New and improved
Youthful Sox a tough out
TORONTO — Where have the old Red Sox gone — the Red Sox who were slow and flat-flooted, couldn’t play defense and made bone-headed plays in crucial moments?
Those Red Sox would have been eaten alive by the big-swinging Blue Jays in three games at the ear-popping Rogers Centre.
The first-place Jays entered the series against the last-place Red Sox having gone 7-1-1 in nine series since Aug. 18, their only series loss coming at Fenway Park. But after the Sox took 2-of-3 again this weekend, each team is now an identical 7-2-1 over their last 10 series.
The Red Sox could’ve used this new version of Rich Hill — seven innings, three earned runs, 10 strikeouts in yesterday’s 4-3 win — back in April or May, when any pitcher with good command would have been an upgrade over most of the guys the Sox were putting on the mound. But they’ll bring an inspiring style of baseball back to Fenway Park tonight. It’s the last homestand of the year and their last chance to give something back to the fans who have painfully supported them this season.
The Red Sox have gone young — the 11th-youngest team in the majors right now. Even with the 39-year-old David Ortiz on the roster, the Sox have an average age of 27.7, and it shows with their speed and attentiveness.
Yesterday, five players reached base safely after hitting weak groundballs on the infield. The Sox then scored three of the four runs thanks to some good, old-fashioned hustle.
In the fourth inning, with the Ortiz shift on, Xander Bogaerts brought back memories of Mookie Betts on Opening Day at Fenway Park. Ortiz hit a grounder toward first, chasing Bogaerts to second as first baseman Chris Colabello and pitcher Mark Buehrle connected to beat Ortiz to the bag for an out. But when Bogaerts slid into second, he popped up and sprinted to third. And when Buehrle made a wild throw, trying to hit an on-the-run third baseman Josh Donaldson, Bogaerts scored.
The Jays have been playing nearperfect baseball for almost a month, but the Red Sox forced them into making one mistake after another this series.
And the Sox have been without Hanley Ramirez (disabled list) and have been giving Travis Shaw an opportunity that he’s taken full advantage of. Shaw had three more hits yesterday, bringing his average up to .281 with 11 home runs and 27 RBI in 51 games, a pace that would give him 36 homers and 86 RBI over a full season.
“Trying to do anything I can to help the team, wherever they put me,” Shaw said. “Right now I’m feeling pretty confident at the plate.”
Shaw might not have the pedigree or track record of a big market first baseman, but he plays a lot like Brock Holt, doing everything a little better than average. He swings to the opposite field, too, which is exactly what the Sox are trying to get Pablo Sandoval to do.
The Sox led the American League with a .323 average on balls hit the other way last year and they’re hitting .324 that way this year.
For now, they might be better off with Sandoval on the bench as he nurses a team-low .245 average, but he’s under contract for four more years.
“Switching leagues, there’s a little bit of a learning curve, getting to know the pitchers and their different styles,” interim manager Torey Lovullo said.
The Rays are in town to start the week, then the Orioles, so the playoff atmosphere will be missing. The Sox will get one more chance at it next Monday, when they visit the Yankees.
A month ago, those might have been circled as four give-me games for the Yankees, an automatic series win. But not lately.
“There’s a lot of bright things on the way for the Boston Red Sox and it’s fun to watch right now,” Lovullo said.