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BOSTON — Triston Casas entered his 10th-inning at-bat Saturday having collected just three RBIs in his first 74 plate appearances of 2025. He made sure to notch a fourth in a big spot.
With the bases loaded and one out in a tie game at a raucous Fenway Park, all Casas needed to do to send the Red Sox home winners was hit the ball in the air. He did so — and more — taking a changeup from Mass. native Mike Vasil and lifting it high off the Green Monster for an RBI single that clinched a 4-3 Red Sox win.
Casas knew he hit the ball well, striking it at 98.8 mph. But it was a high fly ball that he thought would be caught as part of a game-ending sacrifice fly. That it helped increase his batting average to .176 was icing on the cake.
“I thought it was gonna get caught but I thought it was deep enough for Breg (Alex Bregman) to tag,“ Casas said. ”That is what I was concerned about. The fact I got a hit, even better, but I barely even got that because K.C. (Kristian Campbell) was right next to the bag and if they would have thrown to second base and got me a fielder’s choice, he would have heard from me."
It’s no secret that Casas has gotten off to an immensely slow start so far. After going 0-for-3 with a walk in his first for times up Saturday, he was just 11-for-67 (.164) with 19 strikeouts. He punched out to end the eighth inning as Chicago kept the game tied.
Considering Casas’ offensive capabilities and how cerebral he is about his swing, the Red Sox consider it just a matter of time before he gets going. Therefore, the 10th-inning swing was a good sign.
"He has been actually swinging the bat well, more aggressive with more conviction,“ said manager Alex Cora. ”He took a walk today, which is important. In that situation, just put the ball in play. He has that (the Green Monster) that way. He did a good job staying with the pitch and got the W."
Casas, who is very intentional with his approach in each at-bat, knew contact was key against Vasil, who entered the game having not allowed a run in 12 innings. Casas took a high changeup for the first pitch, then knew Vasil would likely throw him a strike to avoid going down 2-0 with the winning run on third. The first baseman got what he was looking for.
“He doubled up on the changeup. Threw one high, then threw one a little lower,” Casas said. “Probably wasn’t in the spot he wanted to put it and made a mistake. I was able to capitalize. It felt good.
“There’s infielders close enough that a hard ground ball might get through, too. I was just looking for that hard contact somewhere. Thankfully, the pitch location allowed for the elevation to happen naturally. I didn’t have to force it. The likelihood of a run scoring on a fly ball to the outfield is a lot better than finding a hole with a ground ball. I just let the pitch dictate it.”
Casas’ early-season struggles have caused Cora to not only hold him out of the lineup against left-handed starters but also drop Casas to the No. 7 hole in the lineup after beginning the season hitting fourth. The lineup drop, while a demotion on paper, has allowed Casas to breathe a little bit.
“Sometimes, it does (let him relax), just because I get six batters just how to see the guy’s working,” Casas said. “I get to look at the characteristics of the fastballs or whatever pitches I’m hunting, get an idea of what part of the ball I’m looking for. Hitting fourth is great. I’m gonna have a lot of opportunity to drive in runs. But there’s gonna be opportunities all over, just like there was today.”
Casas’ at-bat was set up by a scoreless top of the 10th from Garrett Whitlock, then walks by Wilyer Abreu (intentional) and Kristian Campbell (unintentional). He made sure to not let another opportunity go to waste and left Fenway with the first career walk-off hit of his career.
“Every hit counts,” Casas. “I’m grateful for every single one. Hopefully, they come in bunches. But in timely spots is the most important thing. Hopefully, they come with runners in scoring position, with runners on base. Getting rallies started with nobody on is huge, too. Just finding ways to pass the baton, have a good at-bat and make the at-bat for the guy behind me easier.”
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With the bases loaded and one out in a tie game at a raucous Fenway Park, all Casas needed to do to send the Red Sox home winners was hit the ball in the air. He did so — and more — taking a changeup from Mass. native Mike Vasil and lifting it high off the Green Monster for an RBI single that clinched a 4-3 Red Sox win.
Casas knew he hit the ball well, striking it at 98.8 mph. But it was a high fly ball that he thought would be caught as part of a game-ending sacrifice fly. That it helped increase his batting average to .176 was icing on the cake.
“I thought it was gonna get caught but I thought it was deep enough for Breg (Alex Bregman) to tag,“ Casas said. ”That is what I was concerned about. The fact I got a hit, even better, but I barely even got that because K.C. (Kristian Campbell) was right next to the bag and if they would have thrown to second base and got me a fielder’s choice, he would have heard from me."
It’s no secret that Casas has gotten off to an immensely slow start so far. After going 0-for-3 with a walk in his first for times up Saturday, he was just 11-for-67 (.164) with 19 strikeouts. He punched out to end the eighth inning as Chicago kept the game tied.
Considering Casas’ offensive capabilities and how cerebral he is about his swing, the Red Sox consider it just a matter of time before he gets going. Therefore, the 10th-inning swing was a good sign.
"He has been actually swinging the bat well, more aggressive with more conviction,“ said manager Alex Cora. ”He took a walk today, which is important. In that situation, just put the ball in play. He has that (the Green Monster) that way. He did a good job staying with the pitch and got the W."
Casas, who is very intentional with his approach in each at-bat, knew contact was key against Vasil, who entered the game having not allowed a run in 12 innings. Casas took a high changeup for the first pitch, then knew Vasil would likely throw him a strike to avoid going down 2-0 with the winning run on third. The first baseman got what he was looking for.
“He doubled up on the changeup. Threw one high, then threw one a little lower,” Casas said. “Probably wasn’t in the spot he wanted to put it and made a mistake. I was able to capitalize. It felt good.
“There’s infielders close enough that a hard ground ball might get through, too. I was just looking for that hard contact somewhere. Thankfully, the pitch location allowed for the elevation to happen naturally. I didn’t have to force it. The likelihood of a run scoring on a fly ball to the outfield is a lot better than finding a hole with a ground ball. I just let the pitch dictate it.”
Casas’ early-season struggles have caused Cora to not only hold him out of the lineup against left-handed starters but also drop Casas to the No. 7 hole in the lineup after beginning the season hitting fourth. The lineup drop, while a demotion on paper, has allowed Casas to breathe a little bit.
“Sometimes, it does (let him relax), just because I get six batters just how to see the guy’s working,” Casas said. “I get to look at the characteristics of the fastballs or whatever pitches I’m hunting, get an idea of what part of the ball I’m looking for. Hitting fourth is great. I’m gonna have a lot of opportunity to drive in runs. But there’s gonna be opportunities all over, just like there was today.”
Casas’ at-bat was set up by a scoreless top of the 10th from Garrett Whitlock, then walks by Wilyer Abreu (intentional) and Kristian Campbell (unintentional). He made sure to not let another opportunity go to waste and left Fenway with the first career walk-off hit of his career.
“Every hit counts,” Casas. “I’m grateful for every single one. Hopefully, they come in bunches. But in timely spots is the most important thing. Hopefully, they come with runners in scoring position, with runners on base. Getting rallies started with nobody on is huge, too. Just finding ways to pass the baton, have a good at-bat and make the at-bat for the guy behind me easier.”
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