Daily News 19

Tag: American League Wild Card

  • Roman Anthony, Trevor Story to Rejoin Red Sox for Finale Against Yankees

    Roman Anthony, Trevor Story to Rejoin Red Sox for Finale Against Yankees

    Roman Anthony and Trevor Story are expected to return to the Boston Red Sox for Sunday’s series finale against the New York Yankees, giving Boston two key reinforcements as the club pushes toward the postseason.

    Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy confirmed Saturday that Anthony and Story are set to come off the injured list after extended absences, although Boston had not finalized the corresponding roster moves.

    “They’re coming,” Tracy told reporters Saturday, according to MLB.com. “Not sure what we’re doing yet [with the roster], and we’ll figure that out.”

    Anthony and Story were removed early from their minor league rehab game Saturday with Triple-A Worcester. The two players were later seen leaving the ballpark together with their bags packed.

    Red Sox welcome back injured stars

    Boston has recovered from a slow start and moved into postseason contention without Anthony and Story. All-Star first baseman Willson Contreras said the team is eager to have both players back in the lineup.

    “I think it’s really important for us to get those guys back,” Contreras said. “We need them.”

    Anthony has been out since May 4 because of persistent wrist and finger injuries. The former top prospect had one home run and a .675 OPS in 30 games before landing on the injured list, but he displayed his typical power during his rehab assignment, recording two home runs and a .967 OPS in eight games.

    Story last played for Boston on May 14. The two-time All-Star underwent sports hernia surgery on May 22.

    The Red Sox were 18-25 when Story was injured but have since revived their season through contributions from several players across the roster. Boston enters Sunday with a 74-62 record, six games ahead of the Cleveland Guardians (68-68) for the American League’s second wild-card spot and three games behind the Yankees (77-59), who currently hold the top wild card.

    Boston faces roster decisions

    Anthony is expected to return to his previous role rotating between left field and designated hitter. Story’s return presents a more complicated roster decision after he posted a .547 OPS in 41 games before his injury.

    Andruw Monasterio, Nick Sogard and Tsung-Che Cheng have shared shortstop duties during Story’s absence.

    Contreras emphasized the importance of acknowledging the players who helped Boston remain in contention while Anthony and Story were sidelined. He also noted that the Red Sox must decide which players to remove from the 26-man roster to activate both returning stars.

    “I think those are tough decisions to make,” he said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen [Sunday], but we do have to recognize the job that the guys are doing for this team, and we couldn’t have done what we’ve done without them.”

  • Patrick Sandoval, Red Sox Lose Series Opener to Yankees

    Patrick Sandoval, Red Sox Lose Series Opener to Yankees

    Hosting a potential American League Wild Card Series remains a major priority for the Boston Red Sox, especially after they lost last October’s winner-take-all Game 3 against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.

    “That’s important,” said Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy. “I won’t shy away from that. It’s a home-field advantage when you’re playing at home for most people. It wasn’t for us for a while, but it has been lately. So, yeah, I think if you get a short series, and you’re able to play in your home ballpark, that stuff matters for sure.”

    Boston took a setback in that pursuit Friday, losing a tense 1-0 game in the opener of a four-game series at Yankee Stadium.

    The defeat left the Red Sox three games behind the Yankees for the American League’s top Wild Card position. The winner of the season series would host the Wild Card Series if the rivals finish the regular season with identical records.

    The equation for the remainder of the weekend is simple: Boston must win two of the final three games to secure the season series.

    “That’s the plan, to win the series and go home,” said Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela.

    Rafaela was also at the center of the game’s pivotal play, getting thrown out at home on a laser throw from Cody Bellinger that prevented the tying run from scoring in the top of the seventh inning.

    “We haven’t scored much lately, so you gotta take your shot,” Tracy said. “You get the ball in the air, which is what you need, and you have a really good baserunner in Rafa and speed at third. You’re going to take your shot. With him running, it’s got to be a perfect throw. And he made a perfect throw right on the money.”

    Although the Red Sox worked Yankees ace Cam Schlittler hard—he lasted 5 2/3 innings, issued five walks and threw 96 pitches—they could not score against him or New York’s bullpen.

    Rafaela takes responsibility for two outs on the bases

    Rafaela was thrown out on the bases twice Friday: once after a baserunning mistake and once after Bellinger made the game’s defining defensive play.

    Boston appeared to be building a strong scoring chance in the fifth inning, with cleanup hitter Willson Contreras due up and two runners already on base. But Rafaela ended the rally before Contreras could come to the plate. On a relatively routine flyball to center by Wilyer Abreu, Rafaela strayed too far from first base and was doubled off to end the inning.

    “That’s a bad read on me. That’s really bad,” Rafaela said.

    Contreras did come to the plate in the seventh inning with runners on second and third and one out. He hit a 262-foot flyball to left field. With the slumping Adley Rutschman on deck, it appeared to be an opportunity for Boston to be aggressive.

    Rafaela tagged from third but was thrown out at home on Bellinger’s 99.7-mph throw, creating another inning-ending flyout-double play.

    Rafaela said it was his decision to tag up, while interim third base coach Chad Epperson told him to stay.

    “He tried [to hold me],” said Rafaela. “So that’s on me. That’s not him. Trying to be over aggressive, and those things happen.”

    However, Tracy—whose team has now been shut out in consecutive games for the first time this season—described the situation differently.

    “We were all screaming. That’s a definite [send], especially at that point in the game,” Tracy said.

    Red Sox pinch-hitting rally comes up short

    In perhaps his most aggressive sequence since becoming interim manager on April 25, Tracy used three consecutive pinch-hitters in the sixth inning after Caleb Durbin drew a two-out walk that ended Schlittler’s night.

    With left-hander Brent Headrick entering for New York, Tracy sent up right-handed hitters Jahmai Jones, Eli White and Andruw Monasterio. Jones walked and White reached on an infield hit to load the bases, but Monasterio lined out to right field to end the threat.

    “I think at that point, we’re into 14 innings where we’re trying to get a run across,” Tracy said. “It’s like, let’s take our shot and go right there. Almost got it, and it just didn’t work.”

    Sandoval delivers strong start against Yankees

    Left-hander Patrick Sandoval, a significant underdog against top Cy Young candidate Schlittler, more than held his own. Sandoval limited the Yankees to three hits and one run over 5 1/3 innings, walking four and striking out seven.

    A solo home run by Goldschmidt in the bottom of the third inning was Sandoval’s only costly pitch. The performance was likely the best of his nine starts since returning from Tommy John surgery.

    “That’s what you want to do as a baseball player is play in these big games, high leverage, with something on the line,” Sandoval said. “And it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to do that. So that was really fun and I was really grateful for this opportunity.”

  • Orioles Bullpen Shines in Win Over Athletics

    Orioles Bullpen Shines in Win Over Athletics

    Yennier Cano delivered a defining moment in the Orioles’ 5-3 win over the Athletics on Saturday, striking out Zack Gelof and Lawrence Butler with the bases loaded in the seventh inning before striking his trademark post-strikeout pose at Sutter Health Park.

    With Baltimore leading 4-2, one out and the bases full, Cano entered in his usual fireman role. The right-hander, who is not typically known as a strikeout pitcher, said he was looking for a double play to end the threat. Instead, he used splitters to strike out Gelof and Butler back to back, escaping a dangerous inning in dominant fashion.

    “That was fun to watch,” Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said. “That was electric, and we needed it.”

    Orioles bullpen repeatedly escapes trouble

    Cano’s performance highlighted the Orioles’ bend-but-don’t-break bullpen. Baltimore allowed multiple baserunners in each of the final four innings but avoided major damage every time while protecting its narrow lead.

    Right-hander Alex Hoppe escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth before Cano repeated the feat in the seventh. With runners on the corners in a one-run game in the eighth, Cam Sanders relied on a crucial around-the-horn double play. In the ninth, closer Andrew Kittredge stranded two more runners to secure the victory.

    “You really feel good [with] everybody running out of the bullpen,” said starter Shane Baz, who allowed two runs over 5 2/3 innings. “It’s awesome.”

    Baz cruised through five scoreless innings before losing his command in the sixth. A bases-loaded walk and a hit-by-pitch brought home two Athletics runs.

    Hoppe, who recorded his first Major League save in Friday’s extra-inning victory, appeared ready to escape again after opening the at-bat against Athletics designated hitter Max Muncy with three pitches well outside the strike zone. He settled down, however, getting Muncy to hit a tapper to third base to end the inning.

    Christian Encarnacion-Strand makes key defensive plays

    That was the first of several important plays by Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who started at third base for Baltimore. Primarily a first baseman during his time with the Reds, Encarnacion-Strand started the Orioles’ do-or-die 5-6-3 double play in the eighth inning.

    He then stayed back on a chopper to third in the ninth, leaving runners on second and third and ending the game.

    “The way he’s been playing third base has been outstanding for us,” Albernaz said. “Those plays were huge — in big moments, too.”

    Shane Baz ends lengthy winless stretch

    The Orioles’ late-inning escapes gave Baz his first win in more than two months. The right-hander had lost his previous five starts and had gone winless in 13 outings since defeating the Padres on June 12.

    To Baz, the drought felt even longer.

    “[Brandon Young] made a joke to me that I haven’t had a win since ’Nam,” Baz said. “It kind of feels true. Sometimes it takes one, you know? It just takes one to get rolling.”

    Baz and the Orioles picked an important time to get moving. Saturday’s victory clinched Baltimore’s third consecutive series win and continued its rise in the American League standings. At 67-69, the Orioles entered Sunday’s series finale one game behind the third and final AL Wild Card spot.

    After what Baz acknowledged was a “rocky start” to the season that included plenty of sloppy play, Baltimore likes its position in the playoff race.

    “We’ve done such a good job of not pressing and panicking and trying to do too much,” Baz said. “It’s fun to be in this spot. I think we have all the tools to make a run. We’ve got great leadership. We’ve got a great team with a lot of talent.”

    Baltimore bullpen showing depth

    The Orioles’ bullpen has been central to their recent surge, combining veteran experience from pitchers such as Cano and Kittredge with younger arms including Hoppe, Sanders and Anthony Nunez.

    “They’ve done a terrific job, and I think they deserve a lot of credit for coming in here and getting their job done,” Cano said. “We still have some pieces on the way and some help that might be needed, but with that being said, I feel really proud of the work that we’ve been doing here as a group and really happy with the way that the guys have come in and gotten the job done.”