Anyone expecting wholesale changes on Monday’s off day might want to reconsider.
The Boston Red Sox ended their road trip Sunday with a 13-2 beatdown of the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. It was Boston’s best offensive performance of the season, giving the Red Sox a reason for optimism upon returning home for a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles.
Could Sunday’s victory be the start of something? Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. But one shouldn’t completely discredit the Red Sox’s weekend series against the Royals, either. Taking two of three from the defending American League champions never is a bad thing.
Let’s run down some notes from Sunday.
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— The story obviously was the Red Sox’s offense. But Wade Miley wasn’t too shabby on the bump, either.
Miley tossed six shutout innings to move above .500 (7-6) for the first time this season. The left-hander has back-to-back wins since his dugout meltdown June 11 in Baltimore.
Miley actually helped set the tempo, too. He escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first inning and a first-and-third situation in the fourth. The Red Sox then broke open the game in the fifth.
“I thought Wade made some big pitches to get out of that fourth inning when it’s still a two-run game at the time,” Red Sox manager John Farrell told reporters. “And we go out and put up a five spot. And then he again came out and made some big pitches to keep the momentum on our side.”
— David Ortiz absolutely demolished his 10th home run of the season in the fourth inning. It was Big Papi’s 476th career homer, moving him ahead of Hall of Famers Stan Musial and Willie Stargell for sole possession of 29th place on Major League Baseball’s all-time home run list.
“When they start mentioning your name with people like that — the all-timers — it’s something I appreciate,” Ortiz told reporters. “It’s great, man. I’ve been playing this game a long time. As a kid, you dream of watching these guys play, but you don’t dream that far of being mentioned right next to them when it comes down to numbers.
“You have a good career, you have a productive career, and you work hard and you can get there just like they did.”
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— Hanley Ramirez, who homered in the second inning, looks like the guy who tore apart April.
He’s hitting .317 (26-for-82) with five homers and 14 RBIs over his last 22 games since May 28. He’s reached base in 14 of his last 16 starts.
— The Red Sox appear to have dodged a bullet with regard to both catcher Blake Swihart and third baseman Pablo Sandoval. Both left Saturday’s game with injuries.
Swihart (left foot sprain) would have been available in an emergency situation, Farrell said after Sunday’s game. That suggests the rookie catcher could return to the starting lineup Tuesday.
Sandoval (left ankle sprain) said after the game he’ll be ready to go Tuesday, according to The Boston Globe’s Pete Abraham.
— Justin Masterson threw a side session Sunday. That’s significant because it means he won’t make a rehab start Monday with Triple-A Pawtucket. Instead, he’ll likely join Boston’s bullpen.
Masterson had been deciding between making another start for the PawSox or immediately rejoining the Red Sox as a reliever.
— The Red Sox announced the signings of four more draft picks, including Mike Matheny’s son.
The Red Sox signed outfielder Tate Matheny (fourth round), outfielder Jagger Rusconi (fifth round), left-handed pitcher Logan Allen (eighth round) and right-handed pitcher Nick Duron (31st round).
Boston has signed 14 of the 39 players it selected in the 2015 draft.
Thumbnail photo via Peter Aiken/USA TODAY Sports Images
