BOSTON — A disappointing series-opening loss. Clay Buchholz’s injury. A five-game skid against the New York Yankees. The potential to lose more ground in the standings after a promising run.
All were on the table Saturday night at Fenway Park. None mattered.
The Red Sox defeated the Yankees 5-3 in the middle game of the teams’ three-game series. Boston has won five of its last six games and nine of its last 12 entering Sunday’s series finale, which marks the club’s final game before the Major League Baseball All-Star break.
Let’s run down some notes from Saturday.
Click for the Red Sox Wrap >>
— The Red Sox haven’t lost back-to-back games since the seventh loss of their seven-game losing streak June 9 to June 15. That’s a stretch of 23 games without suffering back-to-back losses.
— Hanley Ramirez, whose two-run homer in the fourth inning put the Red Sox ahead 3-1, has homered in four of his last eight games and in six of his last 14.
— Mookie Betts doubled and tripled. Each of his last six hits has gone for extra bases (four doubles, a triple and a home run).
— Brock Holt extended his hit streak to 10 games with a third-inning single. He’s batting .310 (13-for-42) during the streak.
— Red Sox manager John Farrell has lauded Alejandro De Aza several times unprompted in recent weeks. The veteran outfielder has been a catalyst since Boston acquired him June 3 from the Baltimore Orioles.
De Aza had two hits and scored two runs. He also pushed the envelope on the bases, swiping second base in the third inning and advancing to third base when the catcher’s throw traveled into center field.
“More than anything, he plays full-tilt,” Farrell said. “He’s an aggressive player, he understands the game, you can move him around the outfield and he’s able to have good angles and good reads on balls in both positions. But he’s come in and given us a lift and certainly given us a spark.”
— Brian Johnson wasn’t on the Red Sox’s 40-man roster prior to Saturday’s call-up. To make room on the 40-man, Boston designated right-handed reliever Dalier Hinojosa for assignment.
Hinojosa received a $4 million signing bonus from the Red Sox in October 2013. The 29-year-old made his major league debut with Boston in May. He owns a 3.21 ERA in 19 relief appearances spanning 42 innings with Triple-A Pawtucket this season.
— While Farrell didn’t indicate whether Johnson will be part of the Red Sox’s rotation to open the second half, it seems likely the 24-year-old will start in Buchholz’s absence.
If so, it’ll create an interesting situation for the Red Sox, as they’ll have two rookies under 25 years old — Johnson (24) and Eduardo Rodriguez (22) — in their rotation.
“We’re short on experience, but I think confident in talent,” Farrell said.
— Dustin Pedroia went through some “pretty intense” sprinting before the game, according to Farrell. It doesn’t sound like the second baseman will be activated for Sunday’s series finale, though. He’ll return after the All-Star break, as the Red Sox don’t want to risk any setbacks at this point.
Farrell said he’ll talk with Pedroia before the weekend is over about whether a rehab assignment will be necessary following the break. Pedroia, of course, hasn’t faced live pitching in a while.
— Blake Swihart began a rehab assignment Friday at Triple-A Pawtucket, where he served as the PawSox’s designated hitter. He’s scheduled to catch Sunday, at which point the Red Sox will have a better read on where he stands with his foot injury.
Either way, it’s hard to imagine Swihart immediately rejoining Boston. Ryan Hanigan has hit the ground running in his return and Sandy Leon, while slightly less valuable with Buchholz sidelined, has played the role of backup catcher quite well from a defensive standpoint.
— Speaking of the PawSox, they snapped an 11-game losing streak Saturday by winning for the first time since June 28. They would have matched a franchise record with one more loss.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
