Manager hedges his Betts
RF exits to be safe
For the second time in two weeks, Mookie Betts
came out of a Red Sox game early due to injury concerns.
Betts made an early exit from the game against Tampa Bay yesterday after hitting a double and scoring two plays later in the fourth inning. The Rays beat the Sox, 12-6.
The Red Sox later announced that Betts left the game for precautionary reasons with right hamstring tightness and is considered day to day. The Sox just lost Brock Holt to the disabled with a hamstring strain he suffered Thursday in Toronto.
Yesterday, Betts doubled to lead off the fourth, moved to third on a routine groundout by Andrew Benintendi and scored easily from third on an RBI single from Hanley Ramirez.
There was no obvious injury to observe, but he never returned to play defense in the top of the fifth.
Blake Swihart replaced him and took over in left field, moving Benintendi to center and Jackie Bradley Jr. to right.
Betts hurt his hamstring “Rounding the bases early in the game,” manager Alex Cora said. “It was just tight and obviously we’re going to take care of him. We’re not going to take any chances. He’s day to day, we’ll see how shows up tomorrow and we’ll go from there.”
Betts also came out of a game early on April 14 after hurting his foot in a home plate collision. He’s dealt with knee problems in the past but there hasn’t been any word about the knees bothering him this season.
Bogey dives right in
Xander Bogaerts, who returned from an ankle injury on Friday, made his second straight start at shortstop and appeared to hurt his back while diving to make a catch in the sixth inning, but after a visit from the trainer he stayed in the game. Bogaerts is likely to have today off, Cora said.
After one day on the bench, Benintendi returned to the Red Sox’ lineup and went 3-for-5 with two doubles.
Benintendi entered the game hitting just .229 with one home run, but with 16 walks to go with 17 strikeouts. The left-handed hitting outfielder has been hitting second in the lineup all year and the Sox have been looking for him to get going.
“I do feel it’s the way they attack him,” Cora said. “They made a big adjustment, or I don’t know if that’s the way they attacked him last year but he’s not getting many pitches to drive. In spring training he was getting a lot of pitches he was able to handle and do damage with.”
Bradley had another rough day, going 1-for-4 with two strikeouts and a disastrous play in center field. He entered the day hitting just .205 with two homers and a .295 on-base percentage.
“I for one have been missing a lot of my opportunities, so I’m one to put the blame on myself,” Bradley said. “I’ve got to be better.”
Cora has been waiting for Bradley to get hot.
“I do feel he’s making strides,” Cora said. “He’s been able to hit the ball the other way. He’s not striking out as much . . . . But we do feel he’s making strides staying in the middle of the field. Yesterday he crushes the ball right at the second baseman. You can’t control that but as far as the approach he’s doing a better job.
“He’s just missing his pitches.”
Wright back, but ...
Knuckleballer Steven Wright returned from the disabled list yesterday, but was not available to the Red Sox, since he’s serving a 15-game suspension handed out by MLB for his involvement in a domestic violence incident during the offseason.
Wright, coming back from knee surgery, allowed five runs in five innings during his second rehab start with Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday.
“He did OK,” Cora said. “He ran out of gas a little bit late in the game. I texted with (Pawtucket manager) Kevin Boles this morning, he felt that he was good. Let’s see what the next step is going to be, if we’re comfortable with him the way he is.”
Wright will be eligible to return on Monday, May 14, when the Red Sox are home against the Oakland A’s.
He was arrested in December following an argument with his wife. The case will be dropped in December if he has no further issues with the law.
Still, MLB found Wright guilty of violating their domestic violence policy and suspended him.
No tipping allowed
A day later, the Red Sox still weren’t sure if Drew Pomeranz was tipping his pitches.
After Pomeranz allowed four runs in five innings Friday night while pitching with an ineffective curveball, his best pitch, pitching coach Dana LeVangie said he had reasons to believe Pomeranz might have been tipping his pitches and was going to study the video.
Yesterday morning, Cora said he still hadn’t found anything.
“I’m trying, I’m looking, but no, nothing yet,” Cora said. “We’ll keep looking at it.”
Pomeranz is slated to pitch next on Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals once again at Fenway Park.