Pivetta, Sox Blank Hapless A's (7/17/23)

No starter? No problem for the Boston Red Sox. Against the worst team in baseball, the Sox feasted on them and set some records in the process. Nick Pivetta (6-5, 4.44 ERA) tossed 6 no-hit innings in relief while setting the Red Sox relief record for strikeouts with 13. On the other side of the ball, Connor Wong led the Boston attack with 3 hits and 3 rbis. Justin Turner knocked in two runs, Yu Chang added one, Adam Duvall added one and the Sox ran away with this one 7-0 at Oakland Coliseum.

                                                       Farenheit approves of the win

Paul Blackburn got the start for Oakland and the Sox wasted no time scoring. Jarren Duran doubled to right to start before moving to third on the Alex Verdugo ground out to second. Justin Turner then hit a sac fly to right to score Duran with the first run. Masataka Yoshida grounded out to first to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.

                                                         Turner drives in a run

Brennan Bernardino was the "opener" and he got the ball in the bottom of the first. Zack Gelof struck out swinging but Jordan Diaz was hit with a pitch. Ryan Noda got a base hit to right but Brent Rooker banged into a double play to end the inning.

The Sox struck again in the top of the second as Adam Duvall doubled to left to start. Triston Casas got a base hit to left but Christian Arroyo popped up to second. Connor Wong ripped a base hit to left to score Duvall but Yu Chang grounded into a double play to end the inning with the Sox up 2-0.

                                                          Wong gets it done

Tyler Soderstrom grounded out to first to start the bottom of the second before Shea Langeliers struck out swinging. JJ Bleday grounded out to second to end the inning. Good work by Bernardino to allow no runs to keep the Sox on top.

                                                    Bernardino gets it done

Duran grounded out to first to start the top of the third but Verdugo doubled to center. Turner lined out to left and Yoshida also flied out to left to end the inning. Nick Pivetta came in to pitch the bottom of the third and Nick Allen struck out looking to start. Seth Brown flied out to right but Gelof walked. Diaz struck out swinging to end the inning.

Duvall went down hacking to start the top of the fourth but Casas walked. Arroyo lined out to center and Wong took strike three to end the inning. Pivetta cruised in the bottom of the fourth as Noda went down hacking to start. Rooker struck out swinging and Soderstrom took strike three to end the inning.

Chang struck out swinging to start the top of the fifth before Blackburn made a great stab of a Duran line drive. Verdugo grounded out to second to end the inning. Langeliers grounded out to short to start the bottom of the fifth before Bleday flied out to left. Allen grounded out to short to end the inning.

The Sox iced the game in the top of the sixth as Turner doubled to right to begin. Yoshida got a base hit to left to put runners at the corners and Duvall scored Turner with a sac fly to right. Yoshida swiped second, Casas drew a walk and Arroyo dumped a base hit to right to load the bases. Wong ripped a double to left to score Yoshida & Casas and Chang scored Arroyo with a grounder to third. That was it for Blackburn as Sam Moll came in to pitch to Duran. Jarren flied out to left to end the inning with the Sox up 6-0.

                                                                  Wong ices the game

Pivetta was relentless in the bottom of the sixth as Brown struck out swinging to start. Gelof went down hacking and Aledmys Diaz pinch hit for Jordan Diaz. Aledmys took strike three to end the inning.

Verdugo struck out swinging to start the top of the seventh before Turner flied out to right. Yoshida took strike three to end the inning. Noda struck out swinging to start the bottom of the seventh and got so mad he attacked home plate umpire Emil Jimenez with a bat. He had to be escorted out by armed security as Rooker also struck out swinging. Soderstrom also went down hacking to end the inning.

                                                           Yerrrrr out!

Cody Thomas came in for Noda with Angel Felipe now on the mound for Oakland to start the top of the eighth. Duvall grounded out to short, Casas went down hacking and Arroyo flied out to center to end the inning. Pivetta returned for one last inning in the bottom of the eighth and Langeliers struck out swinging. Bleday walked but Allen struck out swinging. Brown flied out to left to end the masterpiece. Pivetta tossed 6 no-hit innings of relief while striking out 13 batters, Dick Radatz never did that.

                                                          Outstanding job

The Sox wrapped up the scoring in the top of the ninth as Wong singled to left to start. Chang popped up to second but Duran drew a walk. Verdugo walked to load the bases and Turner scored Wong by forcing Duran at third. Yoshida struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox up 7-0.

                                                      Turner drives in a run

Chris Martin came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth and Gelof struck out swinging to begin. Diaz struck out swinging but Thomas walked. Rooker went down hacking to end the game. Sox pitchers had struck out 18 batters and won the game 7-0.

                                                            Red Sox win

Hero of the Night is Nick Pivetta. He earned the win by throwing 6 no-hit innings while striking out 13 batters, a new Red Sox relief record.

                                                Hero Pivetta

The Good:

Adam Duvall was 1 for 3 with an rbi and a run scored.

Triston Casas was 1 for 2 with 2 walks and a run scored.

Brennan Bernardino tossed 2 scoreless innings.

Chris Martin pitched a scoreless ninth inning.

Connor Wong was 3 for 4 with 3 rbis and a run scored.

The Bad:

None

The Ugly:

Jarren Duran was just 1 for 4 but walked and scored a run.

Alex Verdugo was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but walked.

Justin Turner was just 1 for 4 but drove in 2 runs and scored a run.

Masataka Yoshida was just 1 for 5 with 2 strikeouts but stole a base and scored a run.

Christian Arroyo was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.

Yu Chang was 0 for 4 with a strikeout but drove in a run.

Final Thoughts:

I know the A's are terrible but 18 strikeouts are still 18 strikeouts. Bernardino, Pivetta and Martin mowed down the A's and with Rafael Devers out with a calf strain, Connor Wong took command tonight. Both Wong and Casas are starting to hit a little better and that's desperately needed, especially with Trevor Story rumored to be near a return. Pivetta was outstanding and the combination of Pivetta & Bernardino may be unorthodox but its working. The Sox still need to get key guys back from injury like Garrett Whitlock, Tanner Houck, Chris Sale, Story and Devers. If they get those guys back, the Sox may be primed for an October run. The win improved the Sox to 51-44, 8 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the AL East. It should be noted that the New York Yankees are in last place this late in the season for the first time since 1990. Guess what happened in 1990, the Sox won the AL East. The Sox look to make it four wins in a row and two against the A's tomorrow night when Alex Cora picks a name out of a hat to face Luis Medina of Oakland. The game begins at 9:40 PM Eastern time at Oakland Coliseum.

Sox Homer Parade Tames Cubs (7/14/23)

Good news Boston Red Sox fans, they picked up where they left off before the All-Star break. After going into the break winning five in a row, the Sox made it six after downing the Chicago Cubs. The Sox as a team hit five home runs in this one, two of them by Rafael Devers who's not happy about not being an All-Star. On the other side of the ball, Brayan Bello (7-5, 3.14 ERA) won his seventh game of the year by tossing six solid innings while allowing just three runs. Josh Winckowski and Brennan Bernardino slammed the door in the next two innings before Kenley Jansen earned his 20th save by getting out of a bases loaded jam in the ninth inning. It all added up to an 8-3 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

                                                 Dr. Brian Virgil approves of the win

Kyle Hendricks got the ball in the top of the first inning and Jarren Duran struck out swinging to start. Masataka Yoshida grounded out to second and Justin Turner took strike three right down the middle to end the inning. Bello got the ball in the bottom of the first and Mike Tauchman grounded out to first to start. Nico Hoerner took strike three and Ian Happ lined out to center to end the inning.

The Sox struck first in the top of the second when Rafael Devers launched his 21st home run of the season to put Boston on top. Alex Verdugo grounded out to short but Adam Duvall clobbered his seventh home run of the season to increase the lead. Triston Casas got a base hit to center but Connor Wong struck out swinging. Yu Chang also struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox up 2-0.

                                                         Devers & Duvall go yard

Seiya Suzuki struck out swinging to begin the bottom of the second before Cody Bellinger struck out swinging. Christopher Morel beat out a roller to third but Jared Young grounded out to first to end the inning.

The Sox struck again in the top of the third as Duran legged out a double to left to start before making a mad dash to third on a fly out to center by Yoshida. Turner hit a sac fly to right to score Duran and Devers belted his second home run of the night to increase the lead. Verdugo singled to center and stole second, but Duvall grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-0.

                                                          Devers does it again

The Cubs tagged Bello in the bottom of the third as Miles Mastrobuoni struck out swinging to start. Tucker Barnhart doubled to center and Tauchman doubled to center to score Barnhart. Hoerner singled in the hole at short but Happ popped up to third. Suzuki grounded out to second to end the inning with the Cubs down 4-1.

                                                                   Cubs get one back

The Sox got that run right back when Casas belted his 10th home run of the season to start the top of the fourth. Wong grounded out to third, Chang struck out swinging and Duran grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox up 5-1.

                                                           Casas says "kiss it goodbye"

The Cubs answered in the bottom of the fourth as Bellinger hit a home run all the way to Indiana to cut the lead. Morel struck out swinging, Young grounded out to second and Mastrobuoni flied out to left to end the inning with the Cubs down 5-2.

                                                    Home run Bellinger

The Sox blew a rally in the top of the fifth as Yoshida grounded out to first to start. Turner grounded out to third but Devers got a base hit to right. Anthony Kay came in to face Verdugo and walked him before both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Duvall struck out swinging to end the inning. Barnhart singled to right to start the bottom of the fifth but was gunned down by Verdugo trying to stretch a double. Tauchman grounded out to second and Hoerner grounded out to third to end the inning.

Casas lined out to center to start the top of the sixth before Wong struck out swinging. Chang lined out to left to end the inning. Happ lined out to center to start the bottom of the sixth before Suzuki grounded out to short. Bellinger smashed a home run all the way to Neptune to cut the lead and Morel singled in the hole to short. Young popped up to third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-3. That was it for Bello who tossed 6 solid innings allowing just 3 runs on 8 hits. He did strike out 5 batters.

                                                        Bello gets it done

The Sox iced the game in the top of the seventh inning with Mark Leiter Jr now on the mound. Duran grounded out to first to start but Yoshida singled to center. Turner then belted his 14th home run of the season to increase the lead. Devers went down hacking and Verdugo grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox up 7-3.

                                                         Turner jacks one out

Josh Winckowski came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Mastrobuoni flied out to left to start. Barnhart struck out swinging and Tauchman flied out to left to end the inning.

Javier Assad came in to pitch the top of the eighth inning and Duvall watched strike three go by to start. Casas grounded out to short and Wong did the same to end the inning. Brennan Bernardino came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth with Christian Arroyo taking Casas' spot. Hoerner flied out to center, Happ took strike three and Suzuki struck out swinging to end the inning. 

The Sox wrapped up the scoring in the top of the ninth when Chang belted his fourth home run of the season to add to the lead. Duran singled to left and Yoshida also got a hit to left before Turner moved Jarren to third with a line out to center. Devers took strike three and Verdugo grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox ahead 8-3. 

                                                            Chang launches one

Tayler Scott came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth and Bellinger flied out to left to start. Morel singled to center and moved to third on a stolen base and a throwing error by Wong. Young walked but Mastrobuoni struck out swinging. Barnhart walked to load the bases and Sox manager Alex Cora threw his hands up, pulling Scott for closer Kenley Jansen. Tauchman struck out swinging to end the game. The Sox had won it 8-3.

                                                                    Red Sox win

Hero of the Night is Rafael Devers, his two home runs powered the offense to victory

                                                               Hero Devers

The Good:

Jarren Duran was 2 for 5 with a run scored.

Masataka Yoshida was 2 for 5 with a run scored.

Triston Casas was 2 for 4 with a home run.

Brayan Bello got the win by allowing 3 runs in 6 solid innings. He gave up 8 hits and struck out 5.

Josh Winckowski tossed 2 scoreless innings.

Kenley Jansen got the only man he faced out.

The Bad:

Connor Wong was 0 for 4.

The Ugly:

Justin Turner was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but hit a 2 run homer and drove in 3 total runs.

Alex Verdugo was just 1 for 4 but walked.

Adam Duvall was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a home run.

Yu Chang was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a home run.

Tayler Scott left the bases loaded after 2/3 of an inning.

Honorable Mention:

Christian Arroyo played second base in the bottom of the ninth.

Final Thoughts:

Big win tonight as not only did it set the tone to start the second half but they move into a tie for fourth place with the New York Yankees who lost tonight to the Colorado Rockies. The Sox are only 2 games behind the Houston Astros for the final wild card so the Sox are definitely within striking distance. They need to get their injured pitchers back if they have any hope for October because their lineup and bench is as good as anyone and Sox manager Alex Cora can mix and match the bullpen, but without Whitlock, Sale and Houck they can forget about a stretch run. Still, a win is a win and they all count. The win improved the Sox to 49-43, 8.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to make it seven wins in a row and two over the Cubs when James Paxton 5-1, 2.73 ERA takes on Marcus Stroman of the Cubs. The game begins at 2:20 PM Eastern time at Wrigley Field.

Off-Day News: 2023 MLB Draft Part 2 (7/11/23)

The Boston Red Sox wrapped up their 2023 draft with picks 11-20. They didn't sign any rookie free agents so this is what they got.

The Sox took a risk when they took Polk State sophomore outfielder Nelson Taylor in the eleventh round. He was a gold glove outfielder for the Suncoast Conference but the kick is he may transfer to Florida State. He did hit .353 with six home runs to go with the glove so let's see if he goes to Florida State or turns pro.

                                                              Polk State or Boston?

In the 12th round the Sox took junior right handed pitcher Max Carlson from North Carolina University. Just like other picks in Bloom's past, Carlson was a bum. He went 5-2 with a hideous 5.45 ERA. He only had 3 scoreless games pitched all season. He can either stay for his senior year or turn pro. Doesn't look like a big loss if he stays.

                                             Allowing 7 runs to Notre Dame isn't ideal

In the 13th round, the Sox selected North Dakota State junior right handed pitcher Cade Feeney. He was perfectly mediocre as he went 6-5 with a 4.57 ERA in 14 starts. The problem with bloom drafting nothing but shortstops early is now this is what's left. If he gives up 7 runs to Houston Christian University, what are the pro's going to do?

-

                                                           Going to have to do better

In the 14th round, the Sox took Cal-State Fullerton junior left handed pitcher Jojo Ingrassia. Ingrassia was Cal-State's closer with 7 saves, a 5-2 record and a 2.42 ERA. He spent two years at San Diego State before transferring. He may stay for his senior year or he could sign. Hope he signs.

                                                      Cal-State's closer

The Sox took another risk in the 15th round by drafting Calabasas High School senior centerfielder Phoenix Call. He's one of the best infielders in the state of California, so why is this a risk? He's committed to playing at UCLA in the fall and he just may go there instead.  If he signs, the Sox could always use fresh talent. If he doesn't, just another failed 15th round pick in a sea full of them.

                                                       UCLA or Boston?

In the 16th round, the Sox selected Oklahoma State right handed pitcher Isaac Stebens. This is another risky pick because he posted a 4-1 record with a 2.24 ERA and 6 saves out of the bullpen for the Cowboys. Its a risk because he may stay for his senior season which would increase his draft stock. It would be nice to get a guy like that, but money talks.

                                                             Hell of a year for Stebens

In round 17, the Sox took Mansfield Legacy high school outfielder Dylan Schlaegel. Schlaegel might not sign because he's committed to Dallas Baptist University. The Sox are always on the lookout for outfielders years down the road so hopefully if he does sign, it pans out.

                                                         Dallas Baptist Committee

In the 18th round the Sox took left handed pitcher Zach Fogell who spent his "senior" year at UConn after pitching for Brown University from 2019-22. He was their top set-up man going 8-1 with a save and a 1.89 ERA. Back in 2020 the Sox traded for Jacob Wallace, UConn's closer in 2019. Now they get another UConn reliever, hope they don't trade him for nothing.

                                                           Good luck Fogell

The last two years Chaim Bloom has drafted a bum pitcher in the 19th round, this year he switched it up and drafted Texas A&M junior outfielder Stanley Tucker. Tucker had 6 hits in 22 at-bats so he may stick around for his senior year. No big loss if he doesn't sign, cool if he does.

                                                            Future star? Future bum? Who knows

Last but not least is their 20th round pick, right handed pitcher Robert Orloski from Middleton High School in Idaho. Bloom usually doesn't take high school pitchers and he's committed to UTSA so this was a head scratcher. Still, its the 20th round and not much is left to choose from. If he signs, cool. If not, oh well.

                                                           UTSA or Boston?

This year's draft definitely was interesting with a lot of "junior" transfers. Bloom is banking on them spurning school for the pro's but some may not. The endgame is college players could develop sooner rather than later, by 2025 with Marcello Mayer, Nick Yorke, Kyle Teel/Nathan Hickey and the bevy of pitchers the last few years.....we MIGHT be on to something. Stay tuned.

Off-Day News: 2023 MLB Draft (7/10/23)

One of the only silver linings of the 2022 Boston Red Sox finishing in last place and letting Xander Bogaerts walk is it got them the 14th overall pick and compensation picks (one for Nathan Eovaldi as well) in the 2023 draft. Pitcher Paul Skenes of the national champion LSU Tigers went first overall to the Pittsburgh Pirates while his teammate outfielder Dylan Crews went to the Washington Nationals. 

The Sox caught a break when projected top 10 pick, Virginia Cavaliers catcher Kyle Teel dropped far enough for Boston to take him 14th overall. He was ACC player of the year clubbing 13 home runs, driving in 69 runs and hitting .407 in 65 games. Scouts say his bat could be ML ready by next year but he's going to need time to learn to catch in the pros. Still, the only Sox catching prospect they have is Nathan Hickey in Portland. Now he's got some competition. The Sox haven't had two developing catchers since Christian Vazquez and Blake Swihart 10 years ago, hopefully one or both are good enough to make it.

                                                        2023 ACC Player of the Year

Surprise surprise, in the second round the Sox chose yet another shortstop to add to the growing list of shortstops Sox GM Chaim Bloom has picked since 2020. This time they took 18 year old Nazzan Zanatello of Christian Brothers High School. His skills are on par with a lot of high school kids but the scouts say he's an incredible athlete and could be a 5-Tool.....if he signs. He's committed to Arkansas University so we'll see if he signs or becomes the next Jud Fabian. Useless information but Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum's father was his high school basketball coach.

                                                                 Potential 5-Tool

You'll never guess what Chaim Bloom took in the third round........ANOTHER SHORTSTOP! Passing on the top college and high school pitchers in the country, the Sox took 18 year old Antonio Anderson of North Atlanta High School. Antonio had a good bat in high school but the bad news is he may not sign as he's committed to Georgia Tech, the same school Jason Varitek, Jay Payton and Nomar Garciaparra came from.

                                                        Mean lookin fella

The Sox finally took a pitcher in the fourth round when they selected Canisius Junior College right hander Matt Duffy. He's a junkballer with a pretty good changeup but it begs the question of why didn't they take a more highly touted pitcher in the second or third round? Hopefully Duffy pans out or else this was a big mistake by Bloom to wait this long for pitchers.

                                                             First pitcher taken by the Sox

Remember because the Sox were over the luxury tax that their compensation pics for losing Bogaerts and Eovaldi weren't going to be until the fourth round? Well the pick they got for losing Bogaerts was used on Georgia Tech shortstop Kristian Campbell, son of old Tennessee Vols running back Kenneth Campbell. This was a bit of a crapshot as Campbell had finished his sophomore year with 4 homers, 24 rbis and a .376 batting average. Bloom is drafting way too many shortstops so a trade may be in the works.

                                                The pick they got for Bogaerts

The pick they got for losing Eovaldi was....you guessed it.....another shortstop. Justin Riemer hit .329 his first year at Wright State and was hitting .323 when he tore his ACL 12 games into this season. He won't be playing this year but look for him to make a return in 2024.....we hope.

                                                              Get well soon Riemer

Kyle Teel wasn't the only Virginia Cavalier drafted by the Sox, they took the ace of the team, left handed pitcher Connelly Early in the fifth round. He pitched for Army for two years not believing he'd make it to the pros but once he realized he was good, he transferred to Virginia, going 12-3 with a 3.09 ERA in 18 starts. He's a junkballer that relies on command but he's a lefty, something the Sox desperately need. He still can choose to pitch his senior year so let's see if he signs.

                                                              Could be a sleeper pick

Bloom then chose to make a crapshot with his sixth round pick, 22 year old right handed pitcher CJ Weins who spent two years at a junior college, two years at South Carolina and a year at Western Kentucky as a grad student. Unfortunately after 5 years at college he was just 1-2 with a mediocre 4.35 ERA out of the bullpen for WKU. Who knows what Bloom sees in him but its nothing new. He drafted Wyatt Olds in the 7th round in 2021 after a terrible senior year and he's been batting practice in Portland this year.

                                                         Turns 23 in August

In the 7th round, the Sox took Alabama University outfielder Caden Rose. He hit 9 home runs for the Crimson Tide but hit just .261 for an average. With "launch angle" being a popular stat for nerds, 9 home runs isn't too bad for them. He's pretty quick on defense so he might make it on the glove if not with his bat.

                                                          Hope his power translates to the pro's

In the eighth round, the Sox took right handed pitcher Trennor O'Donnell out of Ball State University. Another junkballer who relies on command rather than power to get guys out. Hopefully what he showed at Ball State will translate to the professional level.

                                                                Good luck O'Donnell

In the ninth round, the Sox chose Kennesaw State right handed pitcher Blake Wehunt. Once again Bloom took a crapshot because Wehunt went 4-4 with a 4.83 ERA in 14 starts. If he was struggling to get ASUN Conference batters out, what's he going to do when he faces better competition? He's a sinkerballer, not a fireballer to boot.

                                                  Going to need to do better than a 4.83 ERA

In the tenth round, the Sox finally took a lefty pitcher when they nabbed Clemson reliever Ryan Ammons. He went 2-0 with a 4.05 ERA but also battled a forearm strain that took him out of the rotation. He throws in the low 90's so he's going to rely on his slider to get guys out.

                                                    Good luck Ammons

So that wraps up the first 12 picks of the draft. The Sox needed another catcher to go with Nathan Hickey and the abundance of college players sends a message that Bloom expects these guys to develop sooner rather than later. We'll know in a year or so how these guys will turn out.