Price’s right but not ideal
Club opts to have left-hander do another Triple-A rehab start
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Red Sox will have to wait at least another week to get
David Price back into the starting rotation.
Manager John Farrell announced yesterday that Price, recovering from a forearm strain suffered in spring training, would make a second rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket on Wednesday at McCoy Stadium.
The Sox were originally hopeful that Price would rejoin the rotation five days after his first rehab start Friday night, but he was knocked around for three runs and exited after just two innings, having thrown 65 pitches. The Sox wanted to see Price get up to 85-90 pitches.
“The fact that he threw that high number of pitches in two innings was a great test for him physically,” Farrell said. “Had a chance to speak to him live here this morning. He’s at Fenway working out. He’ll throw a light bullpen tomorrow and he’ll start for Pawtucket on Wednesday.”
Farrell said there were no physical limitations with Price and that the pitcher felt great after two long innings, but the Sox need to see more.
“Just continue to build out the innings, the number of pitches thrown, and get back into the flow of things,” Farrell said. “It’s about going out and executing pitches. That’s not to say he didn’t last night but there were a high number of foul balls and deep pitch counts and deep atbats. But the bottom line is he feels great physically. Threw long toss aggressively. That’s probably equally as positive of a hurdle as it would have been if he went six innings last night and 80 pitches.” Price might have passed the physical test, but the results weren’t there. As much as the Red Sox need the help, it makes no sense to rush him back.
With an off day tomorrow, the Red Sox will skip Hector Velazquez’ turn and throw Rick Porcello on Tuesday and Chris Sale on Wednesday. Thursday’s starter has yet to be decided on, but the Sox could insert Drew
Pomeranz, who went just four innings in yesterday’s 8-3 loss to the Oakland A’s, on regular rest.
’Pen falls to pieces
The bullpen was as bad it has been all year in the third straight loss to the A’s.
Entering the day, the Red Sox ’pen ranked No. 4 in the majors with a 2.84 ERA. But
Ben Taylor and Noe Ramirez combined to allow four homers in four innings of relief, marking just the second time in five years that Sox relievers allowed as many as four home runs in a single game.
“Tried to get two innings out of Taylor,” Farrell said. “And unfortunately it turned out as it did.”
Taylor replaced Pomeranz, who needed 97 pitches to get through his four innings.
Mark Canha homered to start the fifth inning off Taylor, Jed Lowrie singled and Khris Davis hit his 13th homer of the year, a monster shot to center field.
Taylor was removed without getting an out.
Ramirez, called up from Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday, was throwing low-90s sinkers that didn’t have much sink. He recorded one out before Chad Pinder hit a tape-measure shot to left-center that landed in the second deck. The A’s believe it to be the fourth time a player has ever homered to that part of the stadium, which has been open since 1968.
Lowrie hit another jack, this one to right field in the sixth inning.
“That was the whole goal, trying to get two innings out of some guy in the middle there,” Farrell said. “Noe picks us up, which is just eating up some innings. But we’re back in the thick of the meat of the order. Starting the fifth, felt like we needed to go right-handed. And given the pitch count and conditions with Drew, that was the decision.”
At last, a day off
Mitch Moreland finally got his day off.
For the majority of his career the first baseman has been used only against right-handers, but without any strong options to platoon him with on these Red Sox, the team had been using Moreland against both righties and lefties. He had appeared in every game until yesterday, when he got a breather and Josh Rutledge started at first base.
“We need to give Mitch a day off,” Farrell said. “Ideally would like to give (second baseman Dustin Pedroia) a day down (today) where we give him two days off prior to opening up the homestand as well. That would be a goal.”
Moreland had been on pace for 676 plate appearances despite a previous career high of 518.
“It’s been an adjustment for him,” Farrell said. “There have been days where he’s doing what he can in the weight room, the training room to get physically prepared to go. He’s in need of a day down today. Then again, when you’re an everyday player, there might be some days where you’re not quite 100 percent, even at the sevenweek mark of the season.”
“To date, he’s on pace right now to be pretty close to what his normal numbers are, so I don’t know if it’s been a major influence or impact one way or another.” . . .
Eduardo Rodriguez starts for the Sox today as they try to avoid a four-game sweep. He has made five straight quality starts with a 2.40 ERA in that span.