Red Sox Notes: Shane Victorino, Rick Porcello Struggle In Oakland Opener

Shane Victorino’s return to action for the Boston Red Sox was a forgettable one.

Victorino went 0-for-4 with two popouts Monday in Boston’s 5-4, 11-inning win over the Oakland A’s. He started the game in right field but was lifted after the eighth inning in favor of defensive replacement Jackie Bradley Jr.

It’s clear — and understandable — that the veteran outfielder still has some readjusting to do after his latest stint on the disabled list.

“I’m not saying he’s strictly a role player by any means,” manager John Farrell told reporters before the game, via the Boston Herald, “but I think we also have to be realistic on the number of consecutive games played and what his body needs to continue to stay healthy for the long run.”

Victorino, who injured his hamstring April 22, is batting .128 (5-for-39) with zero home runs and two RBIs this season.

Some additional notes from a late night in Oakland:

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— Starting pitcher Rick Porcello also struggled in Boston’s first game out west, failing to turn in a third straight quality start.

Porcello had been lights-out in consecutive wins over the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays, allowing just one run over 14 total innings. The right-hander surrendered just three runs Monday night, but he also needed 101 pitches to complete his five innings of work.

It wasn’t a disaster of a start, but it also wasn’t what the Red Sox wanted to see from a pitcher who’d begun to separate himself as the staff’s No. 1.

— To make room for Victorino on the 25-man roster, the Red Sox designated infielder Luis Jimenez for assignment.

Jimenez, who was claimed off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers on May 3, notched just one at-bat during his brief stint in Boston. After pinch-running for David Ortiz in the eighth inning of last Wednesday’s 5-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, he grounded out in the bottom of the ninth to end the game.

Farrell told reporters Monday he’s hopeful Jimenez clears waivers so the team can assign him to Triple-A Pawtucket.

— The Red Sox traded Edward Mujica to the A’s on Saturday, and it wasn’t long before the reliever was facing his old teammates. Mujica retired all three batters he faced Monday in his Oakland debut, including Pablo Sandoval, who had been 4-for-4 with two home runs in his career against the right-hander.

“It was a little surprise for me, to come here to the West,” Mujica said before the game, via The Boston Globe. “But I’m here.”

— Sandoval on Monday received the 2014 World Series ring he won as a member of the San Francisco Giants. The third baseman said before the game that the comments he made on his way out of San Francisco — namely, that he’d only miss manager Bruce Bochy and outfielder Hunter Pence — might have been misunderstood.

“It probably came out the wrong side,” Sandoval told reporters, via the Boston Herald. “I accept what I say, I agree with what I said, there’s probably nothing wrong because if I tell every name that I miss, it’s going to be long interviews. I just said those names because Bochy is like my dad. He always believed in me. And Hunter is the greatest player I’ve played for. It’s not about my teammates, it’s not about the fans’ support. Probably things come out the wrong side.”

— David Ortiz’s double to lead off the sixth inning was the 1,041st extra-base hit of his career, tying him with Pete Rose for 26th on Major League Baseball’s all-time list.

Boston’s designated hitter likely would prefer to forget what happened after that two-bagger, however. A’s starter Scott Kazmir picked him off second base.

Thumbnail photo via Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports Images