The Boston Red Sox, trying to pull off another last-to-first thing and gun for their fourth World Series title in 13 years, hit the All-Star break off a three-game sweep of the last-place Tampa Bay Rays, thus ending a 7-2 homestand.
And, despite a spate of injuries, they are two games out of first place in the American League.
“I think this homestand is what we needed,” Boston manager John Farrell said Sunday after David Price closed the the first half of the season and David Ortiz hit another home run in a 4-0 victory over the Rays. “Coming off a tough month of June, we gain a little momentum as we go into the break. We’re back swinging the bat at a pretty good clip. We’re getting even contributions up and down the lineup.
“To finish up a strong homestand into the break, as I mention, the momentum that it creates. We’ve still got some work to do, but I like the momentum that we’re creating right now.”
The “tough month of June” Farrell was talking about was a 10-16 month that had the buzzards circling over the manager’s head.
But facing a July that called for 17 home games, the feeling was a move could be made — and club president Dave Dombrowski got busy in the final days for the depth, adding Aaron Hill, Brad Ziegler and Michael Martinez.
With starting pitcher Clay Buchholz again exiled to the bullpen and lefthander Eduardo Rodriguez in the minors — he will start against the Yankees in New York in the first game after the break — there’s a need for a starting pitcher. The Red Sox have the money and prospects it will take and you can put some money down on Dombrowski getting it done.
“I love the way our guys have remained a close knit group,” said Farrell, whose team is 49-38 and hasn’t lost more than three games in a row. “We’ve responded to some challenges that have been thrown our way, whether it’s been performance inconsistencies to injuries to trying to stabilize the back half of the rotation. But yet, we look up, we’re 11 (games) over. We’re in a decent spot right now as far as the standings go, but a lot of important baseball left ahead.”
Asked about his job security, Farrell, who may well have been fired last August had he not gotten sick, said, “I don’t pay a whole lot of attention to it. Honestly, my focus is always going to be remaining inside our walls with the guys in our clubhouse, their needs, what our staff presents to prepare them each and every day. I think anything that might be said outside of Fenway can only be a potential distraction, and I just love the way our guys continue to go about their work.”
The Red Sox, 49-38, resume their season when they open a three-game series at 7:05 p.m. Friday against the Yankees in New York.
Here’s a breakdown of Boston’s season thus far:
— FIRST-HALF MVP: You can make the argument that David Ortiz and Xander Bogaerts should rank 1-2 in the American League MVP picture. But make no mistake — Ortiz is the MVP. Playing in his final season, he hit his 22nd homer of the season, three of them in the last four games. He has 72 RBIs — the most ever by a 40-year-old at the break — and his Sunday homer was his club-record 57th extra base hit before the break.
“The lists he continues to elevate himself, on that all-time lists, it’s pretty amazing to see what’s going on,” Farrell said.
“He’s been doing it all. He’s probably the biggest asset to the team,” Bogaerts said.
Batting .332, Ortiz leads the major leagues in doubles (34), slugging percentage (.682), OPS (1.108) and extra-base hits. Added David Price: “He’s done everything, even with a couple of triples and stolen bases. It is pretty special. Even when he gets out, he hits the ball hard. It’s been fun to watch. We just hope he keeps it going.”
— FIRST-HALF GRADE: B-plus — Las Vegas thought the Red Sox were going to win the American League East, and while they don’t sit in first place at the break, they are close enough and have overcome plenty of adversity. Coming off two straight last-place finishes, it’s hard not to appreciate what’s already been done — with more work to do.
— PIVOTAL POST-BREAK PLAYER: Second-year lefty Rodriguez was 10-6 last year and, despite some problems he experienced from tipping pitches, he was being counted on to win more than last year’s 10. But a spring training knee injury set him back and he never rebounded — winding up back in the minor leagues. He is being given the ball Friday to start the rest of the season and it’s no secret what a Rodriguez contribution could mean the rest of the way.
— BUY OR SELL: Dombrowski made three trades in three days on the final weekend before the break. The Red Sox are stacked with prospects who could go in a deal for a starting pitcher and the Red Sox, who also have the money, will be buyers at the deadline. If Dombrowski can add a big name (or even a Jeremy Hellickson) to Price, All-Star Steven Wright and Rick Porcello, then getting something for Rodriguez or even Buchholz would make for a solid No. 5
— INJURY STATUS: Rodriguez was hurt in drills in spring training and the same thing happened to new closer Craig Kimbrel (slated to be out 3-6 weeks) on the final weekend before the break. He was hurt the same night Brock Holt, who had already missed six weeks with a concussion, went down with a sprained ankle, and Hanley Ramirez suffered a bruised shin that kept him out of the last two games — and Junichi Tazawa was unavailable because of a shoulder issue. Reliever Carson Smith was also lost the season because of Tommy John surgery. The injuries kept piling up, but the lineup didn’t lose its four All-Stars and any time the Red Sox can put Ortiz, Bogaerts, Mookie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts and near All-Star Dustin Pedroia on the field, they should be fine.