RED SOX V RAYS
FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2017, 7 PM AT TROPICANA FIELD
TV: NESN, FOX SPORTS SUN
BOSTON, (49-37)............................................................................................TAMPA, (45-42)
BOSTON:
DREW POMERANZ, LHP, 8-4, 3.64 ERA, 92K
Pomeranz held the Blue Jays to one run in six innings during his last
start. After that outing and his previous start against Minnesota, Pomeranz
has his season ERA at the lowest point its been since his second start of the
year in April.
TAMPA:
JAKE ODORIZZY, RHP, 5-3, 4.08 ERA, 67K
Odorizzy has remained competitive while battling a mechanical problem.
He picked up the win Saturday on a sweltering afternoon in Baltimore,
where he allowed three runs in five innings. He is 3-2 with a 3.60 ERA at
Tropicana Field in 2017.
Red Sox, Rays keep rolling at the Trop
Connor Mount
Jake Odorizzi will face Drew Pomeranz on Friday night as the Rays and Red Sox continue their first series of 2017 in St. Petersburg.
Pomeranz has figured things out recently. He's 5-1 with a 2.52 ERA in his last nine starts, striking out 53 over 50 innings. He faced the Rays twice before that stretch began, giving up seven earned runs in 7 1/3 innings while fanning 13.
Odorizzi, on the other hand, will be trying to recalibrate his mechanics and get back on track in time for the second half of the season.
Odorizzi set a franchise record in his last outing by allowing a home run in his 12th consecutive game. He had a 3.14 ERA through nine starts, but has a 5.58 mark over his last six. He has given up three runs or more in each of those six starts since June 2, though he has a 2-1 record over that time to show for it.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS GAME
• Expect to see plenty of pitches up in the strike zone: Among starters who have thrown 1,000 pitches, Odorizzi and Pomeranz are first and second, respectively, at spotting pitches at the upper part of the zone and higher. Odorizzi throws there 29.48 percent of the time, and Pomeranz locates there on 26.04 percent of his pitches, according to Statcast.
• Boston's Mookie Betts does not sacrifice at-bats by striking out in search of power. He strikes out in 9.2 percent of his at-bats while averaging 0.217 extra-base hits per appearance (otherwise known as Isolated Power). That ratio of 2.35 extra bases per strikeout is best in the Majors among qualified hitters.
• Left-handers have batted .344 against Pomeranz this season, with Rays lefties going 6-for-11 with two triples and a homer in two matchups. But Pomeranz, who hasn't had much trouble with lefties in his career, has the second-largest gaps between his actual batting average allowed and expected average allowed (.229) among southpaws (minimum 50 at-bats).
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170706240844644/red-sox-rays-keep-rolling-at-the-trop/?game_pk=491391
Red Sox v. Odorizzi:
Betts RF,
Benintendi LF,
Pedroia 2B,
Moreland 1B,
Ramirez DH,
Bradley Jr. CF,
Vázquez C,
Lin SS,
Marrero 3B,
Pomeranz
Goes without saying, we need a strong finish to the first half !! Last night, yes Sale made a couple/few mistakes but the missing offense was glaring !!!
Quote from: Bill-806 on July 07, 2017, 07:14:00 AM
Goes without saying, we need a strong finish to the first half !! Last night, yes Sale made a couple/few mistakes but the missing offense was glaring !!!
IMO some of the players are probably gassed leading to the ASB. The lingering injury bugs and ending with a road trip out to Tex and FL. Of course other teams are weary as the looks of NYY, Cubs, others. LA and the Stros just keep on ticking.
Quote from: Sea Dog 23 on July 07, 2017, 08:30:45 AM
Quote from: Bill-806 on July 07, 2017, 07:14:00 AM
Goes without saying, we need a strong finish to the first half !! Last night, yes Sale made a couple/few mistakes but the missing offense was glaring !!!
IMO some of the players are probably gassed leading to the ASB. The lingering injury bugs and ending with a road trip out to Tex and FL. Of course other teams are weary as the looks of NYY, Cubs, others. LA and the Stros just keep on ticking.
B I N G O dat !!! As I said, the HEAT in Texas is brutal !! It was the HEAT at the ALAMO that killed Crockett & his Tennessean's !! thumb_u rofl
Time to pick it up for the next few games. It's a hallmark of Farrell's teams to fade at key times and not being focused on the game ahead.
Quote from: longgame on July 07, 2017, 08:55:55 AM
Time to pick it up for the next few games. It's a hallmark of Farrell's teams to fade at key times and not being focused on the game ahead.
Yes to that. Pomeranz has been very good lately. We need the bats to jump on Odorizzi early. 3 of 4 would be great. But a split is a must.
Quote from: longgame on July 07, 2017, 08:55:55 AM
Time to pick it up for the next few games. It's a hallmark of Farrell's teams to fade at key times and not being focused on the game ahead.
When he had guys like Victorino, Gomes, Napoli, Ross, etc, they could pretty much control themselves, but I think we have a lot of very soft players led by a very incompetent manager who is slow on the draw and is less than astute in the strategy department. They all need to pick it up these last three games.--------------AND START HITTING AGAIN.
In my 69 years, I have nevaa seen a double play like that !!! thumb_u rofl
Bats are coming alive tonight. Sox up 4-0.
Nice to see the top part of the order actually do something. I thought Betts was taking the rest of the road trip off. Lin on again.
JBJ goes deep. Sox up 5-0.
Uh-oh. And I was just about to post how well Pom-pom was doing.
All started with a 3-2 walk on a curve ball. Need to throw a fastball down the pipe and make him hit it.
Got the 2 runs right back. 7-2 Sox now after 4.5 innings.
.
Great DP started by Marrero. 7-2 Sox after 5 innings.
Pomerantz scuffled a little but got the job done.
Attaboy, Hembree. Didn't he do that same thing a couple games ago?
Pomeranz has been a pleasant surprise this season. Hembree ain't helping the situation here, though.
Quote from: markj on July 07, 2017, 08:42:25 PM
Attaboy, Hembree. Didn't he do that same thing a couple games ago?
Has pitched well last few times out. Only 3 hit against him and 1 earned run the last 6 innings he has pitched with 9 strikeouts and 1 walk.
Wow, nice way to get out of that jam.
Quote from: Schloicka on July 07, 2017, 08:51:49 PM
Quote from: markj on July 07, 2017, 08:42:25 PM
Attaboy, Hembree. Didn't he do that same thing a couple games ago?
Has pitched well last few times out. Only 3 hit against him and 1 earned run the last 6 innings he has pitched with 9 strikeouts and 1 walk.
It was on June 30 vs Toronto. Second pitch dinger.
Quote from: markj on June 30, 2017, 08:29:04 PM
Dammit. Hembree needs just 2 pitches to give up a run. Game tied.
Bad luck that inning as Lin was going on the pitch and the 2nd baseman was covering and ball went right to him and it cost Marrero a hit. Betts with another popup out in the infield. Lot of them lately.
Come on Barnes. Get this 3rd out.
Gets it done.
It hasn't been a pitching clinic tonight but getting it done.
Kimbrel mows them down. Good game.
Nice 9th by Kimbrel getting some work in. Already a good road trip with 6 wins so far. Get another win and it will be a great trip. Get 2 and it's over the top. Need to keep hitting. On to Saturday.
Quote from: Schloicka on July 07, 2017, 09:39:52 PM
Nice 9th by Kimbrel getting some work in. Already a good road trip with 6 wins so far. Get another win and it will be a great trip. Get 2 and it's over the top. Need to keep hitting. On to Saturday.
Yup. Kimbrel with a 1-2-3 Ks the side. I'll be very happy with a split. 3 of 4 would be gravy.
And 50 wins, folks! :)
THE HITTING RETURNED AND THE POWER WAS ON TONIGHT. i KNOW WE'RE NOT A POWER TEAM BUT WE SHOULD BE HITTING MORE HOME RUNS THAN WE HAVE BEEN. THE WARM WEATHER SHOULD HELP, THOUGH IT WASN'T ALL THAT HOT IN THE DOME TONIGHT. POM GAVE US SIX DEENT INNINGS BUT I SURE WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM GET TO THE SEVENTH OR EIGHTH INNING ONCE IN AWHILE, BUT I'LL TAKE WHAT HE'S BEEN DOING. A GOD WIN TONIGHT. LET'S NOT LET UP NOW, THOUGH. KEEP THE LINE MOVING.
Yankmees are down by 5 runs in the 9th. Sox could pick up a game here.
Sale, Pomeranz, and Barnes are at the top of the Sox pitching stats. Sale doesn't surprise me, but who'd have though Pomeranz and Barnes would be right there in wins and ERA?
Yankees lose. Sox up by 4.5 (3 in the loss column).
Quote from: Bill-806 on July 07, 2017, 06:52:12 PM
In my 69 years, I have nevaa seen a double play like that !!! thumb_u rofl
This is one for the ages. Player bunts into a double play without aide of a force-play or getting himself out. Strange play.
Quote from: markj on July 07, 2017, 11:47:40 PM
Yankees lose. Sox up by 4.5 (3 in the loss column).
Nice to point out out the loss column.To many get excited over games ahead.
Another one that we don't have to win in September.... Take care of Saturday, Sunday & then rest for four days !!
Thank you Bill, I'll do that. LOL
It seems like every game he plays the little dude from Taiwan is in the mix. He has been in 14 games between 2b 3b and SS without an E.
Before he got here it was seemed like a miracle to get thru 14 innings without an E.
Playing in the DUMP with its cool stagnant air seemed to get the bats going or it could have been those 5 swings in BP.
Quote from: Rob from Mass on July 08, 2017, 07:55:33 AM
It seems like every game he plays the little dude from Taiwan is in the mix. He has been in 14 games between 2b 3b and SS without an E.
Before he got here it was seemed like a miracle to get thru 14 innings without an E.
B I N G O dat !!! thumb_u rofl
Command was an issue for Pomeranz but the guy seems to hang in there and doesn't cave in.All of his June starts only 8 walks and 5 last night.If indeed this is what he is a 6 inning guy then I hope they keep him following Sale who saves the pen on most starts.
I am now a full-fledged Pomeranz supporter. I have seen the light. I have gone though reeducated. Last night was the convincing game. One measure of a pitcher is if he is able to keep his team in the game when things are not going as planned. Sure Pomeranz was squeezed on some calls, but generally, he walked a baseball tightrope the last three innings. The bottom line he extracted himself from the various jams. Yes â€" good defense contributed, but so did the good pitching.