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Archives for May 1, 2019

A’s the Right Rx for Red Sox

May 1, 2019 by Digital Sports Desk

By TERRY LYONS, Editor-in-Chief on-site at Fenway Park

BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox executed with some “small ball” and with the “long ball” today as they defeated the Oakland Athletics, 7-3, in the final game of a nine-game home stand. The Sox went 5-4 during the stint at Fenway Park but have won five of their last seven and eight of their last 12 games, overall.

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Sox first baseman Mitch Moreland hit his ninth home run of the season in the 4th inning to break a 1-1 deadlock. Moreland went 1-for-3 with two RBI, a run scored and a sacrifice fly in the 2nd inning. It was Moreland’s second HR in as many games as he leads the club in that category.

Boston centerfielder Andrew Benintendi went 1-for-4 with two RBI and a key sacrifice bunt in the 5th inning which set-up a Mookie Betts sacrifice fly, scoring second baseman Tzu-Wei Lin who had led-off the inning with a double. 

“We needed him to get the guy over,” said Sox manager Alex Cora. “Then Mookie (Betts) did a good job of getting the ball in the air and scoring the run. We did a good job with Mitch (Moreland, who hit a run-scoring sacrifice fly to ut Boston on the scoreboard in the 2nd inning). 

“That’s how it starts. You do the little things. Little-by-little and good things are going to happen,” said Cora.

Tzu-Wei went 2-for-4 with a double and RBI, his first since last September 26th against Baltimore.

Sox catcher Christian Vazquez homered in the 8th inning to provide some security, as Boston led 7-1 at that point. In the 9th inning, however, Boston reliever Tyler Thornburg allowed two earned runs on three hits before retiring Oakland centerfielder Ramon Laureano on a ground ball to short to end the game.

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Hector Velazquez started for Boston but only pitched two innings before giving way to Marcus Walden who went 3.0 IP while allowing only one hit and striking out three A’s. Walden (4-0) was credited with the win. 

On the play of Walden, Cora said, “He’s been great. He’s been outstanding. When he got called-up, he pitched well, then we had to make a move and he stayed positive. He’s been outstanding in different roles. 

“He’s got good stuff, first of all. Good velocity, good movement and a good slider. He’s gaining confidence. You keep growing and you feel better about yourself.”

Athletics’ starter Mike Fiers (2-3) took the loss after pitching five innings and allowing five hits, three earned runs and a homer. He struck out three batters. 

Oakland has lost a season-high six games in a row, the club’s longest losing streak since August 28-September 5, 2017. Oakland is 4-11 on the road this season.

NOTES: The Red Sox jet off to Chicago to face the White Sox in a four-game weekend series. LHP David Price (1-2, 3.60 ERA) is scheduled to go Thursday with LHP  Chris Sale (0-5, 6.30 ERA) on Friday, both 8:10pm EDT starts. On Saturday, Boston plans to pitch another southpaw in Eduardo Rodriguez (2-2, 6.16 ERA) while RHP Rick Porcello (2-3, 5.52 ERA)is slated for Sunday. … After the trip to the South Side of the Windy City, Boston heads to Baltimore for a three-game set against the Orioles (May 6-8). … Mookie Betts scored his 500th run last night but didn’t make it 501 today. 

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Filed Under: Boston Red Sox, Boston Sports, MLB Tagged With: Boston Red Sox, MLB, Oakland Athletics

PGA Tour: At a Glance

May 1, 2019 by Digital Sports Desk

LAST TOURNAMENT: Zurich Classic (Ryan Palmer/Jon Rahm)
THIS WEEK: Wells Fargo Championship, May 2-5
Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, N.C. (Par 71, 7,600 yards)
Purse: $7.9 million (Winner: $1.386 million)
Defending champion: Jason Day
FedEx Cup leader: Matt Kuchar
Television: Thursday-Friday, 3-7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 1-2:30 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-6 p.m. (CBS).

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Tiger Woods, the 2008 event winner, is not in the field and is not expected to play until the PGA Championship in two weeks. … Rickie Fowler earned his first PGA Tour title at the 2012 event. He is paired with England’s Justin Rose and Webb Simpson, whose home is located along the course. … Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, whose first victory in America came at the Wells Fargo Championship at the age of 21 in 2010, is the only two-time winner of the event (2015). He will also turn 30 on Saturday and has seven top-10 finishes in eight starts this year.

The Wells Fargo Championship is one of seven Tour events Phil Mickelson has played at least 15 times without posting a victory. He is paired with Day and Gastonia, N.C., native Harold Varner III. … Wells Fargo announced that it has extended its partnership with the event through 2024. … Day has never successfully defended a title on the PGA Tour. … Matthew Short will make his Tour debut as one of four Monday qualifiers. 

NEXT WEEK: AT&T Byron Nelson, Dallas, Texas

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Filed Under: PGA TOUR Tagged With: PGA Tour, Wells Fargo, Wells Fargo Championship

ESPN: Two-Man Booth

May 1, 2019 by Digital Sports Desk

BRISTOL – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – ESPN Play-by-play man Joe Tessitore and analyst Booger McFarland will make up the two-person booth for “Monday Night Football” in 2019 – the 50th season for the television institution.

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Lisa Salters will continue as the sideline reporter, and recently retired NFL referee John Parry will serve as officiating analyst.

The network will not replace Jason Witten, who took over Jon Gruden’s role the primary analyst in the booth for the 2018 season. Witten quit to return to play for the Dallas Cowboys in 2019.

McFarland was an analyst on the field level in 2018.

“Booger’s insight, personality and passion for the game make him the right person for the job. He and Joe have been close friends since they helped ESPN launch the SEC Network five years ago. Their chemistry together in the booth – and with Lisa – will give us a team that fans want to spend Monday nights with this fall,” said Stephanie Druley, ESPN executive vice president, Event and Studio Production.

Multiple reports last week said the network wanted Peyton Manning as Witten’s replacement as the chief analyst, but Manning declined. Manning is reluctant to comment on games while his younger brother, Eli, is still playing, according to NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk.

Eli’s New York Giants have two Monday night games scheduled in 2019.

The broadcast team of Tessitore and McFarland will debut Sept. 9 when the New Orleans Saints host the Houston Texans in the first game of a Monday night doubleheader.

–Field Level Media

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Filed Under: NFL, SPORTS BIZ

Red Sox Game Scout

May 1, 2019 by Digital Sports Desk

Oakland A’s at Boston Red Sox

When: 1:05 PM ET, Wednesday, May 1, 2019
Where: Fenway Park, Boston
Preview for Digital Sports Desk by Gracenote

BOSTON – It took until the final day of April for the Boston Red Sox to post their first series win at Fenway Park and now the defending World Series can complete a three-game sweep when they host the Oakland Athletics this afternoon. Boston scored only nine runs in losing three of four to Oakland early this month but have outscored the A’s 14-5 in the past two nights.

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Reigning American League MVP Mookie Betts is 5-for-8 in the series for the Red Sox, homering and collecting multiple hits for the eighth time in 11 games in Tuesday’s 5-1 victory. Mitch Moreland swatted a two-run homer — his team-high eighth — as Boston improved to .500 at Fenway and 4-4 entering the finale of its nine-game homestand. Robbie Grossman’s ninth-inning homer prevented a shutout for the Athletics, who mustered only three hits Tuesday in falling to 0-5 on their nine-game road trip. Right-hander Mike Fiers already beat the Red Sox this season and will try to prevent a series sweep for Oakland, which is 4-10 away from home.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NBCS California (Oakland), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Mike Fiers (2-2, 7.03 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Hector Velazquez (0-2, 3.86)

Fiers is winless over his last four starts despite a strong effort last time out, when he had to settle for a no-decision despite limiting Toronto to two runs and six hits over seven innings. He was rocked in each of his previous three turns but escaped with two no-decisions after getting tagged for 18 runs and five homers. J.D. Martinez is 8-for-17 with a pair of homers off Fiers, who improved to 3-0 with a 1.57 ERA against Boston with six scoreless innings on April 2. 

Elevated into the rotation following an injury to Nathan Eovaldi, Velazquez has lost each of his first two starts, yielding three runs over 3 1/3 innings to Detroit on April 23 and one run on two hits in three innings against Baltimore on April 15. He pitched in relief Monday night and loaded the bases on 13 pitches, giving up a hit and walking a pair of batters. Velazquez also faced the Athletics in Oakland on April 4 and was charged with one run in 4 1/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Betts joined Ted Williams, Johnny Pesky and Nomar Garciaparra as Boston’s only players to score 500 runs in their first 700 games.

2. Athletics 1B/DH Khris Davis is homerless in 14 games after hitting 10 in his first 17.

3. Red Sox rookie 2B Michael Chavis is 6-for-12 with a homer and four RBIs during a three-game hitting streak.

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Filed Under: Boston Red Sox, Boston Sports, MLB Tagged With: Boston Red Sox, MLB, Oakland A's

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