Feature show: Platoon
Benny sits early, clutch late
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Red Sox don’t seem worried — nor should they be — about Andrew Benintendi.
After being benched for the second time in three days — he’s currently in a platoon with Chris Young and only starting against right-handers — the left fielder entered in the ninth inning and hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the 11th to lead the Red Sox to a 7-5 win last night over the Texas Rangers.
Benintendi didn’t exactly clobber a breaking ball over the plate, but the weak contact resulted in a blooper that landed just over the shortstop’s head in left-center. The Rangers had been playing in with the bases loaded.
“Benny gets just enough for the two-run single,” manager John Farrell said.
Benintendi’s season has been a mixed bag.
His .783 OPS ranks third among all the 22-and-under major leaguers, he’s playing fine in left field and is 9-for11 in stolen-base attempts.
But there’s one part of his game that continues to be a struggle for the Red Sox rookie: Hitting against lefties.
Texas threw southpaw Martin Perez against the Red Sox last night and Benintendi was on the bench while Young was hitting third, the same alignment they used two days ago in Toronto when the Blue Jays had a lefty on the mound.
“He’s been the guy that we’ve obviously platooned or mixed and matched with CY,” Farrell said. “But long term, he’s going to get atbats against left-handers. He’s that good of a hitter.”
Benintendi is just 11-for42 (.262) against lefties this year after going 5-for-28 (.179) against them in 2016. Ten of his 12 doubles this season are against righties, as are all 10 of his home runs.
“In time, I could see him producing as (center fielder) Jackie ( Bradley Jr.) is,” Farrell said. “They’ve both hit well against lefties in the minor leagues, and I would expect that to continue.”
Young has hit only .235 with a .602 OPS against lefties this year, but is one of the league’s best leftymashers dating back to the start of the 2015 season, a time frame in which he’s hit .310 with a .911 OPS.
The Red Sox are hoping the left-handed hitting Benintendi progresses the way Bradley did.
Bradley struggled early in his career against southpaws, hitting .241 with a .685 OPS against them from 2013 through 2016, but he’s on a tear against them this year, hitting .392 with a 1.161 OPS.
“I think it’s Jackie staying with a defined strike zone,” Farrell said. “When he addresses pitches that are in the strike zone, he’s a dangerous hitter. When he’s gone through some streaks the other way, it’s when he’s expanded the strike zone and maybe has become overly aggressive. He’s an aggressive type of hitter, but still, when he’s been in the strike zone, he hasn’t missed his pitch.”
No homesickness
Mitch Moreland’s adjustment after saying goodbye to the Rangers after last season has been a smooth one thus far.
Back in Texas for the first time since he signed a oneyear, $5.5 million contract with the Sox in the offseason, Moreland said he couldn’t be happier in Boston.
Asked if he thought the Rangers would try to resign him, he said, “I didn’t know. I just tried to go out and find a good place and somewhere I was happy and excited about playing. I’ve been happy so far for sure.”
Moreland entered last night with an .812 OPS, which ties his previous career high. He’s hit 18 doubles and 12 homers, on pace to pass his previous highs of 27 and 23, respectively.
He said it was bittersweet to be in Arlington, but the Rangers are below-.500 and the Red Sox are in first place.
“Obviously I’ve got a lot of friends over there and wish them well and still follow them and support them,” he said. “But yeah, I’d much rather be in this situation. We’ve had a great year so far, and I feel like we’re only getting better.”
Farrell said he thinks Moreland, who is playing through a fractured toe, has benefited from getting rest against left-handed pitching, with Sam Travis getting those starts.
“I think he has,” Farrell said. “I think most any player is going to benefit from some recovery time. Mitch has had some ailments we know of that a day off his feet (will help). You see it with some of the swings the following day where it’s maybe eliminated some of the peaks and valleys that you might see with a player. But Mitch has gotten on a good run, and I think that run kind of coincided when Sam came up and played a couple of games a couple of road trips ago.”
E-Rod in relief?
Eduardo Rodriguez will not make another start for the Red Sox before the All-Star break.
Rodriguez has been out since June 2 with a right knee dislocation. He allowed six runs on nine hits in three innings during his first rehab start in Double-A Portland last week and will make his next start with Triple-A Pawtucket today.
“He’ll likely rejoin us when we get to Tampa (on Friday) to throw a bullpen,” Farrell said. “The decision would be, do we activate him to make him available that last day or two (out of the bullpen)? Or do we start him once again on rehab with lining him up coming out of the break?”
The Red Sox aren’t making Rodriguez a reliever full-time, Farrell said. It would just be for the weekend. . . .
Farrell said he thinks Chris Sale would be a good candidate to start for the American League in the All-Star Game, but he hasn’t yet talked to AL manager Terry Francona about it. . . .
Brian Johnson will make a rehab start tomorrow for Pawtucket.