Houston is the major league leader in home runs. They are 6.0 games behind in the Wild Card race but have nine teams ahead of them. “Expect that to take place today”. “That was part of some of the conversation in getting him to this point”.
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Farrell’s call is the right one. “He fully recognizes the stretch that he’s in and what we’re trying to do to get back to being consistent with his two-seamer and curveball approach”. While the entire season has been a struggle, Porcello has been significantly better at home.
Sunday was a dream scenario for all those exhausted of seeing Napoli flail at strike three.
Boston’s regular designated hitter is playing first base and batting cleanup Sunday. Yet Farrell opted to play the DH in the field, where he is adequate but not spectacular.
“So it’s about putting the best lineup on the field today”. But it can not last.
Ortiz has been platooned at first when the Red Sox face right-handers in interleague games.
The Boston Red Sox pitcher has brought the dignity back to his team.
Since 2007, Ortiz is 30-for-139 (.216) with 35 strikeouts as a first baseman.
“I don’t know how frequently we would see this going forward”, Farrell said. Hanley Ramirez at DH.
That Farrell penciled in Ortiz at first base reflects the depth of Mike Napoli’s struggles at the plate. The hope is that three days off in a span of five (including Sunday, although he did come on a defensive replacement) has a positive impact. “Also gives us the ability to have De Aza in left field”.
Ramirez’ off-balance, one-handed two-run home run in the seventh inning proved to be the game-winner in the Red Sox’ 5-4 series-winning victory over the Astros, the latest in an increasingly encouraging series of victories. They can be difference-makers in those roles. The Marlins allow 4.1 runs per game, but does worse whenever an AL opponent is on the schedule. Before he was injured in 2013, his record was at 12-1, and he had a 1.74 ERA.
Conversely, a hot Pedroia could take a suddenly clicking offense to another level. “I want them to move on for their own sake, so they stop fooling themselves by buying in on Clay Buchholz”.
Hanigan followed that up with his second RBI hit of the game to extend Boston’s lead to two. It was a 10-game deficit (behind Tampa Bay at the time) just over two weeks ago. He served as the founder, editor and columnist for Sox and Pinstripes, a blog that covered the Red Sox and Yankees; and BoSox Banter, a site that covered the Red Sox, the Red Sox farm system and baseball-themed travel.
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There’s too much talk of the number of teams between Boston and those playoff spots.
