Travis tries out at DH Fister a mystery
Rookie swings into action
RED SOX NOTEBOOK
BALTIMORE — The last time the Red Sox had somebody other than David Ortiz start a playoff game at designated hitter, they still were trying to snap the “Curse of the Bambino.”
The year was 1999, and the DH was Brian Daubach, who was 0-for-2 as the Sox lost Game 5 of the ALCS to the New York Yankees.
Auditions still are being held for the role of DH for a potential postseason run this year, and Sam Travis is getting a chance to prove he’s worthy, starting with last night’s 1-0 win against the Baltimore Orioles in 11 innings. The 24-year-old rookie first baseman was 1-for-3 in the victory and is hitting .300 in 27 career games. He was lifted for a pinch runner after an eighth-inning single.
“The last couple of times that Travis has been in a starting role, he’s gotten a base hit or two,” manager John Farrell said. “I thought it was a really competitive atbat (when Travis struck out swinging as a pinch hitter Monday) night against (Orioles reliever) Darren O’Day. He’s going to be at first base (tonight) against (Baltimore starter) Wade Miley, and I thought three or four atbats tonight prior to that would be a good thing.”
Hanley Ramirez, who has started 102 games as the designated hitter this year, is slowly recovering from biceps inflammation, among other injuries. He pinch-hit Monday night for his first appearance in five days and also struck out swinging. He’s expected to be the DH today against Miley, with Travis at first base. Ramirez is hitting just .133 with a .374 OPS since Aug. 31.
Travis has played sparingly since rosters expanded Sept. 1 and he returned from Triple-A Pawtucket. He now is 6-for-17 in limited playing time this month.
“He’s getting opportunities, so we’ll see how it goes,” Farrell said.
In the series opener, Christian Vazquez served as the DH. Last night, he was at catcher.
Also of note: Sox hitting coach Chili Davis was the DH for the Yankees in Game 5 of the ’99 ALCS.
Pedroia hurt again
Dustin Pedroia was out of the lineup again, though it’s not only his balky knee that is giving the second baseman trouble. He left Monday’s game after fouling a ball off his face and suffering what was termed a nasal contusion.
“He’s sore,” Farrell said of Pedroia, who was used as a pinch hitter last night and grounded into a double play. “I would expect him to be back in the lineup (today), but there was no further imaging here. Didn’t feel like the followup with the medical staff warranted it. But he is sore, there’s no question.”
Just like in the series opener, Brock Holt took Pedroia’s spot at second base last night.
Before tonight’s game, the Sox are hoping to put infielder Eduardo Nunez through a telling test of baserunning exercises. Nunez has been out with a knee injury that originally was thought to jeopardize his season, but he’s recovered quicker than anticipated and could return as soon as this weekend.
Price preps in ’pen
Before Sunday’s appearance against the Tampa Bay Rays, David Price last worked out of the bullpen in Game 4 of the 2015 ALDS for the Toronto Blue Jays, when he threw 50 pitches and earned a win against the Texas Rangers. Four days earlier, he had started Game 1 and threw 90 pitches in a loss.
Now, as Price returns from a tear in his pitching elbow by working in relief, the Red Sox are being extra cautious between outings. After his 21-pitch outing against the Rays, when he threw two perfect innings, the Sox wanted to give him at least two days’ rest.
“David said he was good to go (Monday) night even one day after the two innings of work, so that’s a great sign physically,” Farrell said. “But still, we’ve got to make sure we build appropriate rest for him.”
There’s no clear plan for Price.
“No, not an exact, hardand-fast calendar,” Farrell said. “When he is recovered and feels like he’s capable, that’s when we’ll put him in a game, game dependent. So, I think more importantly, though, the way he threw the ball on Sunday, the way he’s responded physically, this is another positive development. It’s David Price. It’s not (Cleveland Indians reliever) Andrew Miller.”
The Red Sox are trying to figure out why Doug Fister keeps giving up runs in the first inning, and even tried having him wait 10 minutes longer before warming up to start the series opener. But he still allowed a run in the first inning, something he’s done in six straight starts.
“Any time you see Doug Fister walk four guys in two-plus innings, that’s not characteristic of him,” Farrell said. “He’s usually a command-, control-type guy. I don’t think this is a mechanical adjustment, per se. I thought he threw a number of pitches last night that were borderline and didn’t get a call. To me, with Doug, the first hitter of every inning is an important one.
“He’s a contact pitcher, and when he records a first out in an inning, I think it bears out in the numbers. It’s pretty cut and dried. It’s usually a zero or a very successful inning. When they start getting multiple runners on in an inning, things start to build on him.”