Marrero and Lin win game of chances
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Red Sox should have been in panic mode the past two days. Their infield depth couldn’t be stretched much thinner, and now they’ve been forced to play without their rock-steady shortstop, who might be an All-Star next week but for now remains sidelined with a sore left groin.
But manager John Farrell showed not even a hint of concern yesterday. Xander Bogaerts could be back as early as tonight, and in the meantime, he has Deven Marrero and Tzu-Wei Lin handling the left side of the infield.
That’s actually been a far better solution than anyone might have expected three months ago.
“Tzu-Wei and Deven both stepped in and given us everything we could have anticipated,” Farrell said. “They’ve played very good defense, which is a priority, and (Sunday) particularly, with the late scratch of Bogey and Deven stepping in, they go 6-for-10 with a number of runs scored.
“They’ve contributed. And I think Tzu-Wei has been a pleasant surprise given the way he’s hit the baseball with the fair consistency he’s shown.”
They contributed again last night, Marrero with a hit and a walk, Lin with a walk and two runs scored. He drew the walk that started the game-winning rally in the 11th, coming home with the go-ahead run on Andrew Benintendi’s two-run bloop single with the bases loaded.
Marrero and Lin were longshots to play a role this season — Lin much more so than Marrero — and it was especially hard to think they’d become a source of comfort.
But opportunity came knocking after Pablo Sandoval, Marco Hernandez, Josh Rutledge and Brock Holt each landed on the disabled list, decimating the Red Sox’ infield depth and sending the team scrambling for options.
Marrero’s slick glove solidified the revolving door at third base earlier this season. He hasn’t hit much, but he’s hit better than he did in Triple A, and his offensive contributions have been legitimately helpful. He has more RBI than Chris Young.
“The comfort against lefthanded pitching is clear,” Farrell said. “There’s greater authority in the swing, more confidence at the plate. As the breaking ball for a right-hander has given him some problems, love the fact that he doesn’t cower from it or turn away from it. He spends some extra time in the cage with the breaking-ball machine to begin to recognize the spin a little more. It’s allowed him to adjust the swing slightly to put some of those pitches in play.”
It’s Lin’s offensive performance, though, that’s been particularly eye-opening. The 23-year-old has started the past two games at shortstop in place of Bogaerts, and he’s hit .286 with two triples overall.
Lin’s still never played in Triple A — the Sox were so desperate for infield help, they promoted him straight from Double A — and until this year, he’d never posted a minor league OPS better than .659.
In Portland this year, though, he was hitting .302 with an .870 OPS while playing second base, shortstop and center field before his call-up.
“It’s been a sizable jump this year,” Farrell said. “Particularly with the way he swung the bat against left-handers in the minor leagues. And what you like about him, he’s got an awareness on the field that is being shown. (Sunday) the push bunt is one, but also the way he’s been calm in the batter’s’ box and not been in awe of the stage and environment. It’s been great to see.”
Farrell said there’s a “good chance” Bogaerts will be back in the lineup tonight. “We’re confident it’s not a long-term thing,” Farrell said. “It is day-to-day. He responded well to treatment.”
In his stead, though, the Sox have at last found some infield stability on their bench. Not the players they expected to fill these roles, but players who have done enough to chip in when needed.
“(Lin)’s making most of the opportunity,” Farrell said. “As is Deven.”