BOSTON — Josh Rutledge didn’t have to wait long to make his Boston Red Sox debut.
The infielder, acquired Monday from the Los Angeles Angels in the Shane Victorino trade, was added to the Red Sox’s roster Wednesday and saw his first game action just hours later.
Rutledge replaced third baseman Pablo Sandoval after the fifth inning of Wednesday’s 9-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox when Sandoval left the game due to dehydration. He proceeded to go 0-for-2 in his two plate appearances.
Before the game, Rutledge gave his initial thoughts on coming to Boston in his first meeting with the local media.
“I was definitely excited about (the trade),” he said. “I wasn’t really expecting anything, but after it happened, I was excited about it. I’m glad to be here, ready to go.”
Boston manager John Farrell said Rutledge, a utility man, will be an option at second base, third base and shortstop, though the 26-year-old said he prefers to play up the middle.
“I would say my position I’ve played the most is probably shortstop,” Rutledge said. “Second base, I started playing it more starting in 2012, so I’ve had a lot of games there, too. Most recently, last year was kind of my first time at third base since high school, but I’ve been playing more there this year too.”
Rutledge appeared in 266 games with the Colorado Rockies from 2012 to 2014, but he had yet to see action with the Angels at the time of the trade. Instead, he’s spent the bulk of this season at Triple-A Salt Lake, where he posted a .274/.323/.403 slash line in 78 games.
The Alabama product doesn’t have many pre-existing Red Sox relationships — he played with pitcher Joe Kelly in the Cape Cod Baseball League and against outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. while Bradley was at South Carolina — but he seemed excited to experience Fenway Park from the home dugout.
“I’ve played here as a visiting club, so that was fun for just the two games, but to be playing here every day is going to be a lot of fun,” Rutledge said. “These fans are great.”
Some additional notes from Wednesday’s action:
— Farrell said after the game that Steven Wright will make his scheduled Thursday start despite warming up in the bullpen while starter Rick Porcello scuffled in the early innings Wednesday.
— Wednesday was “Viva Dominicana Night” at Fenway Park, highlighted by a modified recreation of Pedro Martinez’s number retirement ceremony. Unlike Tuesday’s ceremony, however, this one was conducted in his native Spanish.
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Fans in attendance received Dominican flags — which also adorned Fenway’s upper deck — and a replica of Martinez’s Hall of Fame plaque translated into Spanish, and the national anthems of both the Dominican Republic and United States were sung before the game.
— Also during pregame, New Jersey Devils goaltender and Marblehead, Mass., native Cory Schneider paid the ballpark a visit.
The Boston College product took some hacks during batting practice, toured the Red Sox clubhouse and presented a Devils sweater to New Jersey native — and Wednesday’s starting pitcher — Rick Porcello.
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Schneider also left behind an autographed goalie stick, which Dustin Pedroia can be seen holding in this video:
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Thumbnail photo via Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports Images
