There was, in fact, good news for the Boston Red Sox on Monday after they dropped the first game of their series against the San Diego Padres.
Left fielder Andrew Benintendi’s rehab from a left knee sprain he suffered Aug. 24 against the Tampa Bay Rays is progressing faster than the Red Sox expected, MLB.com’s Ian Browne reported Monday. Benintendi will get a new knee brace Tuesday.
“He went through a number of things here (Monday), rehab-wise,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said before Monday’s 2-1 loss. “The increase in running — he ran on the back edge of the infield here roughly at 80 to 85 percent intensity. He hit in the cage. He’s going to hit in the fourth group of (batting practice) here (Monday). This is all without the fitting brace, just the sleeve that he’s been wearing.”
Benintendi sounded hopeful about his own progress, too.
“We would hope that once the brace gets on, then the more change of direction, the cutting will start to take place, and then the baseball activities will continue to ramp up through the weekend series in Toronto,” Benintendi said, per Browne.
The 22-year-old provided a boost to the Red Sox during his short time in Boston, batting .324 (22-for-68) with an .850 OPS, six doubles, a triple, a home run and 10 RBIs in 21 games.
Here are some more notes from Monday’s loss.
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— Chris Young scored the Red Sox’s lone run Monday by ripping a solo home run to left field while pinch-hitting for catcher Bryan Holaday. It was Boston’s first pinch-hit home run since Jonny Gomes did it on July 18, 2014.
— Speaking of pinch hitters, David Ortiz was less successful in his appearance hitting for third baseman Yoan Moncada, flying out to end the game. And as it turns out, Boston’s favorite clutch hitter is actually not very good in pinch-hitting situations.
Ortiz: "I got myself out … I kind of suck at pinch hitting." He seemed pretty ripped. Bad loss.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) September 6, 2016
— In case you missed it, Dustin Pedroia is still a good defensive second baseman.
Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images
