. Why would he bother?

Sox and Yankees Split Four

The Red Sox had to be satisfied with a weekend split in a four-game set that really, truly should have yielded three wins for Boston. Enough about the games has been credibly documented elsewhere (and here, here, and here), but there a couple points worth special mention.

  • Jackie Bradley, Jr. makes it look so easy, doesn’t he? Sunday’s night’s catch, which robbed Yankees phenom Aaron Judge of a two-run home run, was undoubtedly “one of the best catches ever made at Fenway Park.” Statcast reported Judge’s flyout to have left the bat at 107.5 MPH with a hit probability of 91 percent.
  • Even those with concerns about David Price had to impressed with his performance Sunday night. Over eight strong innings he allowed no runs, no walks, and struck out eight while allowing seven hits. With Craig Kimbrel‘s close, the Sox handed the Yankees their very first shutout loss of the season.
  • So there’s this: Despite losing two of the four games, Red Sox pitchers in those losses held a hard-hitting Yankees team to four and three runs on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. In return Boston’s offense mustered just one total run for both of those games. The Sox pitching staff owns a 3.72 ERA this season, the best in the American League and 3rd-best in the majors. Boston relievers’ ERA is 3.04, also 3rd best in baseball.
  • Friday’s Red Sox win with a walk-off walk was historical, so too was the next night’s loss. Besides Saturday, the only Fenway game where the Red Sox were held to one or fewer runs longer was a 17-inning, 0-0 tie on July 14, 1916 agains the St. Louis Browns.
  • How good was it to see Brock Holt back in action? Until Sunday afternoon he hadn’t been in a game since April 20, down with the effects of a concussion and vertigo. “Emotionally, physically, it was something that, obviously, I would rather not have to go through. It’s going to make me stronger,” Holt told the Worcester Telegram. “I’m glad to be back.” Can’t imagine a single denizen of Red Sox Nation that doesn’t hope the best for Holt.
  • What a sight at Fenway Park on the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. The Red Sox really know how to orchestrate these kind of meaningful events. The morning’s 8th Annual Run to Home Base was followed by an on-field tribute to over 800 veterans. Proceeds from the run benefits Home Base, a Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital program to help service members when they complete their military service.
  • We’ll likely see Tzu-Wei Lin again but the Sox sent him back to Triple-A Pawtucket on Monday to make room on the roster for the return of pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez. Lin was 14-for-50 (.280) with two triples and eight walks in his first stint with the big club (19 games).

Red Sox now face the moribund Toronto Blue Jays (7-13 for their last 20) for four games at Fenway before heading out for the last west coast trip of the regular season.


Red Sox beat Yanks with Historic Walk-Off Walk

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The unofficial second half of the 2017 Red Sox season got off to a rousing start Friday as Boston shocked the Yankees with a come-from-behind, 9th inning 5-4 win.

Down 4-3 with just three outs to go the Yankees turned to Aroldis Chapman to secure the win. Instead, Chapman allowed consecutive infield singles by Mookie Betts and Dustin Pedroia. After a double steal, Betts scored the tying run and Xander Bogaerts reached first base on an error by New York second baseman Ronald Torreyes.

The Yanks elected to walk Hanley Ramirez. With the bases loaded and nobody out, the game rested with Andrew Benintendi, who worked a five-pitch walk that brought around the winning run. For Chapman, it was the first time he had ever walked in a winning run in a major league game.

For the Red Sox, it was the first walk-off walk since Trot Nixon‘s on September 23, 2000 against the Orioles. Benintendi became the first Boston batter to draw a walk-off walk against the Yankees since Ted Williams over 60 years ago on August 7, 1956.

Friday’s was the first Red Sox win this season when trailing after eight innings.


Ortiz: Red Sox is “What I Am”

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Today is the 75th anniversary of Mr. Ted Williams‘ infamous “red seat” home run at Fenway Park. It’s a fun story, though many question its veracity. If you’re having trouble reading the caption in the above photo just click on the image to expand it.

Red Sox Fly to Fenway for Five

The Red Sox are back home now for just five games after a 5-5 road trip that, actually, could have been a lot worse. Boston was outscored 46-49 over the ten games, but outscored 1-17 in two particularly nasty drubbings at the hands of the Yankees this week.

On Wednesday the team ran into a resurgent CC Sabathia. Boston has had some success against Sabathia previous but not this time. The burly pitcher improved to 7-2 on the season after beating Boston easily with 8.0 IP of shutout baseball.

Sabathia is on roll with his most pre-All-Star Break wins since 2013. Wednesday’s was his fifth straight win. He has a 1.11 ERA during that stretch. More importantly to New York, Carsten Charles is now 6-0 with a 1.25 ERA in his seven starts following a Yankees loss this season.

Now, some other news of note for Red Sox fans:

  • What a memorable week for the Reds. Cincinnati native Scooter Gennett became the club’s first ever player to belt four home runs in a game and just the 17th in Major League history. Gennett and the Cardinals Mark Whitten (September 7, 1993) are the only players to accomplish the feat while including a grand slam. Only one Boston player managed four home runs in a game: Bobby Lowe on May 30, 1894 while playing for the Beaneaters, the forerunners of the Boston Braves. Lowe’s was the first recorded 4 HR game ever.
  • There were some rocky moments early in his Red Sox tenure but Joe Kelly sure has found his rhythm. Kelly has not allowed a run in any of his 13 appearances this season. What is more, in now 40 relief outings, including the postseason, Kelly is 4-0 with a 1.16 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP.
  • All silliness to the contrary, David Ortiz is not suiting up for a major league return. “I’m happy,” Ortiz says. “I did the right thing.” The 10-time All-Star and World Series hero says he’ll be working for the Red Sox at some point.  “We’re going back and forth,” Papi says, “And at some point it’s going to happen. That organization is what I am.”
  • Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa, and even Babe Ruth have “baggage” associated with their names, but how can you not feel good for Albert Pujols who this week joined them and four others in the 600 home run club? For extra emphasis, Pujols became the first ever to hit a grand slam for his 600th. Pujols is just the third player in history with 600 home runs and 600 doubles in his career, joining Hank Aaron and Bonds. Pujols is 141 RBI away from 2,000 and 123 hits away from 3,000.

Red Sox Pounded Again

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For a second straight game the Yankees kept the Red Sox down, beating them handily 9-1 before a sellout crowd on Thursday. New York has held Boston to one or few runs in back-to-back games for the first time in the same season since August 7-8, 2009.

With Thursday’s win the Yankees have a 3.0 game lead in the American League East, matching their largest lead of the season. They’ve won six of their last seven against the Red Sox, including six of the last seven games played at Yankee Stadium.

On Thursday Sox starter David Price was thoroughly ineffective, allowing six runs on eight hits over just 5.0 IP. Price walked four and struck out four while allowing two home runs to Gary Sanchez. The New York backstop now has four home runs over a career eight at-bats against Price. Only Jose Bautista has more (six HR over 59 career at-bats). 

Sánchez is the seventh player with multiple home runs in a single game off Price. The others are the Rays Curt Casali (2015), the Angels Albert Pujols (2014), the Yankees Mark Teixeira (2011), the Orioles Mark Reynolds (2011), the Blue Jays Jose Bautista (2011), and the Red Sox Victor Martinez (2010).

Impressive Aaron Judge was 3-for-4 against the Sox including a center field single that was clocked with an exit velocity of 119.8 MPH, the hardest hit ball of any player this season according to Statcast.

For Price it was his first game with six or more earned runs and four walks in 5.0 or less innings since July 18, 2010. “I’ve got to be more efficient,” Price said after the game, adding that he has to “make better pitches when I have guys in that pitchers count,…I wasn’t able to do it tonight.”

Again and again the Sox offense was impotent. Three up, three down. In all, Boston managed just four singles. Boston was 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position over the three game set. They’re now a remarkable 0-for-20 with RISP in five games against the Yankees this season. Thursday’s was just the fourth time this season that the Sox didn’t manage even one extra-base hit, the first such game since April 27 (also against the Yankees).

The Red Sox, fortunate to end the road trip even at 5-5, head home to face the Tigers this weekend. The Yankees will take on the Orioles for three at home.


Yankees Even The Series

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The numbers don’t always tell the story. After all, that’s why we play the games. But even from the start, Wednesday’s tilt between the Red Sox and Yankees seemed to favor the Baby Bombers.

On one side there was Rick Porcello, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner whose 2017 performances could be described as shaky at best.

On the other was six-time All-Star CC Sabathia, the man who made his debut with the Indians all the way back in 2001 and whose 229 career wins are second most among active major leagues only to the ageless Bartolo Colon (235).

Carsten Charles might not have the power he had years ago, but CC has been the stopper this season, earning four straight wins after a Yankees loss, like the one they suffered at the hands of the Red Sox on Tuesday. 

Sabathia did not disappoint New York fans. As Porcello wriggled mostly in and occasionally out of trouble, Sabathia simply cruised, setting down the Red Sox again and again. Porcello allowed a solo home run by Didi Gregorius the third inning and a damaging three-run shot by Chris Carter in the fourth. Carter’s three hit night yield four RBI making him the second No. 9 batter this season with four or more RBI in a game for New York (also Austin Romine on April 29).

There’s little question Sabathia could have completed the game. He threw 95 pitches over 8.0 IP allowing five hits but no walks or runs and striking out five. Instead, the Yankees turned to Jonathan Holder in the ninth inning to successfully protect an eight run lead. 

In the end, the Sox would suffer their biggest shutout loss by the Yankees since an 8-0 drubbing on June 27, 1991 at Fenway. To find a Boston shutout with this margin of victory in New York you have to go all the way back to August 5, 1974. 

And so the series stands at 1-1 and will be decided on Thursday when David Price and Michael Pineda square off. 

Games like Wednesday’s, when your team is pummeled by their arch-rival feel as though they might count for more than they do. But the reality is, it’s just one loss. Boston is 32-26 and chasing a first place team that’s only a little bit better at 33-23, with 64% of the schedule still left to play.