Grateful 8 for Sox
Sox bats extend win streak
There was one questionable pitch selection that led to two runs, but it was otherwise an encouraging game for Blake Swihart in just his second start behind the plate this season.
And Swihart got the Red Sox going with a long double in the third inning and finished 2-for-4 in the 8-4 thrashing at Fenway Park of Texas, which proved it may not matter who starts on the mound or behind the plate when the Sox are hitting like this.
It was supposed to be a bullpen game for the Sox. Hector Velazquez got the start, but hadn’t thrown more than 25 pitches in two weeks and wasn’t expected to go long. So lefty prospect Jalen Beeks was summoned from Triple-A Pawtucket to lengthen the game.
Starting pitching depth is not a friend of the Red Sox, nor has it been in recent years. But even with three starters on the disabled list, even with Swihart shaking off the rust and busting out his catcher’s mitt, the Sox made it look easy.
“It felt good to be back there,” Swihart said. “Kind of having a bullpen day like that helped me out. Seeing a lot of those guys and trying to get in a rhythm with them.”
Swihart’s catching skills have been oft-debated. And while he wasn’t much of a factor in the team’s planning this year, an injury to Christian Vazquez that will keep him out about two months forced Swihart back into duty.
Entering last night, pitchers have a 4.57 ERA when throwing to Swihart over his career, almost a half-run above the major league average of 4.15. But his arm is formidable and he’s athletic enough to move back there.
“We trust him,” Sox manager Alex Cora said.
Swihart called the shots for Velazquez, who gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead in the second inning but was otherwise efficient over three innings of one-run ball.
It was a grind to get 21⁄3 innings out of Beeks, who gave up three runs and is looking not much different than other Sox pitching prospects have looked in recent years.
But the bullpen otherwise pitched beautifully with Swihart. The only questionable moment came in the sixth, with two men on and Brandon Workman pitching to Joey Gallo. On a 2-1 count, Swihart made a cheeky call for a curveball after three straight fastballs and Gallo swung wildly, evening the count to 2-2. Gallo entered hitting just .080 off curves this year, according to Brooks Baseball.
Swihart called another fastball and Gallo smoked it off the Green Monster for a two-run double.
“I decided to go with Work right there because of the breaking ball,” Cora said. “But he threw a fastball up and Gallo made us pay. Besides that, the game went the way we planned it. It was a good all around effort for everybody.”
Swihart roped a liner into the triangle to start a rally in the third inning that bounced into the stands for a ground-rule double off Yovani Gallardo. He wasn’t on second base very long because Jackie Bradley Jr. then smoked another liner to the gap for an RBI double and the Sox were on the board. Andrew Benintendi added an RBI double, Mitch Moreland collected an RBI single and Xander Bogaerts roped a triple to score two more as the Sox took a 5-1 lead into the fourth.
“It felt good,” Swihart said. “Anything I can do to help the team win that’s what I want to do. Offensively, if I can help, that’s awesome.”
Swihart expects to catch twice a week in Vazquez’s absence.
“We trust the guy,” Cora said. “It’s just tough to play three catchers. But he stayed with it he’s been working hard, staying on top of the game, preparing like he’s an everyday catcher. He did an outstanding job, blocked a few balls, called the game with conviction. Offensively he got us going with that double. It was good to see.”
Over their eight-game streak the Red Sox have batted .332 with 25 doubles and 10 home runs. They have eight players hitting .333 or better in that span.
The Sox have now scored at least five runs in 55 of their 93 games, more than any other team, and are 48-7 in those games, including a 28-1 record over their last 29.
Ace Chris Sale goes tonight as the Red Sox go for a series sweep.