After a slow start, offense finally getting on a run

BOSTON — Red Sox hitting coach Peter Fatse believes his offense is on the right track.

After a forgettable start to the season, the Red Sox scored 58 runs in their previous 10 games entering Friday, batting .285 over that span with an .840 OPS. The Sox have hit 12 home runs in those 10 games compared with just 16 over their first 29 games.

“Our commitment to the strike zone has been really good,” Fatse said Friday ahead of the team’s second game of a four-game set against the Mariners. “We’ve been winning the battleground areas every night that we need to win in order to have success. You’re seeing the slug start to go up, guys hitting the ball in the air a little bit more.”

The Sox have had quality offensive production from Trevor Story, who was fresh off a 4-for-4 game in which he belted three homers, registering seven RBIS. Story said after Thursday’s contest that he felt as if he now has better balance at the plate and is on time.

Brasier optioned to Worcester: The Red Sox officially optioned righthanded reliever Ryan Brasier to Triple A Worcester. Michael Wacha was activated from the injury list.

Brasier dealt with a number of injuries that kept him sidelined for most of last season. He was finally healthy this year, but struggled mightily, to the tune of a 6.28 ERA in 18 games (14 ⅓ innings). Brasier had a 1.465 WHIP and allowed a whopping five homers.

“It’s one of those that it’s not an easy decision,” manager Alex Cora said. “We know what he means to us but in the end, he knows he has to get better and he will. It’s a guy that at one point he’s going to come back and he’s going to help us accomplish what we’re trying to do.”

Woosox’s Seabold a scratch: Woosox starter Connor Seabold was scratched from his start Friday with what Cora described as a right pectoral strain, which is similar to what Garrett Whitlock experienced toward the end of last season.

“We shut him down,” Cora said. “We’ll see how he progresses in the upcoming days.”