Opening Day 2019: Red Sox at Mariners analysis and updates
Chris Sale has given up two homers through 2.1 IP today. That's the same number he allowed in his final 83 regular-season innings of 2018, spanning 15 starts.
by Alex Speier via twitter 3/29/2019 12:25:54 AM
Update: 3 HR in 2.1 IP.
Today is the 8th time in his career Sale has allowed 3+ homers in a game. He last did so in Sept 2017.
One of the only times you'll ever see a miscommunication between Bradley and Betts. They bump on the SF.
Sale is getting tagged. 7 ER matches worst start he's had with the Sox.
by Pete Abraham via twitter 3/29/2019 12:29:56 AM
Sale's done after 3 innings. The 7 runs allowed are tied for the most he's given up with the Red Sox.
Sale is done after 3 IP. Velazquez coming in.
3 IP, 6 H, 7 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 3 HR, 76/45.
His worst start as a member of the Sox. Allowed 7 ER once before but that was over 5 IP.
Sale's 7 runs allowed are the most by a Red Sox starter on Opening Day since 2002, when Pedro gave up 8 to the Blue Jays in 3 innings.
Eduardo Nunez is The Running Man once again. He hustles a hit to left-center into a double.
by Alex Speier via twitter 3/29/2019 1:11:25 AM
Gonzales is now done. He gave up nine hits over 5+ innings, yet just 3 runs allowed so far. Roenis Elias, acquired by the Sox with Carson Smith in exchange for Wade Miley/Jonathan Aro in 2015, is now on for Seattle to face Benintendi.
Devers just swung/missed at a pitch that hit him high on the forearm, just above the elbow.
Not a highlight reel at-bat for Devers, who struck out swinging vs Elias on three pitches, all whiffs.
Hembree walked 2 and hit a batter in Arizona on Tuesday.
Comes in today and issues a four-pitch walk with the bases loaded.
by Pete Abraham via twitter 3/29/2019 1:47:40 AM
Today marks the sixth time since 1908 that the Sox have allowed 10+ runs on Opening Day. They last did so in 2002 (12-11 loss to Toronto).
Mariners have hammered a couple of 94 mph fastballs from Thornburg, with Freitas driving a ball deep to CF and Hanover doubling down the LF line.
Thornburg's changeup to Santana stayed up and ran right into the barrel. Two-run homer, the 5th of the game allowed by the Sox.
The Sox allowed as many as 5 homers just once in 2018 (7/1/18 vs the Yankees). The 12 runs allowed are tied for the second most on Opening Day in the last 100 years, surpassed only by a 15-run abomination in 1950.
Instant Analysis: Sox, Sale open title defense with a thud. For the first time as a starter in his Red Sox career, Sale didn't get a swing/miss on a 4-seam fastball. bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/… via @BostonGlobe
Cora: Sale is find physically. He 'was ready to pitch' despite limited spring workload. Says it was just a bad outing largely due to lack of fastball command. He says velo was similar to first start of '18
Red Sox pitching coach Dana LeVangie thought Chris Sale was falling out of his mechanics on his slider (front side coming open too early) and fastball, impacting velo and command. His thoughts on Sale's velocity: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D2zDZ9JUgAARwIo.jpg
By "same person last year," LeVangie meant his velocity on Thursday was consistent with the start of the 2018 season.
The #RedSox opened the season with a 12-4 loss that was somehow worse than the score indicated. On a day when everything went wrong:
bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/… https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D2zXpCGUYAAwNXZ.jpg