Pop quiz: Which two Boston Red Sox players have played in all 77 of the team’s games this season?
The first answer, leadoff hitter Mookie Betts, shouldn’t surprise you. But the second answer might: Travis Shaw.
That’s right: The Red Sox third baseman hasn’t missed a game this season, having entered as a pinch-hitter in all five of the games he hasn’t started. Shaw’s latest pinch-hit appearance came Monday, as manager John Farrell gave him most of the night off.
If Shaw was well-rested entering Tuesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays, it showed. The 26-year-old was a one-man wrecking crew at Tropicana Field, going 3-for-5 with a home run and a double and driving in five of Boston’s eight runs in a bounce-back win.
Shaw’s big night was a welcome sign for a guy who has struggled at the plate lately. His second-inning blast — which traveled 449 feet — was his first homer since May 28, and his five RBIs were more than he had in his previous 27 games combined (four).
“He had some balls even in Texas (against the Rangers) that he’s squared up to the deepest part of the ballpark that he didn’t get much to show for it,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said of Shaw, as aired on NESN’s “Extra Innings Live.”
“A big night for him. A couple of base hits against some lefties for four additional RBIs. … Good to see him lengthen out the lineup here (Tuesday).”
Click for the Red Sox Wrap >>
Let’s hit a few other notes from Red Sox-Rays:
— The game got off to a pretty ominous start for Boston when Rays center fielder Desmond Jennings robbed Betts with a spectacular catch for the very first out of the game.
— The Red Sox provided a web gem of their own, however, as left fielder Bryce Brentz robbed Nick Franklin with a diving catch in the sixth.
— Another night, another milestone for David Ortiz.
The Red Sox slugger notched his 1,704th career RBI with a double in the third inning, tying Frank Thomas for 23rd on Major League Baseball’s all-time list. Ortiz also benefited from some good luck, as right fielder Oswaldo Arcia lost Ortiz’s towering fly ball in the Tropicana Field catwalk and couldn’t catch what would have been a routine out in most other ballparks.
— Hanley Ramirez has turned things around quite nicely after an ugly couple of games.
The Red Sox first baseman went 2-for-2 with an RBI and reached base in all five of his plate appearances. He now owns a seven-game hitting streak with 10 hits, six RBIs and three home runs during that span.
— David Price, who will take the mound Wednesday in a big start against his former team, hasn’t had the best season to date, posting a 4.68 ERA through 16 starts. The veteran left-hander opened up about his struggles in a recent interview with ESPN’s Scott Lauber, admitting his performance thus far has been “not acceptable.”
“Just because I don’t display my frustration in front of everybody, it doesn’t mean that I don’t care, by any means,” Price added. “… I’ve had too many of those bad games, and it’s not acceptable.”
— Farrell elaborated a bit before Tuesday’s game on the team meeting he held after Monday’s ugly loss. The main themes? Staying the course and getting better pitching.
“I think there’s been a number of things of late that have been reoccurring and felt like it was time to acknowledge some of those things,” Farrell said, via MassLive.com. “It was also a time to acknowledge some of the positive things that continue. We’re in a stretch of games where we’re getting challenged, no doubt. You sense the frustration that is building.
“There were some things that were outlined that we need to continue to stay steadfast with and that is the style of game we play and that won’t be compromised and yet we need more consistent leadership from the mound.”
Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images
