FORT MYERS, Fla. — Like a lot of his Northeastern University teammates, Aiven Cabral grew up watching the Red Sox and at all times imagined what it could be prefer to sooner or later share the sphere with them.
Friday afternoon that dream got here true for the Lynn native. Kind of.
Cabral obtained the beginning for Northeastern in Friday’s annual exhibition at JetBlue Park, although the lineup he confronted was a far cry from what followers will see at Fenway Park this summer season. Opting to offer his huge leaguers one other day to ramp up for recreation motion, Red Sox supervisor Alex Cora as a substitute fielded a set of prospects and minor leaguers to face the native Division 1 program.
Still, it was a lifelong reminiscence for the previous St. Mary’s of Lynn nice, who acquitted himself properly in what ended up a 7-2 Red Sox win.
“It’s awesome, it’s a great experience, different environment to be on the field with these guys and see how they go about their pregame,” stated Cabral, who allowed one run on three hits over two innings.
Even with solely their third and fourth stringers the Red Sox had sufficient to enhance to 20-0 all-time towards the Huskies. After Andover native and former St. John’s Prep nice Alex Hall gave Northeastern an early lead with an RBI single within the first inning, Red Sox catcher Nathan Hickey tied the sport with an RBI double within the backside of the body and heart fielder Mark Contreras delivered the large hit with a towering three-run house run within the third.
“He’s a good player, we recognized him early in the offseason,” Cora stated. “Good athlete, good baserunner, we just have to make sure he swings at the right ones.”
Right fielder Phillip Sikes prolonged the lead with an RBI single within the fourth, Northeastern’s Justin Bosland scored on a throwing error within the fifth, and the Red Sox scored two extra on an error within the sixth to spherical up the scoring.
Tough debut for Olivarez
Once upon a time Helcris Olivarez was among the many prime pitching prospects within the Colorado Rockies group. A flamethrowing lefty whose fastball may contact 100 mph, the 23-year-old battled management points and accidents for 2 years earlier than signing with Boston on a minor league deal this winter.
Olivarez definitely has upside, however his first impression in a Red Sox uniform wasn’t good.
Getting the beginning in Friday’s spring opener, Olivarez couldn’t get out of the primary inning. He threw 29 pitches, allowed one run on a success and a stroll, and didn’t assist his trigger by throwing away a pickoff try and hitting a batter.
“It was good for him to get out there and compete, he’s been hurt, he hasn’t competed the last two years,” Cora stated. “Although it didn’t go the way he wanted to, that feeling of going out there to prepare for the start and being able to have fun, that was good.”
Minor league lefty Zach Fogell, who got here on to complete the inning, solely wanted one pitch to get out of the first-and-third jam, forcing Carmelo Musacchia to line out to finish the risk. Andrew Politi and Chase Shugart, Boston’s different two non-roster invitees who took the mound, fared higher as properly, throwing a scoreless inning every.
Prospects get a glance
While there weren’t any main leaguers concerned on the Red Sox facet, followers did get to see a handful of the group’s most promising younger gamers.
Among them had been Nick Yorke, the Red Sox No. 6 ranked prospect in line with MLB Pipeline, who obtained the beginning at second base and went 1 for two with a run scored. Nathan Hickey (No. 16) began at catcher and went 1 for two, David Hamilton (No. 20) began at shortstop and went 0 for 1 with a stroll and a run scored, and Chase Meidroth (No. 21) began at third base and went 0 for two.
Minor league infielder Blaze Jordan (No. 13) was added to the roster and noticed vital enjoying time as properly, although he had a tricky day. The gifted third baseman dedicated a run-scoring error and lined out with the bases loaded within the fifth to finish the inning. Infielder Eddinson Paulino (No. 22) obtained an at bat late as properly and grounded out.
In addition to Contreras, Boston’s greatest offensive performers of the day was left fielder Corey Rosier, who went 2 for two with a double and a run scored.
Next up
The Red Sox open their Grapefruit League schedule on Saturday after they face the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota at 1:05 p.m.
Source: www.bostonherald.com