Bogaerts goes 0-for-2
No Star spot, then hit in hand
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Xander Bogaerts’ tough Thursday began even before Tampa Bay’s Jacob
Faria ended his night after one inning.
The Red Sox shortstop finished second to Kansas City’s Mike Moustakas in the All-Star Game Final Vote, meaning Bogaerts isn’t headed to Miami as the 32nd member of the American League squad.
Barring injury, the Red Sox All-Star contingent will be three: Chris Sale, Craig
Kimbrel and Mookie Betts. Bogaerts, whose 96 hits and .308 average lead the team, took a 92-mph Faria fastball in his right hand/ wrist as the third batter of last night’s game. In obvious pain, Bogaerts was tended to for several minutes, but remained in the game to run before being replaced for the defensive half of the first. X-rays came up negative, but the hand was noticeably swollen hours afterward.
“I mean, I lost, and then I got hit,” said Bogaerts, offering a wry assessment of his day, “so that was two tough ones.”
He said he had not yet tried to pick up a bat, but just picking up a baseball and trying to throw was very difficult.
“I’m not encouraged by how it’s feeling. The X-ray, that was a lot, so hopefully it feels better tomorrow when I wake up,” said Bogaerts. “I’ve been hit quite a few times in my hand, in that area, on the other hand. This was probably the one that hurt the most. Even with the ice on and getting treatment, it was definitely the one that hit me hardest.
“We’ll see how I feel tomorrow and take it day-byday. Hopefully it feels a lot better than today. That’s what I’m hoping.”
Tzu-Wei Lin moved to shortstop in Bogaerts’ absence, with Deven Marrero entering to play third.
Earlier, Bogaerts was announced as the winner of the Twitter portion of the AL’s Final Vote, but it wasn’t enough to unseat Moustakas, who has 25 homers after slamming six in eight games, including on all three full days of voting.
“It was close,” said Bogaerts. “It’s always fun. It’s definitely an honor to be up there. I know the fans tried their best, the people back at home tried hard, and I’m definitely blessed to have them on my side. Hopefully, you never know what will happen next year or even this year. You never know.”
Moustakas, who was already headed to All-Star festivities as part of Monday’s Home Run Derby, finished with 15.6 million votes. He also won the Final Vote in 2015. The league didn’t release specific totals, but Bogaerts outpaced Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius, Texas shortstop
Elvis Andrus and Rays first
baseman Logan Morrison.
E-Rod coming soon
Eduardo Rodriguez will get one last rehab start for Pawtucket (Triple-A) on Sunday before rejoining the Red Sox after the AllStar break.
On the DL since the first week of June with a right knee subluxation, Rodriguez has been roughed up in two rehab starts so far. With enough starters for the moment, the team will allow Rodriguez more time.
“Given the time that he’s missed, he’s got to build back some arm strength, he’s got to build back the pitch count and the overall command,” said Sox manager John Farrell before last night’s game. “That’s why we feel it’s important for him to make one more before he rejoins us.”
For now, Rodriguez would likely make his first big-league start against the Blue Jays, following the first post-break series against the Yankees.
Before he got hurt, Rodriguez (4-2, 3.54 ERA in 11 games, 10 starts) was the club’s second-best starter.
“We lost a guy at the time who’s throwing the ball extremely well. He was powerful, he was gaining confidence, he was working deeper into games.” said Farrell. “Hopefully we can regain that form . . . he would be a huge boost to this rotation.”
Sale off
The club has yet to reveal its post-break rotation order, but Farrell said everyone but Sale, who lost 4-1 last night and will pitch in Tuesday’s All-Star Game, will likely be slotted to pitch with an extra two days rest.
Sale struggled last night by his standards, allowing four runs and seven hits in seven innings. He was offered the chance to fly ahead of the team from Texas on Wednesday and get a good night’s sleep in Florida. Sale opted not to, meaning he arrived at the team hotel after 5 a.m.
“That’s something that he’s experienced in the past, where he’s traveled ahead, and based on his experience, it has never really worked out,” said Farrell.
Sale’s 178 strikeouts after 12 last night lead the majors, and are the most by a pitcher at the All-Star break since Curt Schilling’s 186 in 2002.
Loose threads
Carson Smith will try to throw off the mound here as part of his recovery from last year’s Tommy John surgery, with Farrell noting he’s “improving” and that the righty reliever is making “steady progress” in his throwing program. . ..
Based on how he’s coming out of his outings, Farrell may start using Joe Kelly more regularly, that is, in back-to-back games out of the bullpen.
“Depending on the number of pitches thrown on a given night,” said Farrell. “Joe’s doing a very good job of getting through those moments. . . . I think the day is coming where we can start using him a little bit more.”