Holt sinks Yanks with spin cycle
First to accompish feat during postseason
RED SOX NOTEBOOK
NEW YORK — The final home run was hit off a position player as Brock Holt completed MLB’s first postseason cycle last night.
Holt hit a two-run shot off Yankees backup catcher Austin Romine, who took the mound in the ninth inning of the Red Sox’ 16-1 victory over the Yankees in Game 3 of the American League Division Series, to complete his cycle.
It was an amazing performance by Holt in his first start of the postseason. He began the night with a productive out, moving Rafael Devers from second to third base as Devers eventually scored the first run of the game in the second inning.
But Holt made just one additional out the rest of the game, finishing 4-for-6 with a single, double, triple and homer. He scored three runs and collected five RBI.
Holt also hit for the cycle in a regular-season game in 2015.
The Sox have always been better with Holt in the lineup. Since Holt became a regular big leaguer in 2014, the Red Sox are 236-182 (.564) when he starts and 207-185 (.528) when he doesn’t. That’s about a six-win difference over 162 games.
Manager Alex Cora made four changes to the lineup last night.
Eduardo Nunez, Ian Kinsler and Sandy Leon were on the bench in favor Devers at third base, Holt at second and Christian Vazquez behind the plate against Yankees right-hander Luis Severino, who was knocked out of the game in the fourth inning.
Injured first baseman Mitch Moreland, who usually starts against right-handed pitching, was also out of the lineup for Steve Pearce.
Cora said he made the changes based on what he thought were better matchups against Severino.
“The guy on the mound, we can talk about numbers, I know what Brock his numbers are, but the way he swung the bat at the end, and the slider played in the wild card game, so hopefully we get him up and get a hanging whatever and Raffy can hit one in the stands and Brock can put up good at-bats,” the manager said. “With Christian, his ability to put the ball in play is important. (Severino is) a guy he goes to the slider and there’s a few things we feel we can do.”
The Red Sox will probably go back to their Game 1 lineup tonight in Game 4, when the Sox face left-hander CC Sabathia.
No more Mitch?
It doesn’t sound good for Moreland, but the Sox are hoping they won’t have to make a roster change.
Moreland hurt his hamstring running the bases in Game 2 on Saturday and was having trouble moving around on Sunday.
“Honestly, I was very concerned,” Cora said. “Today, less concerned but still concerned. For him not to play, it’s a lot. It takes a lot. He was here yesterday. Treatment was very aggressive. Today he walked in and is like, ‘I’m all right.’ We talked a little bit. If we use him, we use him, if we stay away from him, we stay away from him. It has to be kind of like perfect storm for him to go out there.”
Moreland has been beat up and was dealing with various ailments for much of the second half, when he saw his numbers dip dramatically after he made the AL All-Star team.
“It’s tough to see him that way, honestly after everything he went through (during) the season and taking care of him and then that happens,” Cora said of the hamstring. “It’s been going up and down, up and down. The most important thing is to be honest. That’s the most important thing. So far, he’s been honest.”
Price-fixing plan
Cora has an idea how he’d like left-handed starter David Price to adjust before his next outing.
“From my experience, and this is my only experience with him, everything was blended together as far as velocity,” he said of Price’s Game 2 performance, when he allowed three runs in less than two innings. “And we saw what happens early in the season when everything is together. There was some velocity. When the fastball was 93 mph and the changeup was 86 mph, he dominated. When he used his fastball in different spots he was really, really good.”
After throwing just 42 pitches in Game 2, Price told Cora he’d be fine to pitch out of the bullpen last night, but he was never used.
“We’ll see how we’re going to use him,” Cora said. “I talked to him today. He said he’s available. He’s in good spirits. We talked a little bit yesterday, just talked to him about it. We’ll see how it goes. Still, he made a start two days ago. Health is very important. I know there’s a point that everybody’s all in, but at the same time, I have to be smart about it. He told me that he’s all in, so, we’ll see how it goes.”