RED SOX vs. Bluejays series recap:
Starters:
Nick Pivetta leaves the mound after yet another tough start on Wednesday night. (Via. Getty Images)
Nate Eovaldi started off the series grinding out 4.2 innings striking out 6. Eovaldi didn’t have his best stuff but managed to keep the Sox in the game and gave them a chance to win. Nick Pivetta, looking to rebound from his bad start his last time out, came out and had yet another terrible performance. Pivetta’s line was 4 innings, 5 ER, with 4 walks, not great. In game three Tanner Houck put together another solid start going 5 innings giving up only 2 ER.
Matt Strahm, runs to cover first base in the Sox 2-1 win on Tuesday. (Via. Getty Images)
Bullpen:
The bullpen was solid in game 1 of the series as Alex Cora used all of his best options out of the pen to secure the Sox 2-1 victory. Matt Strahm has continued to impress out of the pen giving the Sox 1.1 scoreless innings. Followed by an 1.2 scoreless work from Hansel Robles, .1 of an inning from Diekman and a 1 inning save from Garrett Whitlock. In game 2 the bullpen was again solid as Phillips Valdez and Tyler Danish combined for 4 shutout innings while Matt Barnes went one inning giving up the only run out of the bullpen in game 2.
Rafeal Devers, who has been one of the only consistent bats thus far this season, stands in for an at-bat on Wednesday night. (Via. Getty Images)
Offense:
In game one the offense was quiet as it has been for the most part to start the season. The Sox only combined for 3 hits in game one and Connor Wong, who was just called up after COVID torched the Sox catcher's corps, drove in the winning run with a sac fly in the bottom of the seventh. It’s also important to note that Trevor Story has continued to give the Sox production since his slow start picking up an RBI double in the bottom of the third. In game 2 the offense remained sluggish as the sox had 7 players combine for 10 hits but only scored one run, leaving 11 on base and going a terrible 1-14 with RISP. Game 3 offered more of the same for the Sox offense as they were shut out for the first 8 innings of the game before a late rally in the ninth by the top of the Sox order was halted with Jackie Bradely Jr. and Bobby Dalbec recording the final outs.
Looking Ahead:
The offense needs to step up, this is becoming ridiculous at this point. Yes, it is still early but sooner or later it will become too late, timely hitting needs to start happening. The offense has oftentimes been really quiet in the early part of games and waking up later on in games. It would be nice to see the team put together a well rounded win as well as series. With the Rays in town next things aren’t getting any easier especially as there appears to be a COVID problem within the club house as Alex Cora now has tested positive for COVID. It certainly would help to boost the Sox offense if Chiam Bloom would call up Tristan Casas. Travis Shaw has shown little to no help offensively as he bunted against a right handed pitcher. He is on the roster to specifically do damage to right handed pitching and he is not doing that.