BOSTON — The Red Sox’s 32nd win of 2015 came at a price. Perhaps.
Hanley Ramirez and Dustin Pedroia both suffered injuries Wednesday as the Red Sox defeated the Baltimore Orioles 5-1 at Fenway Park. Ramirez suffered a left hand contusion and Pedroia dealt with right hamstring tightness amid their respective exits, according to the Red Sox, but manager John Farrell was unable to provide any additional information immediately following the game.
Both players underwent advanced imaging, according to Farrell. More info should be available Thursday morning when Farrell meets with the media before the teams’ series finale.
Let’s run down some notes from the rest of Wednesday’s action.
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— Boston’s win snapped a six-game losing streak against the O’s and a seven-game losing streak against American League East opponents. This is an important stretch for the Red Sox, as 13 of their final 18 games before the All-Star break are against AL East foes.
— All five of Boston’s runs in the sixth inning were unearned. The Red Sox had four hits and the Orioles committed two errors. It marked the Red Sox’s first win in which they scored at least five runs, all of which were unearned, since defeating the Detroit Tigers 6-2 on Sept. 11, 1998.
— Catcher Sandy Leon is doing his job quite well.
Leon isn’t expected to provide much offense, and he hasn’t, but he obviously has developed an excellent rapport with Clay Buchholz, who pitched well again.
“Me and Sandy, for the most part of each start that we’ve been going out there, pretty much are on the same page and the game seems to flow a little bit better,” Buchholz said. “Made some big pitches in some big spots (Wednesday).”
Leon also has thrown out eight of 13 attempted base stealers this season after gunning down Manny Machado at second base in the first inning. The 26-year-old picked off a runner at first base Tuesday.
— For as much as Brock Holt has bounced around for the Red Sox, Wednesday marked the first time in his career that he played at least three different positions in a single game.
Holt started at first base, moved to left field in the sixth inning after Ramirez went down and then shifted to second base in the seventh inning following Pedroia’s injury. He became the first major leaguer to appear at first base, second base and left field in the same game since former Red Sox infielder Lou Merloni did it for the Cleveland Indians on July 20, 2004.
— Holt, who went 0-for-3 with a walk, has reached base in each of the Red Sox’s last 18 games.
— David Ortiz, who homered in the sixth inning, has reached base in each of his last 15 starts.
— Mookie Betts extended his career-best hit streak to 11 games with a run-scoring single.
— Alejandro De Aza, who was acquired from the Orioles earlier this month, had an interesting night against his former team.
De Aza helped spark Boston’s sixth-inning rally by hustling down the line after a ball ate up first baseman Chris Davis. He dived head-first into first base, reaching safely on an error charged to Davis. Betts drove in De Aza two batters later with a single into right field.
But that was just the half of it.
Orioles pitcher Bud Norris stepped on De Aza’s left hand while covering the bag on Davis’ mishap. De Aza then was plunked on the hand with a pitch an inning later.
“Things were happening in bunches, unfortunately,” Farrell said.
De Aza escaped injury in both instances, though his hand was taped after the game. The outfielder, who’s expected to be available Thursday despite Wednesday’s painful effort, said getting hit by Brian Matusz’s pitch in the seventh inning hurt more than being stepped on.
— Shane Victorino went 0-for-2 and played five innings in right field for Triple-A Pawtucket in the first game of his rehab assignment. He’s slated to play for the PawSox again Thursday.
There’s still no timetable for Victorino’s return.
— PawSox starter Brian Johnson, who is a candidate for a call-up if the Red Sox remove Joe Kelly from the rotation, left his start Wednesday with two outs in the seventh inning after colliding with Rochester’s Danny Ortiz while covering first base.
Fortunately, Johnson was fine after the game. His exit was precautionary.
The left-hander also dazzled. He allowed only one unearned run on one hit over 6 2/3 innings while striking out seven and walking one.
Not a bad audition.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
