BOSTON — Aaron Hill’s debut with the Red Sox on Friday night went as well as he could have hoped.
The newly-acquired utility infielder hit two RBI singles, the second of which ended up plating the winning run in a 6-5 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park.
“Aaron comes in and gives us a spark,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “Two big, quality at-bats for a couple RBIs, none bigger than the final one the way it finished out with Evan Longoria’s solo home run in the ninth.”
Hill primarily is a pull hitter, which means Fenway Park could be a very productive place for him to contribute offensively. His first RBI single in the fourth inning smacked off the Green Monster.
Given the injuries the Sox are dealing with right now, having Hill’s bat on the bench could prove to be quite valuable in the second half of the season.
Here are some other notes from Friday:
— The Red Sox stole four bases, two by Mookie Betts and one each by Brock Holt and Hanley Ramirez.
Rays catcher Hank Conger was 1-for-43 throwing out basestealers last season, so it’s no surprise the Red Sox were aggressive on the basepaths.
“It turned out to be very key,” Farrell said of the aggressive baserunning. “Hanley with the big stolen base late, we get the RBI single following that. Coming into the game, we felt like this was a combination we could be a little more aggressive with, so right off the get-go after Mookie’s walk we didn’t wait around, set the tone early and the aggressiveness in those situations continued.”
— Ramirez went 1-for-3 and has reached base safely in 17 of his last 27 plate appearances. He fouled a ball off his left shin again and left the game in the top of the ninth inning. Ramirez is going to come to the ballpark Saturday and see how he feels.
— David Ortiz blasted home run No. 21 on the season (524th of his career) in the fourth inning.
It was his third career homer of Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer. He’s now 13-for-34 lifetime versus Archer.
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It’s been an incredible first half of the season for Ortiz.
— Archer entered the game with a 9.50 first-inning ERA, and he gave up two runs, three hits and a walk in the first frame Friday night. Archer entered Friday with a 1-8 record and a 5.67 ERA in 13 career outings against the Red Sox.
Archer also leads the American League with 12 losses on the season.
— Holt left the game in the fourth inning after he suffered a left ankle sprain sliding into second on a successful steal attempt. X-rays taken were negative and he’ll be re-evaluated Saturday, per the club.
— Bryce Brentz replaced Holt in left field and went 2-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI.
“(Brentz has) done an exceptional job since coming up and being pressed into duty with the regular at-bats that he’s getting,” Farrell said.
— Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel (left knee) was unavailable to pitch. The issue with the knee happened pre-game.
“I’d probably venture to say he’s not going to be available for (the All-Star Game),” Farrell said.
— The Red Sox acquired Michael Martinez from the Cleveland Indians on Friday. Before the game, Farrell praised Martinez’s versatility as someone who can play shortstop, third base, second base and the outfield in a reserve role.
Martinez is expected to join the Red Sox on Saturday.
— Farrell also said pitcher Joe Kelly is scheduled to make two more relief appearances for Single-A Lowell over the next few days.
— Here’s some good news on one of Boston’s top prospects.
Moncada also hit his fifth home run of the season Friday.
— New Boston Celtics free-agent signing Al Horford threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Watch it here.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports Images
