No other way to describe what just happened in Fenway Park. He becomes the first Red Sox pitcher to win his first 10 home starts in a season since Curt Schilling managed the feat in 2004.
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Minnesota Twins’ Miguel Sano, left, rounds third base past coach Gene Glynn (13) on a solo home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox in Boston, Saturday, July 23, 2016.
“[I feel] pretty good today”, Betts said.
Eduardo Rodriguez (2-4) allowed two runs on six hits and struck out eight over 5 1/3 innings for Boston. Manager John Farrell revealed after the game that this isn’t a brand new ailment – Betts has been receiving treatment for the knee issue, which has developed since the break – and it seems like the Red Sox want to get out in front of this and protect the premier leadoff hitter in the game. “You talk about dependable and reliable, he embodies that”.
Porcello turned in his worst outing in almost two months, allowing five runs – four earned – in 6 2/3 innings, but that didn’t matter thanks to three-run homers from Ramirez and Shaw. Manager Paul Molitor said Suzuki should return Saturday.
Designated hitter David Ortiz is expected to get Sunday off, with Hanley Ramirez taking his place. The Sox raised some eyebrows with the news that they were having Benintendi move over to left field at Double A Portland, perhaps in anticipation of playing the position for Boston at some point later this year.
Pedroia homered over the Green Monster. “Can’t take that for granted”, Milone said. “They capitalized hard on the mistakes”. Rodriguez entered the game with a terrible 7.18 ERA, and was even sent down to Triple-A Pawtucket following a 2.2 inning, nine run performance on June 27th.
The game would settle down a bit for the next few innings, but David Price again found himself in trouble in the sixth, allowing the Twins to plate a fifth run on a couple of singles and a sacrifice fly.
It’s nearly impossible for a starter in the big leagues to survive with just two pitches, as Rodriguez was attempting to do earlier this season. Suzuki had just returned to the lineup after resting Friday.
“It’s a potential one-run deficit coming off the field and they turn it into a mountain to climb”, Molitor said of Boston’s five-run fifth that led to an 8-7 victory over the Twins on Sunday. The Red Sox did not record another hit while Gibson was on the mound, as he held the Red Sox hitless from the second to eighth innings. Joe Mauer was the only batter Rodriguez walked, reaching with one out in the sixth before Heath Hembree took over for the Red Sox.
Kelly has only started since being acquired in 2014, but has pitched 52 2/3 career innings of relief with a 3.25 ERA. However, he loaded the bases with two singles and a walk before being pulled for Junichi Tazawa. He allowed two inherited runners to score, but struck out Buxton on a splitter in the dirt to end the inning. “I wear my jewelry on different days”.
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Twins: They’re off Monday before beginning a six-game homestand Tuesday. The Red Sox suffered through two very different setbacks in the next two games – a 2-1 loss on Friday and an 11-9 decision on Saturday – to fall 1 1/2 games behind the Orioles and continue the questions the team has had about the bullpen for last two months.
