Shane Victorino turned back the clock to better days Thursday.
It’s been a while since Victorino has made a sizable impact, but the 34-year-old outfielder reminded the Boston Red Sox in their series opener against the Seattle Mariners exactly why they haven’t given up on him despite his countless injuries or his prolonged offensive struggles. The two-time All-Star made noise with his bat, flashed his leather and provided some much-needed energy in a 2-1 win at Safeco Field.
“It’s still a long way from where I want to be,” Victorino told reporters in Seattle after Thursday’s win. “I’m just glad that I’m getting a chance, that they’re sticking with me. But it’s focusing on just staying healthy and being out there and having fun doing it.”
Victorino entered Thursday’s contest — his third (and Boston’s fourth) since being activated from the 15-day disabled list following a bout with a hamstring injury — hitting .143 (6-for-42) with a .470 OPS in 14 games this season. It’s a small sample size, obviously, but one also must factor in Victorino’s disappointing 2014 campaign and Rusney Castillo’s presence at Triple-A Pawtucket whenever assessing the situation. Very few would blame the Red Sox for losing patience with a continued lack of production.
Victorino took a small step toward rewarding Boston for its patience, though. He launched his first home run of 2015 in the fourth inning as part of a two-hit effort in which he reached base three times. He also made a fantastic, over-the-shoulder catch in the seventh inning to jump-start a game-changing double play that helped preserve a 1-1 tie at a critical juncture.
In short, it was a performance reminiscent of late 2013, when Victorino was one of Boston’s most valuable players, both offensively and defensively, en route to a World Series title.
“Tonight was a flashback to two years ago for Vic,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said after the game. “You give him a lot of credit for all he’s been through physically. To see him come back and play an all-around game as he did tonight, he’s a difference-maker when he’s on the field and when he’s healthy.”
Admittedly, there’s no need to get carried away about one game in May. Victorino still must show he can stay on the field and produce consistently before the last season-plus becomes a distant memory. But for a team in search of a spark, the image of a vintage Victorino pumping his fist in right field as the Red Sox collectively went bonkers on the top step of the visitors’ dugout is about as encouraging as it gets.
“We’re playing with a little more energy,” Red Sox starter Joe Kelly, who tossed 6 1/3 solid innings, told reporters after the win. “Guys are picking each other up. We’re playing more as a team. We’re trying to go out there and have some fun and put together good wins and keep it rolling.”
Will Victorino return to his 2013 form, which won a Gold Glove and finished 22nd in American League MVP voting? Probably not. He’s more or less a platoon option for Boston, at least for right now.
But the idea that one night of production — both tangibly and intangibly — could evolve into some larger development is something else the Red Sox can hang their hats on as they look to gain traction.
The Flyin’ Hawaiian hasn’t taken flight very often since the beginning of 2014. On Thursday, he soared.
Thumbnail photo via Joe Nicholson/USA TODAY Sports Images
