Double duty by Moreland
Makes good use of The Wall
After another big game at the plate, Mitch Moreland started counting out loud how many hits Fenway Park has gifted him in the seven games he’s called it his home field.
“The second one I hit today, the one a couple nights ago I hit over down the leftfield line,” he said. “It’s definitely made a difference.”
He was 3-for-4 in the Red Sox’ 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays yesterday with his first home run and another double. His nine doubles leads the majors.
Left-handed-hitting first baseman Adrian Gonzalez used to try to hit doubles off The Wall during his first season with the Red Sox. Moreland, who also hits left-handed, might end up doing the same thing.
“When you have that option in left field, it makes it a little easier and you’re a little more comfortable in the box,” he said. “It’s not something I focus on, but it does make you feel more comfortable.”
As easy as it is to credit Fenway and the Green Monster for providing a wall just 310 feet from home plate, Moreland has hit even better on the road, where he has five of his nine doubles after going 8-for-15 in a four-game series in Detroit last weekend.
“I think it’s a little early to be saying that (about Fenway), but so far it’s been OK,” Moreland said, smiling. “I just try to stay within my approach, whether it’s here or anywhere else. I just try to get a good pitch.”
Moreland was a triple shy of the cycle yesterday. His nine doubles are the most by a Red Sox hitter through 11 games since 1913. The last player to hit 11 doubles through his team’s first 11 games was Troy
Glaus in 1999. “Without him, we’re going to be in a tough spot,” said pitcher Chris Sale, who gained his first win yesterday despite being sharp in all three starts. “He’s professional. He’s a guy who can go deep at any given time. He’s going to put a professional at-bat together.”
More Price fixing
All David Price can do to keep himself from going stir crazy during his recovery is count down the days until his son is born.
“A couple weeks,” he said yesterday.
It’s the one timeline he can count on.
Just hours after throwing his first up-and-down bullpen session since straining his elbow in early March, Price said his arm felt good. But he won’t know for sure until today, when he can feel the effects of a difficult week in which he’s pushed his arm further than he’s pushed it since the injury.
“That’s the biggest thing, getting all your work done today and just making sure that you still feel good (the next day),” he said.
“We’ll see how he responds to that workload,” said manager John Farrell. “He’s had a full volume this week compared to the previous four or five weeks that rehab has gone through. So (today) we’ll get a better read on how he’s doing physically and what the plan would be after that.”
Ideally, the Red Sox can get Price on the mound to face live hitters this coming week. That schedule would theoretically give him a chance to return before June, but the Sox aren’t putting a date on it.
Price still hasn’t thrown any breaking balls from the mound.
“No, I did that yesterday on some flat ground,” he said. “Didn’t want to push it too much, with it being the first time I’m throwing pitches and then taking a break and getting back up and throwing more.
“I haven’t had any setbacks yet. It’s going pretty smooth.”
How effective will Price be when he does return?
“I expect to be myself,” he said. “I don’t see any drop-off or anything like that. We’ve put in the work and I expect to be myself whenever I come back.”
Rehab for Rutledge
The Red Sox soon could have a platoon partner for Pablo Sandoval.
Utility infielder Josh Rutledge (hamstring) will join center fielder Jackie
Bradley Jr. (knee) in an attempt to test his baserunning ability tomorrow. If it goes well, they’ll begin a rehab assignment in Triple-A Pawtucket on Tuesday.
Bradley is eligible to return from the 10-day disabled list on Wednesday.
“He’s eligible, but we’ll see how long it goes,” Farrell said. “I think at a minimum, we would see him in Baltimore (on Friday).”
Porcello review
One day after Rick Porcello allowed four homers, the Red Sox think they might have figured out some of the issues.
“There was maybe a tendency on his part to try to create more velocity, which causes him to yank some pitches,” Farrell said. “And then as he was going through his delivery, there was more tendency to drift and not be in sync in his timing, and that’s what leads to the mislocated pitches. This isn’t about health. It’s not about anything physical. It’s about repeating the delivery and executing.”
Moment of silence
There was a moment of silence at 2:49 p.m. yesterday for the victims of the 2013 Marathon Bombing.
“With Jackie Robinson Day, everything going around with Patriots Day and the Marathon, before the game started there was a lot of excitement and a lot of emotion,” Sale said. “It’s fun to feed off that and go out there and take that into the game.”
In honor of Robinson, all the players and coaches wore No. 42, the ninth straight year MLB has done that.