The real thing
Sox kick off key series against Yankees
NEW YORK — Nearly a quarter of the Red Sox games up to this point — 23.2 percent, to be exact — have been against the Orioles. It’s a scheduling quirk, the commissioner acknowledged, that might have contributed to the bad blood that boiled over earlier this season.
There was not enough time for old wounds to heal, and suddenly the Orioles emerged as the Red Sox’ most heated rivals, if only for a moment.
A few angry months, though, can’t usurp decades of animosity, and with the Yankees currently atop the American League East, it’s finally time for the Red Sox to set their sights firmly on their foes in the Bronx.
“When we saw them in spring training, you knew it was going to be a good team,” manager John Farrell said. “So, I don’t think anyone sees this as a fluke.”
Tonight, the Red Sox open their first series of the season at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees and Red Sox have played only twice this season, during a rain-abbreviated series at Fenway in April.
Each team has played the Pittsburgh Pirates more often.
“(The Red Sox) swung the bats really well in May,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “Obviously, they got David Price back. They got some people back. ( Pablo) Sandoval is back. ( Dustin) Pedroia is out. They’ve swung the bats, and they’ve pitched well, too. Obviously, it’s a big series. Right now, it’s one big series after another.”
For the Red Sox, it’s an honest opportunity to take control of the division. With a three-game sweep, they can overtake the Yankees for first place. If the Red Sox win 2-of-3, they will be tied with the Yankees in the win column.
If nothing else, the Red Sox can see for themselves what all the fuss is about. This Yankees team has generally defied expectations — but not Farrell’s expectations, apparently — to build the second-best record in the AL, two games ahead of the Red Sox.
“They’ve got a very good blend of young players and veteran guys,” Farrell said. “What Aaron Judge is doing is impressive to say the least. Both defensively and offensively. So they’re swinging the bat well. They’ve typically had a very strong bullpen, even with the absence of ( Aroldis) Chapman. They’re still doing a very good job.”
Chapman has a shoulder injury, young first baseman Greg Bird is still rehabbing a bruised ankle, and former Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury has been slow to return from a concussion.
But Judge is an early Rookie of the Year candidate, Dellin Betances has been dominant as the replacement closer, and longtime left fielder Brett Gardner is having his best season to date.
“You’ve got the leadership and experience of older guys that can take some younger guys under their wing,” Farrell said. “And maybe the older guys, the veteran players, take some of the pressure off the young players and they can play more free. It’s happening for them, and yeah, they’re a good team.”
Smith ready to face hitters
Tonight’s official first pitch won’t be the first pitch that matters for the Red Sox. Before the game, reliever Carson Smith is scheduled to face live hitters for the first time since last year’s Tommy John surgery.
“Just getting back on the mound and getting that competitive attitude against hitters,” Smith said. “I haven’t done that in over a year. Just looking to find that edge that every pitcher needs to get outs.”
Smith had surgery on May 24 of last year, having pitched just three times since the Red Sox acquired him in a December 2015 trade. Facing hitters should be his final test before a rehab assignment and eventually activation from the disabled list.
It’s a done deal
With Tyler Thornburg still working through a long-toss program after multiple setbacks from a spring training shoulder injury, that offseason trade with the Brewers isn’t looking so good at the moment. It arguably got worse yesterday when the Red Sox completed the deal with 18-yearold shortstop Yeison Coca named as the player to be determined later, joining Travis Shaw, Mauricio Dubon and Josh Pennington in the trade.
Coca hit .308 in the Dominican Summer League last year and was named the Red Sox’ 25th-best prospect by Baseball America heading into this season. . . .
WEEI’s Tim Neverett announced that former Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens will call the June 16 game against the Astros with him. Longtime Sox play-by-play voice Joe Castiglione will skip that game, Neverett said. Also, former Sox TV voice Don Orsillo, who now works for Fox and calls San Diego Padres games primarily, announced he would be calling the June 17 SoxAstros game for FS1.