Bogaerts keeps his bat on clutch
RED SOX NOTEBOOK
In the ninth inning yesterday, the Braves walked J.D. Martinez and loaded the bases with one out to face Xander Bogaerts. Understandable given that Martinez is one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball.
But it’s a strategy that’s becoming less understandable because Bogaerts is quickly becoming one of the most dangerous hitters in the game with the bases loaded or runners in scoring position.
Bogaerts doubled in two runs to give the Red Sox all the cushion they needed and then some in the 8-2 holiday victory.
Bogaerts now leads the majors with 26 extra-base hits with runners in scoring position, the most by a Red Sox since Manny Ramirez hit 28 in 2005. After 89 plate appearances in this situation this season with at least two runners on, Bogaerts has hit .394 (28-for-71).
“I don’t know why they do it but I like it,” said Bogaerts, about opposing managers’ tendency to pitch to him. “J.D. is having an amazing season, so I’m going to be facing a lot of situations like that. It doesn’t have to be bases loaded, it can be someone at second, they walk him, it can be first and second, I’ve got to be prepared.”
Manager Alex Cora loves the can’tlose proposition of having Bogaerts bat right after Martinez.
“We know, that’s the reason he hits behind J.D., he’s a good hitter,” said Cora. “He’s going to put the ball in play. He’s been doing it the whole season. It’s something that we know is going to happen. Teams are going to do that. But we have one of the best with men in scoring position. He put a good swing on it.”
Wright makes return
Steven Wright made his first appearance since June 22 when his knee began to bother him again. Wright pitched very well. After hitting the first batter, he got two groundouts and after a bloop single got a third groundout.
Cora was tickled to have a new weapon in his bullpen, especially a knuckleball-throwing, completechange-of-pace type of reliever.
“They don’t like that. You could see (Atlanta’s) Freddie (Freeman) looking at me, like, ‘What are you doing?’” said Cora. “It is uncomfortable. You saw (switch-hitter Johan) Camargo going to the right side, although he put the ball in play and got a hit, but it is different. His (knuckleball) is a hard one. We’ll look for matchups that we feel is better to use him there than other guys.
“At the same time, I don’t know how much different it makes a guy throwing 100, then Steven, then bring in a guy who’s throwing 100. He’s not going to face the same guys anyway.”
Cora hopes eventually to use Wright for multiple innings or other high-leverage spots, but one inning was enough in his first game back.
“I think for him to go into that game, that’s high leverage,” said Cora. “We’ve got to take care of him. He did a good job. Hopefully he’ll be able to pitch tomorrow. We can use him again. It was good to see. That thing was pretty good today.”
Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi did not allow a run in his 32⁄3 innings, but he needed 86 pitches, 38 in the first, for those 11 outs. Eovaldi was supposed to pitch tomorrow, but a rain delay in Chicago meant a short outing his last time on the mound.
“We knew he threw a few days ago so it was whatever he could give us,” said Cora. “The first inning got dangerous there, a lot of pitches. But he gave us all he had and after that we felt good with the guys we had.”
The team has yet to name a starter for tomorrow’s game, but it looks as if it will be either Hector Velazquez or Drew Pomeranz.
Price set to go on Friday
Help for the Red Sox rotation is in sight. On Friday, David Price “most likely” will return to the mound, Cora said.
Price was hit on the left wrist by a line drive last Wednesday at Fenway Park, and missed his scheduled start yesterday. Soreness and swelling have diminished and after recent throwing sessions, Price has the green light.
His start will kick off a three-game series against the Astros, who are trying to stay ahead of the A’s in the American League West. Gerrit Cole will start Friday, with Charlie Morton or Josh James on Saturday and Dallas Keuchel on Sunday.
Phillips, Devers get call
Veteran Brandon Phillips and rookie Rafael Devers will be activated before tonight’s game.
The 37-year-old Phillips was signed at midseason, and stayed in the minor leagues, playing 38 games for Pawtucket where he hit .302 with a .824 OPS.
“He’s done an outstanding job for everything I’ve heard,” said Cora. “He played second, third, and he had plenty of opt outs and he stayed with the team. Sometimes, it’s not about rewarding people because he’s a talented player but I do feel that, hey man, he wants to be part of this and I think he can contribute. He’s a guy, he can hit against lefties, he’s been around for a while. He’s a good guy in the clubhouse and he can help some of the young kids too so he’ll be with us.
“He has a chance to win a World Series ring, too. I think that’s important for him. And he’s playing well. Forget the whole, like, ‘cool story, he’s a great dude, blah, blah blah.’ He’s been playing well.”