Keep flexing, Hanley Ramirez. The Boston Red Sox will need that power all season.
Ramirez hit his seventh and eighth home runs of the season in Sunday afternoon’s 18-7 loss to the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. Ramirez is tied for second in Major League Baseball in homers behind Seattle Mariners outfielder Nelson Cruz, who has nine on the season.
Ramirez now is batting .300 with a 1.002 OPS, which ranks ninth in the American League.
— Ramirez served as the Red Sox’s designated hitter in place of David Ortiz, who received the day off. Third baseman Pablo Sandoval hit third in Ortiz’s place and hit his first homer of the season. Sandoval also walked three times.
— Red Sox starting pitcher Wade Miley had a rough go, allowing six earned runs in 2 1/3 innings. He gave up five hits, walked two batters and didn’t record a strike out. He’s now 1-2 on the season with an 8.62 ERA.
Red Sox manager John Farrell was asked after the game if he’s evaluating Miley’s place in the rotation.
“We just walked off the field,” Farrell answered, via the Boston Herald’s Jason Mastrodonato.
Miley called his performance, in which he allowed five earned runs in the third inning alone after walking in a run, “embarrassing.”
Red Sox starters have a 5.75 ERA on the season with a 1.39 WHIP. They’re averaging just over 5 1/3 innings pitched per start. Ouch.
— Brock Holt had Saturday night off, but he didn’t lose any momentum, hitting 2 for 2 with three walks, raising his average to .457 and his OPS to 1.113. He started the game in left field and moved to second base when Dustin Pedroia was removed from the game — for rest — in the seventh. Holt should continue to see his playing time increase with right fielder Shane Victorino on the disabled list.
— The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo wrote in his Sunday notes that “there are scouts watching Allen Craig and just waiting for him to do something well so they can provide a positive recommendation to their bosses.” Craig didn’t provide those scouts any relief Sunday, when he went 0 for 5, lowering his average to .129 with a .335 OPS.
To make matters worse, Craig saw just 10 pitches in his five plate appearances.
— The Red Sox likely will see more movement between Pawtucket and Boston before Monday night’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Heath Hembree, who was called up Sunday afternoon, pitched 1 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and six earned runs. He struck out three, but after throwing 49 pitches, it’s unlikely he would be available for a second consecutive game.
Knuckleballer Steven Wright could be the next pitcher to take the bullpen express up to Fenway Park.
— Orioles starter Bud Norris went into the game with a 17.42 ERA after shining last season with 15 wins and a 3.65 ERA. Perhaps Sunday’s start, in which he allowed three earned runs in 6 2/3 innings, is enough to put him back on track.
— Orioles designated hitter Jimmy Paredes continues to rake, going 3 for 5 with a triple and three RBIs. The 26-year-old entered Sunday’s game as a career .252 hitter.
Thumbnail photo via Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports Images
