Red Sox Notes: Triston Casas’ Presence Felt In Long-Awaited Return

Triston Casas didn’t turn in a standout performance in his first game back with the Boston Red Sox in nearly four months Friday night against the Baltimore Orioles.

He went just 1-for-5 with a pair of strikeouts, but his presence alone made an impact on the lineup.

Casas hitting from the No. 3 spot in the order lengthened the Red Sox lineup and for Rafael Devers and Masataka Yoshida, who both hit behind Casas, they took full advantage of opposing pitchers having to expend energy facing Casas.

Devers and Yoshida combined for five hits — they each hit a home run — and seven RBIs in Boston’s 12-10 win over the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

“There are certain guys that are going to benefit from having Triston in the lineup,” Cora said. “Raffy hitting behind him because Triston is going to grind at-bats, see pitches and then Raffy can do whatever he wants, be aggressive. Masa is going to benefit from those two at-bats just watching.”

It doesn’t feel like a coincidence that the Red Sox had their best offensive output this month with Casas, who had been sidelined since April 20 with torn rib cartilage, back in the fold. And it came with the Cy Young Award candidate Corbin Burnes on the mound for the Orioles. Burnes allowed a season-high eight runs on 10 hits in just four innings.

“Of course,” said Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen on if Casas’ return gave the team a boost. “Triston, young cat, excited, wants to play every day, wants to help the team win and put some pretty good at-bats tonight.”

Jarren Duran felt the same way as Jansen. Casas being back means the Red Sox offense is almost completely whole again, and it’s expected Boston will get another slugger back Saturday with Tyler O’Neill coming off the injured list.

“It’s always good to have a guy like that in the clubhouse,” Duran said of Casas. “Even he doesn’t have a great day, he still has a knock. His presence at the plate is amazing and just having his presence back in the clubhouse is awesome.”

Casas’ first game back certainly was a step in the right direction. And when he starts connecting at the plate like his teammates with their 14-hit attack, it feels like the Red Sox offense could jump to another level.

“We know about the at-bat, we know what he’s going to do,” Cora said. “He’s going to slow the game down and he’s going to help us.”

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Here are more notes from Friday’s Red Sox-Orioles game:

— David Hamilton, who hit a key insurance home run in the seventh inning, sneakily stole his team-leading 31st base of the season. It’s the most stolen bases by a Red Sox rookie since Jacoby Ellsbury swiped 50 bags in 2008.

— The Red Sox made a last-minute deal with the Los Angeles Angels for Luis García at the deadline but the veteran reliever has struggled mightily since joining Boston. He had another rough showing against the Orioles, in which he allowed three runs on four hits in an inning of work. He also surrendered a home run for a third straight outing. García’s ERA is up to 14.73 during his brief time with the Red Sox.

“Keeping going. That’s the way it works,” Cora said. “We trust him. He’s going to pitch. He gave up the homer and then he got out of it. We’re going to keep working.”

— Jansen and Craig Kimbrel are side-by-side on the all-time saves list — Jansen sits in fourth place with Kimbrel right behind in fifth. But the two relievers had completely opposite performances Friday. Jansen was rock solid with a 1-2-3 ninth inning to close things out while Kimbrel didn’t do his job, giving up three runs, which came off homers from Hamilton and Duran, in his inning of work in the seventh.

— The Red Sox are going to need more out of their starting rotation over the next few games since they went with a bullpen game Friday. Boston used eight relievers in the win.

— The Red Sox will give the ball to Brayan Bello on Saturday as they continue to battle the Orioles. First pitch from Camden Yards is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET, and you can watch the game, plus an hour of pregame coverage, on NESN.