Boston wins 1st Rivalry (spring training) game of 2023
Mostly minor leaguers score 11 vs. Yankees
The Red Sox and Yankees met Thursday for the first time this year, but between the fact that spring training games don’t count, and the absence of many big-leaguers due to the World Baseball Classic, the game at Steinbrenner Field was devoid of Rivalry heat. Boston (9-0) won 11-7.
Even the fact that Thursday was 2003-tormenterturned-manager Aaron Boone’s 50th birthday did little to stoke the flames.
This October will mark 20 years since that infamous ALCS, and the Red Sox are one year away from celebrating the 20year anniversary of their own ALCS stunner. Aside from a few moments here and there, what was once a roiling boil has reduced to a low simmer.
Maybe it’s time to accept that the Rivalry will never again be what it was.
Regular-season Rivalry
The Red Sox and Yankees don’t face off in the regular season until June 9 in the Bronx.
In order to create a schedule in which each team plays at least one series against each of the other 29 clubs, divisional play is reduced this year. Instead of a 19-game season series, there will only be 13 regular-season games, spread out over four series.
The Yankees come to Boston June 16-18 and Sept. 11-14.
Home Run Derby
The Red Sox scored 11 runs on 13 hits on Thursday, including six home runs.
“Good day for the organization,” Alex Cora told reporters after the win.
Narciso Crook had a 2-homer game, and Tyler Dearden (solo), Daniel Palka (2-run), Eddinson Paulino (solo), and Phillip Sikes (solo) also collected round-trippers.
Sikes’ name may be unfamiliar, as he was the organization’s 18th-round pick in 2021. A 23-year-old outfielder, he had a quietly impressive year in 2022, collecting 29 doubles, five triples, and 11 homers in 94 games between Low- and High-A. He also stole 20 bases and was only caught once.
The game doesn’t count, but a Red Sox lineup comprised almost entirely of minor leaguers faced a lineup that included Giancarlo Stanton, Josh Donaldson, Anthony Rizzo, and Aaron Judge for at least one at-bat each, and outdid them. That’s depth.
CROOKed numbers
Crook, whom the Red Sox signed to a minor-league deal in November, provided an early lead when he hit a two-run homer off Yankees starter Clark Schmidt in the top of the second. He solidified the lead later on, taking Tyler Danish deep for three runs.
The 27-year-old outfielder debuted with the Cubs on June 30 of last year, and went 2-for-8 with a double, run, and pair of RBI in four big-league games.
Pivetta pitches twice
Nick Pivetta got the ball at Steinbrenner Field, and pitched the first 1 2/3 innings. The 30-year-old righty allowed two runs on two hits, walked three, and struck out one of nine batters faced. 28 of his 48 pitches were strikes.
As is allowed in spring training, he was able to reenter the game in the third inning, despite pulled for Ryan Miller in the previous frame. Pivetta quickly allowed a leadoff single to Aaron Judge, then struck out Anthony Rizzo before getting replaced by Durbin Feltman. Feltman pitched 1 2/3 innings and collected a pair of strikeouts, but was tagged for a hit and an earned run.
Norwith Gudino was the only other Red Sox pitcher to allow any runs. He gave up back-to-back home runs to Jasson Dominguez and Andres Chaparro in the bottom of the ninth before finally ending it.
Shutdown performances
Zack Kelly and Chase Shugart combined for three no-hit innings on Thursday.
Kelly got off to a shaky start, but after issuing a 1-out walk to Dominguez and hitting Chaparro, he settled in and struck out Stanton and Donaldson to end the fifth. He faced the minimum in the sixth, and ended his day with three strikeouts, the most by any Boston pitcher in the game.
The 28-year-old righty debuted last Aug. 29, and made 13 appearances for the big-league club, including two games finished. He posted a 3.95 ERA, 4.28 FIP, and 1.317 WHIP across 13 2/3 innings.
Old friend
In the top of the sixth, the Red Sox faced Danish, formerly of their bullpen, and did some major damage.
The 28-year-old righty faced seven batters and only managed to get one out. He allowed six earned runs on six hits, including three of the home runs.
After not pitching in the majors since 2018, Danish spent the 2022 season with Boston. Over 32 appearances, including 10 games finished, he posted a 5.13 ERA, 4.97 FIP, and 1.289
WHIP. Injury updates
Justin Turner can’t take the field until he gets his stitches taken out in about two weeks, but he was back at JetBlue Park on Wednesday. The Red Sox are hopeful he could be ready for Opening Day.
Brayan Bello and Garrett Whitlock will each face hitters for the first time on Saturday.
Less than a week after suffering a low-grade hamstring strain, Connor Wong is already taking batting practice. James Paxton, who sustained the same injury a day later, played catch on Wednesday and could be throwing off a mound by the end of the week.
Adalberto Mondesi, who only played 15 games last year due to a torn ACL, is hitting and taking grounders. He’ll undergo follow-up tests on Monday, Cora said earlier this week.
Quick hits
The injury bug has hit Yankees camp, too. Carlos Rodon (forearm strain), RHP Tommy Kahnle (biceps tendinitis), RHP Lou
Trivino (elbow strain), and RHP Frankie Montas (labrum surgery) will begin the season on the Injured List. You may recall that Rodon’s six-year, $162 million contract was finalized by his agent, Scott Boras, while he was at Fenway Park for the introduction of another client, Masataka Yoshida, earlier this winter.
Almost two weeks into spring training games, the new rules (pitch clock, shift restriction, larger bases) have made a significant difference. On Thursday, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that the average preseason game has been two hours and thirty-six minutes. Last year’s games averaged three hours and one minute. Stolen base attempts per game are 2.4, up from 1.6 last spring, and strikeout rates are down 0.8%.
Rob Gronkowski still believes in Boston. Appearing on NESN’s “Ultimate Betting Show” this week, the former Patriots tight end made a bold prediction about this year’s baseball team. “I would go with the Over,” he said. “I think they’re going to have 87 wins this year. I love the Red Sox.”