Red Sox reactions: In extras, Masataka Yoshida wins it in a pinch
· Yahoo Sports
BOSTON — Instant reactions from the Red Sox’ 1-0 win over the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Friday night:
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1) Pinch-hitter Masataka Yoshida drilled a single through a five-man infield to score Jarren Duran with the winning run. It was the second extra-inning contest of the season for Boston. For the Red Sox, it marked the seventh time in their first 19 games that they scored two runs or fewer. The two teams had combined for just seven hits through the first nine (scoreless) innings. The Red Sox are now 7-5 when they wear the Fenway green uniforms — and all seven wins are of the walk-off variety.
2) What began as a night that wasn’t going to go well for starter Ranger Suarez turned quickly after the first inning. The lefty allowed two base hits in the first, the second of which was negated when Detroit DH Jahmai Jones was thrown out attempting to stretch a single into a double. After that, Suarez was masterful, retiring 18 of the next 19 hitters he faced without allowing another hit. Just as had done last weekend in St. Louis, Suarez used a his trademark changeup and breaking pitches to induce plenty of soft contact. He worked quickly, got ahead of hitters and was economical, needing just 93 pitches to get through eight shutout innings. There were very, very few hard-hit balls against him as he stretched his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 14.
3) Alex Cora shook up the lineup in an effort to generate more offense, but it took a while for the Red Sox to produce any offense at all. Tigers starter Casey Mize retired the first eight Sox hitters in succession before Connor Wong drove a double to the triangle in center with two down in the third. Wong was stranded at second, however, and through five innings, represented the only Boston base hit. Later, the Sox got a leadoff double from Caleb Durbin in the sixth and a two-out infield hit from Jarren Duran in the seventh, but neither resulted in runs.
4) Somewhat by default, it appears as though Connor Wong is going to get more playing time in the coming days. Carlos Narvaez, the starting catcher, has been slumping badly at the plate and striking out in bunches. The poor start to the season has opened the door for Wong, who has taken full advantage. He entered the game with a .926 OPS and extended his hitting streak to a modest three games with a double in the third inning. In addition, the strange run of start times in this series — one night game, two afternoon starts and Monday’s 11 a.m. Patriots Day start — will result in Cora splitting the playing time behind the plate.
5) The replay challenge worked well for the Red Sox — twice — at second base. In the first inning, the Sox appealed a safe call at second on Jahmai Jones and had the call overturned. Then, in the ninth, Javier Baez was ruled safe on a stolen base try but after a challenge by the Red Sox, that, too, was overturned, eliminating the potential go-ahead run in scoring position in a scoreless game.
6) Before the game, Cora noted that the bottom half of the lineup represented some athleticism and expressed hope that the Red Sox could begin using that to their advantage on the bases. Cora said the Sox hadn’t been able to run much because too often they had fallen behind early, or weren’t getting on base enough. Toward that end, the Sox attempted to a hit-and-run with Ceddanne Rafaela on first, but Marcelo Mayer drilled a ball down the right field line just foul. Later, in the same at-bat, Rafaela was thrown out attempting to steal second. Later, Jarren Duran successfully swiped second. For the season, the Red Sox came into Friday with just seven stolen bases.
7) It’s hardly to the point where it should be a concern, but it’s worth noting that in four of Aroldis Chapman’s seven appearances to date, opponents have put baserunners on. On Friday night, he allowed a walk and two base hits before getting out of trouble by fanning Dillon Dingler with two runners in scoring position.
8) The Sox survived a bit of a scare in the top of the second when a sharp line drive back to the box off the bat of Detroit’s Matt Vierling struck Suarez in his lower half. Suarez, one of the game’s better fielding pitchers, quickly recovered, fielded the ball and fired to first for the first out of the inning. As a precaution, he was then visited by Alex Cora and a member of the team’s athletic training staff, but after a brief consultation, they returned to the dugout and the lefty resumed the inning without so much as a trial warmup pitch.
9) The second game of this four-game series continues Saturday at 4:10 p.m. and will feature a pitching matchup of RHP Brayan Bello (1-1, 6.14) vs. LHP Tarik Skubal (2-2, 2.22).
More Red Sox coverage
- Finally, run prevention works in Red Sox’ favor | Sean McAdam
- ‘Lucky’ Red Sox hero Masataka Yoshida: ‘You never know when my number gets called’
- Red Sox injuries: Kutter Crawford (elbow) likely to have MRI; key reliever slow in return bid
- Alex Cora explains changes to Red Sox lineup
- Red Sox’ Garrett Crochet on what happened in disastrous start — and how he plans to get on track
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