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BOSTON — Rapid reactions from the Red Sox’ 4-3 victory in 10 innings over the Chicago White Sox.
1) It wasn’t much of an afternoon for Triston Casas — until the 10th inning. After going hitless in three at-bats with a walk, Casas came to the plate with the bases loaded and one out and delivered a single high off the left field wall, more than enough to plate ghost runner Alex Bregman from third. It’s been a brutal start of the season for Casas, who coming in had collected just three RBI in the first 21 games.
2) This wasn’t top shelf Garrett Crochet, as was on display last weekend when he took a no-hitter into the eighth inning in Chicago against this same opponent. His command Saturday was shaky at times, as he issued two walks and had to labor through some innings and with his pitch count climbing in a few innings, he only gave the Red Sox six before getting to 96 pitches. But Crochet was good enough to limit damage, as he got 14 swing-and-misses and kept the White Sox off the board. If that’s an “off” start from their new ace, the Red Sox will gladly take it.
3) The bullpen performance was up-and-down. Greg Weisser inherited a three-run lead and promptly squandered it, allowing a game-tying two-run homer to Luis Robert. Justin Slaten was far better in the eighth, though perhaps that should not come as much of a surprise. Other than a poor appearance in Baltimore in which he allowed four runs without recording an out, Slaten has been lights out. He had a 1-2-3 inning Saturday and has retired 18 of the last 19 hitters he’s faced.
4) When Ceddanne Rafaela was drilled in the hand by a pitch in the second inning, it was time for the Red Sox to hold their breath. Rafaela slammed the bat down in frustration and was clearly in a lot of pain as he crouched for several minutes, attended to by a member of the training staff and Alex Cora. After a few anxious moments, Rafaela took his base and remained in the game. Had the pitch been an inch or two off, he could have sustained a serious injury, perhaps resulting in the Sox promoting Roman Anthony.
5) In their effort to establish more of a home field advantage, the Red Sox may be making some progress. Their win Saturday gave them a three-game winning streak at home and an overall home record of 6-3. It must be noted, however, that the five of those six wins have come two of the worst teams in the game — the St. Louis Cardinals and the White Sox.
6) It’s hard to believe that it took nine home games for Rafael Devers to notch his first Fenway homer. His only other homer came in the first road series of the season in Baltimore. The homer from Devers was a deep blast to left, which struck the top of the one the signs atop the Monster Seats. The ability to go to left, and to do it with power, has always been a big part of Devers’ game.
7) There are signs that Rafaela is coming out of his early-season hitting funk. He roped a double to left in the fifth, a day after belting his first home run Friday night. Manager Alex Cora said a tell-tale sign that Rafaela is getting locked in was a hard lineout to right field in the at-bat before his homer. Hitting the ball hard to the opposite field is often evidence that a slumping hitter is beginning to come around.
8) The Sox have to hope that Connor Wong returns to the lineup before too long, as teams are running unchecked on his replacements behind the plate: Carlos Narvaez and Blake Sabol. Chicago’s Chase Meidroth swiped second in the fifth inning Saturday, making opposing baserunners 9-for-11 in stolen base attempts this season. Sabol, meanwhile, has yet to throw out a would-be basestealers in five tries.
9) The series continues Sunday with the Red Sox with RHP Tanner Houck (0-2, 9.16) vs. yet another Massachusetts native — RHP Sean Burke (1-3, 7.56) from Sutton. The Red Sox have to hope that Houck has found some answers after his last outing, in which he was pounded for 12 runs in 2.1 innings in Tampa.
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1) It wasn’t much of an afternoon for Triston Casas — until the 10th inning. After going hitless in three at-bats with a walk, Casas came to the plate with the bases loaded and one out and delivered a single high off the left field wall, more than enough to plate ghost runner Alex Bregman from third. It’s been a brutal start of the season for Casas, who coming in had collected just three RBI in the first 21 games.
2) This wasn’t top shelf Garrett Crochet, as was on display last weekend when he took a no-hitter into the eighth inning in Chicago against this same opponent. His command Saturday was shaky at times, as he issued two walks and had to labor through some innings and with his pitch count climbing in a few innings, he only gave the Red Sox six before getting to 96 pitches. But Crochet was good enough to limit damage, as he got 14 swing-and-misses and kept the White Sox off the board. If that’s an “off” start from their new ace, the Red Sox will gladly take it.
3) The bullpen performance was up-and-down. Greg Weisser inherited a three-run lead and promptly squandered it, allowing a game-tying two-run homer to Luis Robert. Justin Slaten was far better in the eighth, though perhaps that should not come as much of a surprise. Other than a poor appearance in Baltimore in which he allowed four runs without recording an out, Slaten has been lights out. He had a 1-2-3 inning Saturday and has retired 18 of the last 19 hitters he’s faced.
4) When Ceddanne Rafaela was drilled in the hand by a pitch in the second inning, it was time for the Red Sox to hold their breath. Rafaela slammed the bat down in frustration and was clearly in a lot of pain as he crouched for several minutes, attended to by a member of the training staff and Alex Cora. After a few anxious moments, Rafaela took his base and remained in the game. Had the pitch been an inch or two off, he could have sustained a serious injury, perhaps resulting in the Sox promoting Roman Anthony.
5) In their effort to establish more of a home field advantage, the Red Sox may be making some progress. Their win Saturday gave them a three-game winning streak at home and an overall home record of 6-3. It must be noted, however, that the five of those six wins have come two of the worst teams in the game — the St. Louis Cardinals and the White Sox.
6) It’s hard to believe that it took nine home games for Rafael Devers to notch his first Fenway homer. His only other homer came in the first road series of the season in Baltimore. The homer from Devers was a deep blast to left, which struck the top of the one the signs atop the Monster Seats. The ability to go to left, and to do it with power, has always been a big part of Devers’ game.
7) There are signs that Rafaela is coming out of his early-season hitting funk. He roped a double to left in the fifth, a day after belting his first home run Friday night. Manager Alex Cora said a tell-tale sign that Rafaela is getting locked in was a hard lineout to right field in the at-bat before his homer. Hitting the ball hard to the opposite field is often evidence that a slumping hitter is beginning to come around.
8) The Sox have to hope that Connor Wong returns to the lineup before too long, as teams are running unchecked on his replacements behind the plate: Carlos Narvaez and Blake Sabol. Chicago’s Chase Meidroth swiped second in the fifth inning Saturday, making opposing baserunners 9-for-11 in stolen base attempts this season. Sabol, meanwhile, has yet to throw out a would-be basestealers in five tries.
9) The series continues Sunday with the Red Sox with RHP Tanner Houck (0-2, 9.16) vs. yet another Massachusetts native — RHP Sean Burke (1-3, 7.56) from Sutton. The Red Sox have to hope that Houck has found some answers after his last outing, in which he was pounded for 12 runs in 2.1 innings in Tampa.
More Red Sox coverage
- How Red Sox plan to get Tanner Houck back on track after disastrous outing in Tampa
- Red Sox ‘live in the now,’ so Ceddanne Rafaela continues developing despite Roman Anthony pushing
- Red Sox’ Liam Hendriks had been counting the days — literally — until his return
- Red Sox lineup: Trevor Story gets cleanup duty after massive performance Friday
- Red Sox roster: Veteran reliever set to return to big leagues to complete comeback journey
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