Boston (65-52) is coming off of a 3-2 victory in a make-up game at Cleveland Monday.
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Ortiz also knows what it means to be a victor, having led the Red Sox to World Series titles in 2004, 2007 and 2013 after they had gone 86 years since their previous title in 1918. The loss ended the Indians’ four-game winning streak.
“Yeah he’s not a confident pitcher right now”, Farrell said when Hembree was demoted. A game like today, it would have been perfectly understandable if he wasn’t in the lineup yet he was in there.
As always, ten-time All-Star David Ortiz (.312, 27 HR, 92 RBI) leads the way for the Sox, while he is joined by a pair of rising 23-year-old stars in Mookie Betts (.313, 26 HR, 84 RBI) and Xander Bogaerts (.312, 14 HR, 69 RBI) along with captain Dustin Pedroia (.308, 12 HR, 53 RBI) and breakout star centerfielder Jackie Bradley Jr.
“I’m not going to walk guys, I’m going to challenge them, but I’m trying to avoid the crooked numbers (on the scoreboard) as much as I can”, Tomlin said.
“That hasn’t really happened lately. I have to limit the traffic on the bases in order to limit the damage for myself and my team”.
(AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek). Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Braden Shipley delivers against the New York Mets in the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in New York.
Perez gave up one earned run in seven innings to take an overdue win, after going 0-4 over his previous eight starts. Francisco Lindor doubled and Mike Napoli walked, but closer Craig Kimbrel struck out Carlos Santana and Jason Kipnis and retired Abraham Almonte on a pop up for his 20th save.
Gallardo was a tough-luck loser last time out on the road versus the Oakland Athletics, giving up only one run and four hits in six innings of a 1-0 defeat.
For four months, the Red Sox haven’t won many games that fit this description: low-scoring, close, against quality opponents. “When we look up towards the end of September, he’ll be in the (American League Cy Young Award) conversation”, Red Sox manager John Farrell said.
The Red Sox tried to get the Tigers to push the start time back to late afternoon or evening when the times were set in the offseason.
Swihart injured his ankle during a June 4 game against the Toronto Blue Jays, when he slammed into the wall at Fenway Park while going after a fly ball.
“This was a great win for us”, said Drew Pomeranz (1-2), who pitched into the eighth inning.
However, the ageless David Ortiz transformed the lifeless Red Sox with one swing of the bat. Third baseman Aaron Hill led off with a single to right-center field, and first baseman Travis Shaw, a Kent State University product, followed with a double to deep left.
INJECTION FOR WILSON: Lefty reliever Justin Wilson received a cortisone shot over the weekend in Dallas for his ailing elbow, explaining his absence over the last four games, Ausmus said.
Indians: RHP Danny Salazar (sore right shoulder) is scheduled to start Thursday against the White Sox. He hasn’t pitched since August 1.
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Yovani Gallardo (4-4, 5.17 ERA) will take the mound against southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez (2-5, 5.43 ERA) in the series opener on Tuesday.
