Holt recycles role
Back on bench day after making history
RED SOX NOTEBOOK
NEW YORK — Alex Cora usually has a three-home-run rule.
No matter the matchup, if you hit three home runs, you play the next day.
Hitting for the cycle doesn’t count.
One night after becoming the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit for the cycle in the playoffs, Brock Holt was on the bench against the Yankees and left-hander CC Sabathia in Game 4 of the American League Division Series last night.
Ian Kinsler (3-for-9 this postseason) was starting at second base in place of Holt (4-for-6).
“It wasn’t that hard, this decision,” Cora said. “I know he’s swinging the bat well, and I know what he did yesterday, but this is a different game, and we feel this is the best lineup that we have to go against (Sabathia). And they understand that.
“For the people outside this room, it looks like: ‘This guy’s nuts. What’s he doing?’ But for the people in here, it’s just like: ‘Yeah, there’s a reason we’re doing this, and that’s what matters.’ I get it. I understand why people might be asking why he’s not playing Brock or Rafael Devers, but at the same time, Sabathia, he’s pretty tough on lefties, and we have to maximize our lineup.”
Sabathia held left-handed hitters to a .180 average and .679 OPS this season, while righties hit .264 with a .732 OPS.
But Holt has gone against the platoon advantages before. Why not this time?
“It’s more about the guy on the mound,” Cora said. “He’s been great against lefties. The way we see it is we get him early with the righties or we have to grind with the righties through five innings. Obviously, they’re going to be all-in with the righties later on in the game. The way (Aaron Boone) has been managing, seems like (lefties) Zach Britton and Aroldis Chapman are his late guys. Might get a righty in between there, and we’ll go to our options. But we had to take our best shots with the righties in the lineup.”
Dating to Sept. 11, Holt is 21-for47 (.447) with four doubles, one triple and five home runs in 15 games including the postseason. Of all players in MLB with at least 40 at-bats since then, Holt’s average is by far the highest. In comparison, likely National League MVP Christian Yelich is hitting .397 in 68 at-bats during that span.
Perhaps the Sox believe Holt’s success has been matchup-related.
“No, I mean, he’s in a hot streak,” Cora said. “He didn’t play for 10 days, and he still put good at-bats yesterday. In this case, that guy is very tough against lefties. He is.”
Holt took the news well. “I called him this morning and he’s like, ‘I know,’ ” Cora said. “He knew it. Ian was the one, I texted him yesterday and he’s like, ‘Are you sure?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, 100 percent.’ He was joking. They knew before the game we were going this route. They’re ready.”
Price could go from ’pen
David Price was available in the bullpen last night for Game 4.
“He’s in the equation,”
Cora said.
“They got a different lineup tonight.
Andrew McCutchen and Miguel Andujar off the bench. We have to see where we match up. It’s a different lineup, and I do feel they will use everybody if we start matching up with them, so we look for the matchups and go from there.” . . .
Christian Vazquez was behind the plate in Game 4, his second straight start ahead of starter Sandy Leon.
Vazquez hadn’t caught Rick Porcello since the 2017 postseason.
“Christian, the last month has been great,” Cora said. “Really, really good behind the plate with pitches, blocking balls, throwing people out, sticking with the game plan defensively. I feel like he gave us enough (Monday) putting the ball in play, with the hit and run, the competitive at-bats. We feel comfortable with him.”
Moreland OK in a pinch
Mitch Moreland again was on the bench with hamstring soreness, though Cora said he was available to pinch-hit. Tzu-Wei Lin is working out with the team in case Moreland needs to be replaced on the roster . . . .
Nathan Eovaldi, who threw 97 pitches in seven strong innings on Monday, is unlikely to pitch again this series, though Cora wouldn’t rule it out. He’s had Tommy John surgery twice and the Sox want to be careful with him . . . .
MLB announced times for the ALCS on TBS. Game 1 is Saturday at 8:09 p.m., and Game 2 is Sunday at 7:09 p.m. The Patriots play the Chiefs on Sunday at 8:20 p.m.