BOSTON — Brock Holt’s best asset is his versatility. He’s able to play nearly every position for the Red Sox and is capable of hitting in several different spots in the batting order.
Not playing every day can negatively affect players, specifically at the plate. So far this season, though, Holt has been unaffected, and he proved it again during Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park.
Holt replaced Mookie Betts in center field and went 3-for-4 with three singles from the leadoff spot. His batting average rose to .579 (11-for-19) on the season as a result.
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“That’s my job, to be ready to play,” Holt said. “I’ve said it 100 times. Doesn’t matter where I’m playing or when I’m playing, I’m going to be ready to go. Fortunately I was able to (play well) again today, just didn’t come out with a win.”
Similar to last season, Red Sox manager John Farrell will have a tough time keeping Holt out of the lineup if he continues to produce at the plate, run the bases well (he had Boston’s only stolen base Saturday) and play solid defense.
“It’s hard to keep a rhythm when you’re not in there everyday,” Holt said. “I do the same thing routine-wise I would do if I was playing everyday … I try to keep that part of it the same and work on things in the cage and batting practice. If I’m in there, great. If not, I’ll be ready to go.”
— Hanley Ramirez has misplayed two balls in left field over the last two games. In the fifth inning Saturday, he wasn’t able to catch a fly ball at the Green Monster that hit his outstretched glove. It allowed the Orioles to load the bases, but the Red Sox got out of the jam.
Ramirez primarily has been an infielder for most of his major league career, but he’s made the transition to left field this season. Left field at Fenway Park is much different than any other stadium, particularly because of the Green Monster and its height. It’s going to take time for Ramirez to fine tune his approach, but Farrell isn’t worried.
“Defensively, there’s been a couple of balls where he might have been a little bit in between, particularly on the carom off the wall today,” Farrell said. “I thought he went back in good shape, and the ball just him on the heel of the glove.”
Farrell added: “To me, there’s nothing alarming, and with more games played, the more comfortable he’ll get.”
— Shane Victorino was a late scratch from the lineup Saturday. He is dealing with sore ribs, which Farrell confirmed is a result of the right fielder crashing hard into the wall near the Pesky Pole during an attempt to rob Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph of a home run Friday night.
“The left rib area was sore here (Saturday), so he was a no go,” Farrell said. “We’ll check him in the morning on his availability.”
— David Ortiz was the other bright spot in the Red Sox lineup. He went 3-for-3, scored a run and was on base four times. His double to lead off the eighth inning was Boston’s only extra-base hit.
Thumbnail photo via Elise Amendola/Associated PressÂ
