Approaching his thirty third birthday this fall, Eric Hosmer hasn’t been in a position to hit a fastball the way in which he used to.
But when Orioles lefty Nick Vespi tried throwing a 1-2 slider up and away with the sport tied within the sixth inning on Thursday evening, Hosmer dealt with the breaking ball simply nice.
The Red Sox’ new first baseman smoked it to the middle subject triangle for an RBI double that will drive within the eventual game-winning run because the Sox earned a much-needed 4-3 victory over the O’s at Fenway Park.
Despite a commerce deadline selloff, the O’s have been orange-hot, dashing forward of the Sox within the American League East standings and pulling right into a tie with the Rays for the third Wild Card spot getting into Thursday.
But a win from the last-place Red Sox snapped a four-game shedding streak and pulled them again inside 4 video games of Baltimore with 49 video games left to play.
The takeaways:
1. Hosmer proves the distinction.
It’s been arduous to make sense of the Padres’ determination to cowl all $39 million of Hosmer’s remaining wage over the subsequent three seasons whereas transport him to Boston for prospect Jay Groome, however a have a look at his numbers in opposition to fastballs this 12 months might be a clue.
He entered Thursday hitting simply .267 with a .347 slugging proportion in opposition to fastballs, by far the worst numbers of his profession. But the previous World Series champion can nonetheless hit breaking balls, with a .326 common and .505 slugging proportion this season.
After J.D. Martinez drew a two-out, full-count stroll within the sixth, Hosmer hammered a excessive slider to the center-field wall for a simple RBI double.
He’s additionally been a strong defender at first base, the place the Sox have struggled to subject a dependable glove all 12 months, and along with his clutch hit on Thursday, Hosmer earned his first essential achievement in a Red Sox uniform.
For what it’s price, the Sox weren’t near signing him earlier than the 2018 season, once they signed Martinez as a substitute. Manager Alex Cora stated Thursday that, whereas the Sox’ curiosity in Hosmer was official, they by no means reached the stage of negotiations the place Cora reached out on to Hosmer.
Instead, Cora flew to Orlando to assist recruit Martinez, who ultimately signed a five-year take care of the Sox.
2. The Red Sox are in want of efficient beginning pitchers however can’t appear to search out any.
Josh Winckowski has been OK at occasions, however hasn’t been highly effective sufficient, sharp sufficient or constant sufficient to get on a run.
Thursday, he maneuvered his manner out of bother within the first inning, settled in properly to get by means of 5 after which regrettably fell aside within the sixth.
Cedric Mullens hit a leadoff single after which Winckowsk couldn’t discover the strikezone on a five-pitch stroll to Adley Rutchman. He retired the subsequent two, however after working forward 0-2 on Terrin Vavra, he hung a dead-red slider and Vavra smoked it for a two-run triple.
That pitch ought to stay with him for some time. If it doesn’t, the subsequent play will.
Winckowski induced weak contact off the bat of Austin Hays, however took his time fielding the ball, bobbled it after which made too sluggish of a toss to first base as Hays beat the throw and Vavra scored from third to tie issues up.
Winckowski’s day was performed after 5 2/3 innings, having allowed three earned runs on six hits and two walks, placing out two.
He’s now made 11 massive league begins and the Red Sox have gained six of them, although his 4.69 ERA and low strikeout proportion (34 strikeouts in 55 2/3 innings) point out that the 24-year-old nonetheless has loads of creating to do.
John Schreiber pitched two vital innings within the eighth and ninth to earn the save.
3. Milestone for Bogey.
Xander Bogaerts is perhaps carrying the Red Sox uniform for the ultimate season, however he continues to etch his title into the franchise historical past books.
Bogaerts hit a first-inning double that led to the Sox’ first run of the sport and in addition marked the three hundredth double of his profession. It’s fairly the tempo for the 29-year-old Bogaerts, who’s now the eighth participant in membership historical past to document 150 homers and 300 doubles.
Only 24 gamers in MLB historical past have performed it earlier than turning 30, however just one different shortstop (Alex Rodriguez) and just one different Red Sox participant (Carl Yastrzemski).
Bogaerts has 30 doubles on the 12 months and may simply surpass the 34 doubles he had final 12 months. His career-high is 52 doubles in 2019, when he completed fifth in American League MVP voting.
Source: www.bostonherald.com