Wade Miley struck out nine and Travis Shaw picked up his first three major league hits, including a one-out single to start Boston’s comeback in the seventh.
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The 26-year-old right-hander, acquired from Detroit during the offseason, was projected to be a top-of-the-rotation starter. Sure, throw a four-year, $88 million contract his way. He’s one of Boston’s most reliable players and comes through whenever Manager John Farrell calls his number.
Bauer gave up two runs in the first inning, but then held Houston scoreless on four hits over the next seven innings.
Miami tried to battle back in the eighth after a solo shot from Michael Morse cut the home team’s lead back to three.
Frustrating loss, no doubt about that, manager Dan Jennings said.
There have been other players like Holt who have done this before and they prove to be a great weapon for their team. “There’s no excuse for that”. Miami (35-48) won five of six immediately after Stanton fractured his left wrist June 26, but it couldn’t get much going during a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs.
Porcello returned to his 5.90-ERA form in the fourth inning, however, relinquishing two runs to the Marlins.
“Any time you give them extra outs, you really have to bear down and try to put up a zero”, he said. “Once I did that, I was able to settle in”.
In the fourth, the Marlins had consecutive RBI singles by J.T. Realmuto and Cole Gillespie.
Ortiz’s performance came against the backdrop of a night in which he played first base.
– Ortiz snapped an 0-for-9 skid with his homer in the second and followed that with a ground rule double to the triangle in the sixth inning.
It didn’t stop there as Boston went up by four in the seventh after an error allowing Alejandro De Aza to reach first and eventually score. Justin Bour started at first and went 1 for 4.
Now, Boston is still in last place but is just five games off the pace – with the first-place New York Yankees coming to town for three games over the weekend.
“He fully recognizes where he’s at and continues to work at getting this thing turned around”, Farrell said of Napoli. “Pedey’s responded well. He’s going to be on the field when he’s first ready without any undue risk”.
So, although the Red Sox still owned a two-run cushion after Ichiro Suzuki smacked Miami’s fifth straight single, confidence in their pitcher to protect it was at an all-time low.
Although they’ve played better recently, the Red Sox are six games under. 383 OBP, Holt is arguably a valuable player and might do Red Sox proud if he enters the game. It was the worst start in franchise history and it further underlined the club’s need to add a veteran pitcher if they hope to contend for a division title this year.
Ortiz has been platooned at first when the Red Sox face right-handers in interleague games.
Almost two weeks without Dustin Pedroia hasn’t stopped the Boston Red Sox from having one of their better offensive stretches of the season.
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Mostly, Porcello relied heaviliy on his two-seamer and four-seamer, with the occasional curveball, the latter of which he utilized to get back into counts at times.
