BOSTON — Hanley Ramirez apparently has been listening to those criticizing his poor performance at the plate this season.
After going a combined 0-for-8 with five strikeouts in consecutive losses to the Chicago White Sox on Monday and Tuesday, Ramirez snapped his slump Wednesday by launching a Jose Quintana fastball into the Boston bullpen for a solo home run.
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Although Ramirez went hitless in his other four at-bats in the game, which the Red Sox lost 8-6, he sent what appeared to be message to his doubters after completing his home run trot.
“I was just playing around,” the first baseman said. “Trying to enjoy the game. It was a good game.”
Some additional notes from Wednesday’s tilt:
— Third baseman Travis Shaw left before the fourth inning with a right shin contusion, which he initially suffered during Tuesday night’s game.
Red Sox manager John Farrell said Shaw felt fine during pregame warmups but began to “tighten up” after taking the field. He’s considered day to day, per Farrell, and his status for Thursday’s series finale has yet to be determined.
— Rehabbing left fielder/utility man Brock Holt sat out Wednesday’s Pawtucket Red Sox game after playing Monday and Tuesday for Boston’s Triple-A affiliate.
“He came out of the last two games, I think, in pretty good shape,” Farrell said in his pregame news conference. “I can’t say that he’s 100 percent symptom-free. He’s still experiencing some slight symptoms, and that’s all been expected based on the information provided. He’ll go seven innings (Thursday), split time between short and third base, and then follow that up Friday with nine innings in left field.
“We still don’t have an exact day he’ll return to us, but we’re moving closer.”
Holt has not played since May 18 as he continues to recover from a concussion.
— Catcher Ryan Hanigan, who’s recovering from a neck injury, could begin a minor league rehab stint as soon as Thursday, per Farrell. That decision will be make Thursday morning.
— Injuries to Holt, Hanigan, infielder Josh Rutledge and left fielder/catcher Blake Swihart have decimated the Red Sox’s bench and triggered a mass influx of PawSox to the 25-man roster.
That’s meant players like Deven Marrero, Marco Hernandez, Ryan LaMarre and Sandy Leon have had to transition from Triple-A starters to seldom-used big league reserves, which Farrell admitted can be a difficult adjustment to make.
“The biggest difference is the mindset of the individual player, particularly the young guys,” the manager said. “They’re accustomed to playing every day, being in the flow of things. So, when you’re calling upon a guy that’s maybe giving you an opportunity to take advantage of a split, a platoon split, the fact that they’re in a role where they’re not the flow of the game, they’ve had to prepare from the fifth inning on to be ready for a situation.
“That’s what we have right now. You have confidence in the guys that are on your roster, and you look to make the best use of each guy that’s here.”
Leon has been on a tear (10-for-16 entering Wednesday) since his latest recall, but that quartet entered Wednesday’s game with a collective career batting average of .207.
The lack of depth was evident against the White Sox, as Marrero and Leon both batted in the ninth inning with the Red Sox trailing by two runs. Marrero struck out, and Leon grounded out to close the game.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
