The Wednesday, June 28, 2017

* The Boston Globe

Thunder (and lightning) as Red Sox pound Twins at Fenway

Julian Benbow

Drew Pomeranz was sitting on the dugout bench — jacket zipped, hands in his pocket — with two clean innings under his belt and a two- cushion thanks to a long-awaited homer from Christian Vazquez when lightning struck Tuesday night.

Pomeranz already had his start delayed 50 minutes thanks to pregame showers.

Another storm swept though Fenway Park just as he was settling into a groove on the mound.

Filling in for Sox , who was serving a one-game suspension for his altercation with umpire Bill Miller earlier in the week, bench Gary DiSarcina had a tricky situation to manage.

He started the stopwatch as soon the tarp the ground, then kept a close eye as Pomeranz tried to stay warm during as the break stretched later and later into the night.

“He kept heat on his arm, rode the bike, played a little toss, kept his body warm,” DiSarcina said. “So it was very impressive. Usually 45 minutes and hour, it’s pretty close. You’re pushing it.”

The delay lasted an hour and 16 minutes. About 90 minutes passed between Pomeranz’s last pitch.

But when he got back on the mound, he was unfazed.

“If I would’ve felt like I was tight or anything at all, I probably would’ve come out,” Pomeranz said. “But I felt good, so I just tried to grind it out.”

He gave the Sox five strong innings, using his entire pitch mix to hold the Twins to one run on four hits and he struck out seven to push the Red Sox to a 9-2 win.

Pomeranz picked up his first win since June 6, but over his last eight starts he 4-1 with a 2.86 ERA.

“I don’t know if I was 100 percent ready at the start of the year,’’ Pomeranz said. “But I knew I was ready enough that I could go out there and give us a chance to win. I kind of worked my butt off that first month just to repeat my mechanics and get comfortable with everything and I think, finally, I’m breaking through with that, having a lot more consistency.”

He got plenty of support from the Sox offense. Vazquez went 2 for 2 with a two-run homer, went 3 for 3 with an RBI and two runs, and went 2 for 4, scoring a pair of runs as the Sox cranked out -digit hits for the 33d time this season.

They moved into sole possession of first place in the AL East as the Yankees let a ninth-inning lead slip away in a 4-3 loss to the White Sox.

For someone who had gone 265 at-bats without a homer, Vazquez couldn’t have run into Hector Santiago at a better time.

Fresh of the disabled list, Santiago had given up more than his fair share this season.

He’d been taken deep 14 times, 11 in his last 22⅔ innings before going on the DL June 7.

It didn’t take long for him to get stung again.

In the second inning, with a runner on first, he fed Vazquez a lifeless sinker that floated in the and Vazquez launched it 409 feet into the Monster Seats in left-center for a two-run homer.

It was his first homer since May 1, 2016 and it gave the Sox a 2-0 lead before the tarp came back out in between innings. Vazquez left his fingerprints all over the win, catching Twins left fielder trying to steal third after leading off the third with a double, then swiping a bag in the fourth.

“He can steal off guys, but they have a tougher time stealing off him,” Pomeranz said.

The wait was enough for Twins manager to pull Santiago, not wanting to run the risk of Santiago doing any damage to his shoulder in his first start off the DL.

The clean-up was left to righthander Alan Busenitz.

He took the mound in the third inning and immediately gave up back-to-back singles to Pedroia and Bogaerts.

He got Chris Young to fly to center.

But on a 2-and-2 count to Jackie Bradley Jr., Busenitz left a fastball over the middle of the plate and Bradley lined it into center field.

Sox third base coach initially held Pedroia, but when he saw the throw from Twins Byron Buxton sail to the netting along the backstop, Pedroia raced home.

The error gave the Sox a 3-0 lead.

Busenitz’s night was quick. took the ball in the fourth, making his first appearance at Fenway since 2015.

He got into some trouble quickly after striking out Andrew Benintendi to start the inning. He walked Vazquez, then Deven Marrero laced a double into the gap in right-center.

Buxton nearly made a highlight-reel play, leaping and getting his glove on the ball, but couldn’t come up with the catch.

With on deck, Butterfield held the runners to make it second and third with one out.

Betts delivered a sacrifice fly to push the Sox lead to 4-0.

Then Pedroia shot a fly ball off the Wall to score Marrero. Pedroia was thrown out at second trying to stretch the single, but the Sox took a 5-0 lead.

The Twins got on the board in the fifth on an RBI single by Buxton, but the Sox continued to pad their lead. With no outs and runners on first and second in the fifth, Twins second baseman Brian Dozier booted a sharp ground ball from Bradley. The ball ricocheted into left field and Xander Bogaerts came around to score, pushing the lead to 6-1 on the error.

In the sixth, Young pounced on a 2-and-2 slider and shot it off the National Car Rental sign over the Monster Seats for a three-run homer to make it 9-1.

For the sixth time this season, the Sox won by seven or more runs, but all navigating all the moving parts on the way to the win gave DiSarcina a greater appreciation for Farrell’s job.

“It’s a lot of fun, it’s a lot of adrenaline and I could see and appreciate the trials and the tribulations and the struggles John goes through daily and nightly when it comes to removing a in a game and making those tough decisions because it’s difficult,” DiSarcina said. “Growing up around here, I don’t think I’m going to appreciate it until the season’s over, looking back and having a day like this. So it was different, but it’s part of the job.”

Red Sox manager John Farrell suspended one game for poking umpire

Julian Benbow

Red Sox manager John Farrell served a one-game suspension Tuesday night for his role in a heated exchange with umpire Bill Miller in Saturday night’s loss to the Angels. Bench coach Gary DiSarcina filled in as manager against the Twins.

Farrell got nose to nose with Miller in an argument that was ignited when Sox reliever Fernando Abad was called for a balk in the seventh inning. Farrell maintained that the Angels’ Kole Calhoun called time before Miller called the balk. During the argument, Farrell made contact with Miller, poking him in the chest.

“Given what transpired the other night, I’m not surprised by it,” Farrell said Tuesday. “There was some accidental contact during the argument. So, it’s a one-game suspension.”

Farrell said didn’t offer any word on whether the ruling on the field was correct. But he said made it clear that he still disagreed with the call.

“I haven’t received any further determination or review of what transpired,” Farrell said. “But my stance remains steadfast. I still firmly believe that time was called. I wasn’t arguing the balk, I was arguing the timing of it. And as I reiterated today to those that I spoke with that I still stand by my side of the argument. Unfortunately, there was contact made.”

The explanation Miller gave after the game was that “the batter does not call time. The umpire calls time. I don’t think that has anything to do with the pitcher starting and stopping his motion, and that’s what we had on the field.”

Farrell said he didn’t know whether any disciplinary action was taken against Miller.

“I can’t answer that because none of it is ever public,” Farrell said. “So I don’t know if there was anything levied on the other side.”

But Farrell did say he would like to see more transparency regarding umpires’ decision-making.

“I think there have been strides made in that way with the pool reporter being able to go and get postgame comments,” he said. “Not too long ago, that wasn’t even allowed. So, yeah, I think everyone in uniform would prefer that to be made public. Whether or not that happens, I don’t know that. But that would be a choice that I would make.”

Ramirez out again Hanley Ramirez was out of the lineup for the second straight game after being struck below the left knee by a 95 mile-per-hour fastball from Angels starter Parker Bridwell on Sunday.

Ramirez took some swings before Tuesday night’s game against the Twins to determine if he’d be available to pinch hit. Farrell described Ramirez’s status as day to day.

“He’s improved today,” Farrell said. “He’s responding to treatment.”

Ramirez is hitting .241 with 10 homers and 29 RBIs. He’s struggled mightily against lefthanders, hitting just .143 with eight in 35 at-bats. A year ago, Ramirez dominated lefties with a .346 average and 11 homers.

Farrell said he wouldn’t rule out other options at DH, if necessary.

“Where he was so good against lefthanded pitching last year, that’s been still a work in progress, for lack of a better way to describe it,” Farrell said. “So we’re always looking to put the best combination on the field.

“The one thing you can’t turn away from is what Hanley did last year. And while I know that’s last year, we’re still working to get some increased performance from him. I think he’s still a key member in our lineup, the presence he provides, the impact that he’s capable of — and yet we’re still working to get him there.”

Holt return unclear Coming off their eight-game trip, the Sox were optimistic about sending Brock Holt out on a rehab assignment last weekend.

But the vertigo symptoms that have kept Holt on the disabled list since April 21 are lingering, and it’s still unclear when he’ll be able to begin the process of working his way back to the field.

“He’s improving,” Farrell said. “He’s faced live pitching and has done that multiple times. But given all he’s gone through, he’s not able to go out until those symptoms have completely subsided. So while it’s improving, he’s still dealing with something.”

Travis gets the start Sam Travis made his fifth start of the season, spelling Mitch Moreland at first base with the Twins sending lefthander Hector Santiago to the mound. Travis will get the start again on Wednesday, according to Farrell, with the Twins throwing another lefthander, Adalberto Mejia. Called up on June 20 for his second major league stint, Travis entered Tuesday’s game hitting .391 in 23 at-bats, seeing the bulk of his action against lefties. Farrell said Travis has been diligent about staying prepared. “As far as his paying attention to the game as it’s unfolding, the pregame work has been consistent, and it’s been extra because of the role that he’s in playing against lefthanded starters,” Farrell said. “So for a young guy who’s paying as close attention as he is, hopefully that plays out because when he has been inserted into our lineup here with some days off, he’s swinging the bat very well against lefthanded pitching.” . . . Still recovering from a right oblique strain suffered in , Roenis Elias was in Boston on Tuesday. Expected to be part of the rotation in A Pawtucket coming into the season, Elias made one start with Single A Lowell, and since then he’s been limited to throwing live batting practice and simulated games. Farrell said Elias will continue to do so before possibly starting a rehab assignment. “He’s got multiple ones to go through before any determination is made on whether and when he gets activated and at what level,” Farrell said. “So he’s still going through the build-up with that right now.”

Are the Red Sox interested in acquiring Sonny Gray?

Alex Speier

Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports reported that the Red Sox had “some of their most respected evaluators” at the last two starts being made by Sonny Gray of the A’s.

While Passan reports that “the Red Sox are keen for Gray,” two major league sources disputed that assessment. This is the time of year where pro scouting departments blanket the game in anticipation of players who will be available on the trade market. With the A’s representing a clear seller in a trade market where few teams have achieved such definitive status, the Sox have indeed been covering them.

But while the Sox were at Gray’s most recent starts scouting the A’s, president of baseball operations suggested after his team claimed Doug Fister off waivers that his team isn’t in the market for top-of-the-rotation .

“Maybe other clubs are looking for that No. 1, No. 2 type starter. That’s not really important for us. I think it’s more important to be in a position where we add depth for us, somebody that can help us win major league games if needed,” Dombrowski said on Friday. “We have [Chris] Sale. I think David Price continues to make strides to come back. His stuff is good he’s just got to get back. [Drew] Pomeranz has thrown well for us. [Eduardo] Rodriguez has thrown well. We know is a good pitcher, we just have to straighten him out.”

Given that the Red Sox have a glaring void at third base and could use greater depth in the setup role, it’s more likely that their available financial and prospect trade resources will be directed to those areas. The team will continue to evaluate Gray – and every other Oakland player – as part of its regular coverage of the A’s, but a trade for a frontline starter remains unlikely at this point.

Moreland one of the majors’ best free agent bargains

Alex Speier

It was a free-agent class loaded with first basemen, designated hitters, and corner bats. No, there was not a on the market, but the Red Sox did seem to have options through which they could sift — Edwin Encarnacion, Carlos Beltran, , , Mark Trumbo, and more — when it came to adding a bat this past offseason.

When they signed Mitch Moreland, it seemed an afterthought. The one-year, $5.5 million deal, after all, came on the same day as the trades for both Tyler Thornburg and Chris Sale. Moreland was the final piece of the puzzle, identified primarily as the reigning AL Gold Glove first baseman and a player who was not Encarnacion.

Through nearly half a season, the view is different. Moreland has been a steadying force for a lineup in which the majority of hitters have offered either inconsistency or underproduction. On Monday, he jumped on a Jose Berrios fastball and drove it over the Wall in left-center. It marked his third homer in as many games, matching his career-long long-ball streak (set previously this season).

Moreland is now hitting .275 with a .363 OBP and .490 slugging mark along with 12 homers. He has proven to be one of the better bargains among last winter’s free agent class.

According to Fangraphs, he has been worth 1.1 wins above replacement — the same mark that Encarnacion (at $20 million per year) and Holliday ($13 million for 2017) have achieved, and behind only the out-of- nowhere explosion of Logan Morrison (2.4) and Eric Thames (1.7) among last year’s corner bat/DH class.

Mark Reynolds has delivered greater bang for the buck (1.0 WAR for $1.5 million) even if slightly less absolute value, and certain markers — such as a very high ground-ball rate and an impossible-to-sustain percentage of fly balls resulting in homers — suggest that significant regression is likely.

Moreover, Moreland’s production stands in marked contrast to that of several free agents who have provided negative value to their teams. Trumbo, Beltran, Napoli, and Michael Saunders were all more expensive signees, and all have struggled desperately, offering little value to the lineup. (Saunders was designated for assignment by the Phillies, just as the Yankees cut bait with slugger Chris Carter.)

Assessing last winter's free agent class Mitch Moreland has been one of the better bargains.

Player Average OBP Slugging HR WAR Contract Logan Morrison .251 .359 .574 22 2.4 1 year, $2.5M Eric Thames .249 .376 .559 20 1.7 3 years, $16.5M Edwin Encarnacion .263 .381 .489 17 1.1 3 years, $60M Matt Holliday .262 .366 .511 15 1.1 1 year, $13M Mitch Moreland .275 .363 .490 12 1.1 1 year, $5.5M Mark Reynolds .299 .389 .544 18 1 1 year, $1.5M Kendrys Morales .262 .309 .480 15 0 3 years, $33M Carlos Beltran .239 .295 .426 10 -0.3 1 year, $16M Chris Carter .204 .286 .383 8 -0.3 1 year, $3.5M Mark Trumbo .255 .317 .396 10 -0.4 3 years, $37.5M Mike Napoli .194 .272 .415 14 -0.7 1 year, $8.5M Michael Saunders .205 .257 .360 5 -0.7 1 year, $9M

It’s important not to exaggerate what Moreland has done: He has been solid rather than spectacular, a player who has given the Red Sox middle-of-the-pack production at first rather than anything elite.

Still, the fact that he is providing solid production for a position where the standards are high — and has been playing through a broken toe, among other injuries (he bounced a foul ball into his face on Monday night) — has earned Moreland considerable respect and gratitude from other members of the Red Sox.

“He’s kind of become a bedrock in our lineup,” said manager John Farrell. “The way he’s gone about it, given the physical condition he’s in, is a strong message to the remainder of this team.”

It is also a message that in their efforts to spend carefully on first base — while maintaining long-term flexibility for the possible emergence of Sam Travis — the Red Sox have enjoyed a return that through a half-season has exceeded even their best-case projections.

Matt Barnes hoping to be more like Andrew Miller

Alex Speier

Matt Barnes’ recent outings had represented a struggle. The righthander’s control had faltered, as he walked at least one batter in a career-high five straight appearances, resulting in his loss of primary eighth- inning duties to Joe Kelly.

But that shift in roles came with a caveat. Since the Red Sox prefer to avoid having Kelly pitch on back-to- back days, Barnes would still be employed in the eighth on days when his fellow bullpen member was unavailable. Such was the case on Monday night, when the Red Sox carried a 4-1 lead into the eighth.

Barnes entered and delivered one of the most overpowering outings of his career. He needed just 11 pitches to strike out the side (Eddie Rosario, Byron Buxton, and Brian Dozier), eliciting five swings and misses in the process. Monday marked the second time in Barnes’ career that he struck out all three batters he faced in an inning of work, with the other coming in the ninth inning of a 4-2 loss to the Yankees last Aug. 11.

That dominant inning, Barnes said, reflected the fruits of considerable tinkering that he’s done in recent days in an effort to stem his struggles. He tweaked his delivery, he estimated, “three times in the last four days. I was trying to find something that was powerful, that was kind of free and easy and allowed me to stay back over the rubber but powerful.”

He sought inspiration from the game’s foremost setup weapon, Andrew Miller. Miller once fought an uphill, typically losing battle to remain in the strike zone. Now, however, he has become a strike-throwing machine, having struck out 180 batters while walking 18 over the last two seasons.

He erased his control struggles by replacing a leg lift with a compact slide step to get his front leg to its proper landing spot. On Monday, Barnes did the same thing – eliminating the lift of his front leg, and instead striding to his landing spot before unleashing six fastballs and five curves, with nine of his 11 offerings going for strikes.

“I was trying to go with more of what Andrew Miller does, essentially,” said Barnes. “Sometimes it’s harder for taller, lankier guys. Things can get out of sync quick and when one thing goes, the rest of it goes because it’s not as compact naturally because of our bodies. I was like, ‘I know he’s a lefty and I know he’s got a little bit of a different arm slot, but I’m just going to try to come set and keep it as simple as possible, already load in back and slide-step through.’

“When you go, you’re already in that closed off position and all you have to do is rotate,” he added. “The faster you go, your body doesn’t have time to think about whether you’re on time, the steps of the mechanics, what you’re trying to do.”

The initial results for the Red Sox were encouraging. If Barnes can continue to enjoy a fraction of Miller’s success with his new delivery, he’ll take it.

“It’s crazy,” Barnes said of Miller. “That guy’s unbelievable.”

Lin’s hard work paying off in major way

Owen Pence

“It’s everybody’s dream,” said Red Sox assistant hitting coach Victor Rodriguez of the feeling associated with making the major leagues, and few would argue.

But some stories are sweeter than others.

Tzu-Wei Lin’s tale fits that mold.

The career .241 minor league hitter was enjoying a renaissance at Double A Portland when he received a call that was both unexpected and exhilarating.

“I got the phone call from [Portland manager] Carlos Febles,” Lin recalled through a translator before Tuesday night’s game against the Twins at Fenway Park. “[It was] after I got back to my place and he told me that I was coming to Boston instead of Pawtucket. I couldn’t believe that [had] happened.”

To bypass Triple A after more than five years in the Red Sox farm system is one thing. To take the fourth major league pitch you see — a 2-and-1 fastball from Twins ace Jose Berrios on Monday night — and calmly redirect it onto the outfield grass for a single is something else entirely.

A subtle but sly smile emerged across Lin’s face as he stood on first base. But beneath the 23-year-old’s cool demeanor sits a driven infielder hungry to stay in Boston.

“We saw it in spring training [during] the days that he would come over and be with us,” manager John Farrell said of Lin’s work ethic. “He’s a diligent worker and he’s got good instincts on the baseball field.

“I thought he handled last night’s situation very much at ease. When I say that, he was at ease in the batter’s box [and] there was not much panic. He showed real well.”

The Red Sox signed Lin in 2012 as an 18-year-old shortstop from Taiwan for a $2.05 million bonus. The native of Kaohsiung County had agreed to sign with the Yankees in 2010, but backed out of the deal after the Chinese Taipei Baseball Association threatened to ban him from playing or coaching in Taiwan if he signed with a major league team before completing high school.

Lin’s first major league hit

While his work ethic and defensive prowess were always there, Lin’s approach at the plate took time to develop. Criticized for being too passive, Lin languished at the lowest levels of the Sox’ farm system before advancing to Portland in 2016.

Everything changed in his second season with the Sea Dogs in 2017. In 48 games, Lin hit .302 with a career-high five home runs and he stole eight bases in 10 attempts. The 5-foot-9-inch, 155-pounder had hit six home runs in his first five minor league seasons combined.

“I’ve tried to be comfortable and shorten my swing path,” Lin said. “[I’m] trying to finish every swing, be more aggressive, and see the pitches better.”

Rodriguez had been told that Lin’s passivity was a concern, but he has been impressed with what he has seen.

“That’s what they said, that he needs to be more aggressive, but his swing is good,” Rodriguez said. “He uses the whole field. When a young player comes here, we try to let them play and let them do their thing. If we see something they need to work on, we talk to them, but if not the easier thing is to let them play and show what they can do.”

Lin’s progress comes at an important juncture for the Red Sox. Third baseman is on the disabled list for the second time in 2017, and utilityman Brock Holt is working his way back from a concussion. Boston’s struggles at third base have been a hot-button topic.

Although Lin has played third base only 17 times in his minor league career (all with Portland in 2016), the Red Sox called him up after placing infielder Josh Rutledge (concussion) on the DL Saturday.

On Monday, Lin became the fourth Taiwanese player (not including pitchers) to record a hit in major league history. Fittingly, Boston’s Che-Hsuan Lin (no relation) was the last, notching three hits in 2012.

In the same year, a teenage Tzu-Wei Lin toured Fenway Park, dreaming of a day he would suit up in a Red Sox uniform. Now, that dream is a reality, even though he was not in the starting lineup Tuesday.

“We have a good relationship,” said Rodriguez, who worked with Lin as the Red Sox minor league hitting coordinator in 2012.

“He always brought a lot of good things. He’s very easy to talk to. I’m excited to see him here.”

* The Boston Herald

Drew Pomeranz overcomes two rain delays in rout of Twins

Jason Mastrodonato

If Drew Pomeranz wasn’t already in the good graces of manager John Farrell, last night’s determined outing ought to get him there.

One night after Farrell praised Mitch Moreland for playing through a broken toe and sending “a strong message to the remainder of this team,” Pomeranz — who has his own list of physical ailments since joining the Red Sox last season — pushed through two rain delays, including a 76-minute stoppage after two innings, to throw five lights-out innings in the Red Sox’ 9-2 win over the .

The Sox improved to 43-34 and are now alone in first place in the AL East.

“We didn’t know how long we were going to wait,” Pomeranz said of the lengthy delay. “I tried to stay loose down there in the cage, running back and forth. We said, ‘If it’s more than an hour, if it’s past 10 o’clock, it might be kind of iffy.’

“And then of course it was a 10 o’clock start time and I was like, ‘(Expletive), it’s a hard decision to make. They put it right on the time that I said the decision was going to be.’ But I felt pretty good.”

Even though Farrell denied that his comment about sending a message was intended to motivate any one player, it would be hard to ignore the direct line between his words and the actions of Hanley Ramirez, the designated hitter who has been out of the lineup 15 times in 75 games due to various injuries.

Ramirez was again held out of the lineup last night, the second straight game he’s missed with a sore knee after he was plunked on Sunday.

One would think the physical toll on Pomeranz has been at least as daunting.

He pitched through elbow issues all of last year, to the point where he was receiving pain killers regularly, information that was not disclosed to the Red Sox when they traded for him. He then received a stem cell shot in the elbow during the offseason and was late to get throwing in spring training. He’s since been removed from two games, one in spring and one during the season, due to triceps soreness.

And while the Twins took no chances with their starting pitcher, Hector Santiago, after the lengthy weather delay, Pomeranz jogged out to the mound and tried loosening up under the watchful eye of pitching coach Carl Willis. After a few minutes, Pomeranz got the nod and the Red Sox took the field behind him.

“Very impressed,” said bench coach Gary DiSarcina, who was managing this one while Farrell served a one-game suspension. “He did a great job staying loose in between. Kept heat on his arm, rode the bike, played a little toss, kept his body warm. It was very impressive. Usually like 45 minutes to an hour, it’s pretty close, you’re pushing it.”

The first pitch Pomeranz threw after the delay was roped off The Wall for a double by Eddie Rosario, but Christian Vazquez gunned down Rosario trying to steal third base and Pomeranz struck out the next two batters.

“That guy, he basically swings at everything and runs on every pitch,” Pomeranz said. “That’s kind of his MO. But we got Vazquez back there and he doesn’t let guys get by very easily.”

Pomeranz struck out seven overall, while allowing just four hits and one unearned run over his five innings of work. He lowered his ERA to 3.81, making him the second healthy Red Sox starting pitcher to slide under the 4.00 mark. Chris Sale (2.77 ERA) is the other.

Pomeranz began the season with a 5.29 ERA through seven starts but has a 2.66 ERA in eight starts since.

“I’ve said before, I don’t know if I was 100 percent ready at the start of the year,” said Pomeranz, who began the season on the disabled list. “But I know I was ready enough to go out there and give us a good chance to win. I worked my butt off the first month just to repeat my mechanics and get comfortable with everything. I think finally I’m breaking through all that and having a lot more consistency.”

Vazquez gave Pomeranz a 2-0 lead in the second inning with a no-doubter over the Monster for his first homer of the season.

Chris Young, starting at DH for Ramirez, added some insurance in the sixth with a three-run homer, his fourth homer of the year.

Red Sox notebook: Hanley Ramirez’ injuries and production present a problem

Jason Mastrodonato

It’s not just Hanley Ramirez’ shoulders and knees that could be keeping him out of the Red Sox lineup going forward. His numbers may play a role, too, manager John Farrell said yesterday.

Ramirez was held out of the starting lineup for the second straight game because of a sore knee after he was hit by a pitch Sunday. Farrell was uncertain if Ramirez would be available to pinch-hit. He is considered day-to-day.

How much of a loss is it to have Ramirez on the bench? That’s the question the Red Sox need to answer.

Entering the game, Ramirez ranked 10th out of the 13 full-time designated hitters with - 0.3 WAR, according to FanGraphs. Over his previous two years with the ox, he had been worth -1.8 WAR (2015) and 2.6 WAR (2016). It’s certainly not what the Sox expected when they decided to pay him $22 million per season.

Ramirez is currently hitting .241 with a .747 OPS. Over his last 23 games, he’s hit .185 with a .656 OPS.

Farrell was asked if he would consider starting other players at DH due to Ramirez’ poor performance.

“I wouldn’t rule it out,” Farrell said. “Where he was so good against left-handed pitching last year, that’s been still a work in progress, for a lack of a better way to describe it.”

Ramirez hammered lefties to the tune of a .346 average and 1.097 OPS in 2016. Battling constant injuries this season, the 33-year-old is hitting .143 with a .562 OPS against lefties.

“We’re always looking to put the best combination on the field,” Farrell said. “But the one thing you can’t do is completely turn away from what Hanley did last year. While I know that is last year, we’re still working to get some increased performance from him. I think he’s still a key member in our lineup. The presence he provides, the impact he’s capable of, and yet we’re still working to get there.”

Nine of Ramirez’ 10 home runs have been against righty pitchers.

“There has been extensive video review,” Farrell said. “There’s been extensive conversations with him. There’s been short stretches where he’s, I think, shown the approach at the plate and the all-field ability to drive the baseball. That has been hit and miss a little bit. We’re just trying to get a consistency that he’s been known for.”

Farrell said recently that a stint on the disabled list would not do much for Ramirez. The Sox instead are living with his frequent injury troubles and inconsistent production.

Chris Young and Sam Travis were both in the lineup last night, with Young at DH and Travis at first base, spelling Mitch Moreland. Young hit a three-run homer in the 9-2 win against the Twins.

Moreland has been playing with a broken toe and, after hitting his third homer in as many games Monday, was credited by Farrell for playing through the injury.

“I think the way he’s gone about it given the physical condition he’s in, is a strong message to the remainder of this team,” Farrell said.

Yesterday, Farrell said he wasn’t directing that message at anyone.

“No, no, and I respect the question,” he said. “But that was to highlight a guy who has been dealing with a broken toe and continues to perform at a high level and to compliment Mitch for the way he’s gone about it.”

Farrell sits for ump bump

The Red Sox had a new manager last night. Bench coach Gary DiSarcina took the reins while Farrell served a one-game suspension handed down from Major League Baseball for his spit-laden argument with umpire Bill Miller during the weekend. Farrell was also fined.

“It’s a lot of fun,” said DiSarcina, a Billerica native. “I can see and appreciate the trials and tribulations and struggles John goes through daily, nightly. . . . Growing up around here, I don’t think I’m going to appreciate having a day like this until I’m looking back after the season is over.”

Farrell and Miller were inches apart during the screaming match, and the manager appeared to bump into the umpire.

“Given what transpired the other night, not surprised by the suspension because there was some accidental contact,” Farrell said.

Farrell remains convinced that the Red Sox got jobbed on a balk call on Fernando Abad after the batter called time and Abad stepped off the rubber. Miller said it was his responsibility to call time, not the hitter.

“My stance remains steadfast,” Farrell said. “I still firmly believe that time was called. I wasn’t arguing the balk. I was arguing the timing of it.”

Farrell was allowed to stay in Fenway Park to watch last night’s game against the Twins but could not be in any team-related areas. He had no regrets about his own actions.

“In that situation I responded to what I felt needed to be responded,” he said. “Our infielders felt like time was called too. As they come together as a group it was clear, and from the dugout it was clear. If there’s a residual, we fight in this together.”

Kelly on a runless streak

Joe Kelly hasn’t allowed a run in 21 straight outings dating back to April. Farrell mentioned the reliever’s improved slider as a big reason why. . . .

Depth starter Roenis Elias, on the disabled list with an oblique strain, was with the team and has been throwing simulated games. Farrell said Elias still needs a few more sessions before activation can be considered. . . .

Brock Holt (concussion, vertigo) has not returned to full health. The utility man has taken batting and infield practice at Fenway, but he will not be sent out for another attempt at a minor league rehab assignment until his symptoms disappear.

Silverman: Red Sox ace Chris Sale the clear choice to start All-Star Game for American League

Michael Silverman

Count me as somebody who isn’t all up in arms about the very real likelihood that no Red Sox position player will start in the All-Star Game.

First of all, this is a thing?

Second of all, be honest — does anyone really think there’s a Red Sox position player whose first-half performance stands head and shoulders above anyone else in the American League?

Smart, level-headed readers will admit that’s just not the case.

But there’s one starting decision that I actually do believe carries more status and meaning than all of the other eight positions combined. And that’s who’s picked to be the starting pitcher.

Two weeks out from the July 11 All-Star Game in Miami, nobody is more deserving to be the AL starter than the Red Sox’ own Chris Sale.

Cleveland Indians manager will reveal his pick on July 10, but I’m going to place a small wager that long before then he will reach the same conclusion that you, I and the bulk of AL hitters have already reached. Sale has competition for the honor, to be sure, but when it comes to pure filth and utter domination, the lefthander stands alone.

With 155 strikeouts, Sale leads the ’ Chris Archer by 29, plus he leads everyone else in the majors in the sexiest pitcher’s stat. Sale’s rate of 12.273 per nine innings looms large over Archer’s 10.869, Lance McCullers’ 10.690 for the and Trever Bauer’s 10.291 for Francona’s Indians.

You like WHIP? Sale’s is as slender as his frame at 0.906. McCullers and the Minnesota Twins’ Ervin Santana lag far behind at 1.041 and 1.047.

Is FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) — the stat that yanks defense and everything else a pitcher can’t control out of the equation and counts only strikeouts, walks, hit by pitches and home runs and converts those figures into an ERA-like number — your go-to? Well, Sale’s comfortably on top there as well at 2.05, with McCullers (2.75), Archer (2.89) and the ’ Brad Fulmer (3.08) three specks on the distant horizon.

Speaking of variables in a pitcher’s control, strikeouts-to-walk ratio is a nifty tool and Sale once again is at the head of his class at 7.381, with Cleveland’s Josh Tomlin second at 6.779.

I wish WAR (wins above replacement) were a cut-and-dried concept agreed upon in every corner of the universe but the powers that be — BaseballReference.com and FanGraphs.com — calculate it differently.

Still, according to FanGraphs, Sale’s 4.7 WAR is well beyond the reach of Archer (3.1), Fulmer (2.6) and McCullers (2.4). According to BaseballReference, Sale ranks second in WAR at 3.6 to the 3.9 of the ’ Jason Vargas. Make of that what you will.

Vargas does lead the AL in ERA at 2.29, with Sale second at 2.77. Vargas’ FIP, by the way, is 3.46 — just saying.

Would Francona be swayed by the fact that Sale started the All-Star Game last year while representing the in San Diego, and want to give the honor to someone who’s never had it before?

Considering that Sale does not have a peer all that close to his caliber of production, Francona does not need to sweat over this fake dilemma. It’s rare for the All-Star Game to have back-to-back starts from one guy, but it’s hardly unprecedented.

Randy Johnson of the did it for the in 2000-01, with Greg Maddux (1997-98) and Tom Glavine (1991-92) also managing the feat while with the . Robin Roberts of the started three seasons in a row from 1953-55 after going back to back in 1950-51.

In the American League, Dave Stieb of the was the last to make back-to-back starts, all the way back in 1983-84. Before Stieb it was the ’ Jim Palmer in 1977-78.

One could say the AL is due.

And while it’s not a birthright, the Red Sox are due to have an All-Star starting pitcher. They have had just one this century — Derek Lowe in 2002. And there have been only six others: Pedro Martinez (1999), (1986), Dennis Eckersley (1982), Bill Monbouquette (1960), Mel Parnell (1949) and Lefty Grove (1936).

Of course, anything can happen between now and July 11, but it’s just about impossible to imagine another starter making a surge that would allow him to pass Sale or for the Red Sox ace to collapse. He’s on schedule for two more starts — on Saturday in Toronto and a week from tomorrow at Tampa Bay — ahead of the decision, which leaves him perfectly in line to pitch that Tuesday in Miami.

Make that perfectly in line to throw the first pitch.

Make that happen, Tito.

Red Sox Christian Vazquez’ all-around big game includes first of the season

Jason Mastrodonato and Michael Silverman

Christian Vazquez has been having himself a fine all-around season. At the plate, the catcher has been swinging a steady bat, but he has had no pop.

Until last night.

Vazquez’ two-run home run in the second inning last night at Fenway Park gave the Red Sox the first runs of a twice-rain-delayed game that they won, 9-2, against the Minnesota Twins.

The blast snapped his streak of 265 at-bats without a home run, a stretch that dated to May 1 of last year. This homer, No. 3 of his career, was the first off a left-hander, Twins starter Hector Santiago.

Each of his three long balls has been a two-run, tie-breaking shot.

“Yeah, it was great,” said starter Drew Pomeranz about seeing his catcher go deep. “He’s been great behind the plate all year. He’s been hitting well all year getting big hits. It’s cool to see him get that home run tonight.” Here’s another notable moment on Vazquez’ night: He stole a base. The fourth-inning swipe was his third of the season.

Not only did he steal a base and handle Pomeranz well for another start, but Vazquez also had another chance to show off his cannon of a throwing arm.

Just after the second rain delay, in the third inning, Twins leadoff hitter Eddie Rosario got greedy after his double and decided to break for third base.Vazquez threw a strike to third baseman Deven Marrero, who slapped a tag on Rosario for the caught-stealing.

Vazquez ranks second among active with a 40 percent caught-stealing rate (32-for-80).

And on offense, Vazquez (1-for-2, two walks) raised his batting average to .296 and upped his slugging percentage to .407.

The home run was his 12th extra-base hit this season, a career high. He needed 41 games to reach the personal best, after he needed 57 games to record 11 extra-base hits last season. The two walks were a season high.

Buckley: What if Red Sox re-retired these numbers?

Steve Buckley

The retirement of David Ortiz’ No. 34 got me thinking: Suppose we were to eliminate the 10 players for whom the Red Sox have retired numbers and re-retire them in honor of someone else who wore the same number?

So let’s have some fun: I will first list the number, with the player for whom it is retired in parentheses. I then name my two stand-in candidates.

No. 1 (Bobby Doerr)

Should be retired for: Bernie Carbo, whose pinch-hit three-run homer in the eighth inning of Game 6 of the ’75 set the stage for Carlton Fisk’s 12th-inning moonshot off the left-field foul pole.

If the Red Sox had a sense of humor: John McNamara. The Sox have won three championships since Mac’s disastrous decision not to have Dave Stapleton take over at first base for in Game 6 of the ’86 Series. Time to let bygones be bygones.

No. 4 ()

Should be retired for: Jackie Jensen, who led the AL in RBI three times in his seven seasons with the Red Sox.

If the Red Sox had a sense of humor: Smead Jolley, who, after falling on the old Duffy’s Cliff while chasing a ball to left field at the pre-renovated Fenway Park, said, “They told me how to run up the cliff, but not down.”

No. 6 ()

Should be retired for: Harry Agganis. The Golden Greek, a Lynn native and former Boston University football star, was on the cusp of greatness when he died of a pulmonary embolism in 1955. He was 26.

If the Red Sox had a sense of humor: Bill Buckner. (See “bygones be bygones,” above.)

No. 8 (Carl Yastrzemski)

Should be retired for: Doc Cramer, who was an All-Star in four of the five seasons he played for the Red Sox.

If the Red Sox had a sense of humor: Pat Creeden, whose entire professional career, majors and minors, consisted of five games with the Red Sox in 1931. He went 0-for-8 with three strikeouts. But, hey, he was a local guy who attended Brockton High and Boston College, and that should count for something.

No. 9 (Ted Williams)

Should be retired for: Bobby Doerr. The Hall of Fame second baseman wore No. 9 in 1937 before switching over to No. 1.

If the Red Sox had a sense of humor: John Smith, who played just four games in the big leagues for the ’31 Red Sox, getting two hits in 15 at-bats. Bonus points because he was the first player in Sox history to wear No. 9.

No. 14 (Jim Rice)

Should be retired for: The late, great , who wore No. 14 for just one season (1947) but later served the organization with honor and distinction for 25 years as a scout and instructor.

If the Red Sox had a sense of humor: Matt Batts. Call this one a lifetime achievement award. Batts was mostly a backup catcher in his five seasons with the Red Sox, but as a golfer he achieved the rare feat of shooting his age. It happened in 2004. He was 83 at the time.

No. 26 (Wade Boggs)

Should be retired for: Earl Wilson. A powerful right-hander who made his big league debut on July 28, 1959, becoming the second African-American to play for the Sox after Pumpsie Green, who debuted a week earlier. Wilson threw a no-hitter in 1962. Alas, Wilson complained about racial bias during spring training in 1966 and was traded to Detroit. He won 22 games for the Tigers in 1967 and was a member of their World Series-winning team in ’68. The Wilson trade is one of the biggest mistakes in Sox history.

If the Red Sox had a sense of humor: Many residents of Framingham believe No. 26 was retired in honor of hometown hero Lou Merloni.

No. 27 (Carlton Fisk)

Should be retired for: The late Bill Monbouquette, a Medford native who won 96 games in his eight seasons with the Sox, including a no-hitter. More importantly, Pumpsie Green has credited Monbo with doing more than anyone to make him feel welcome when he joined the club in 1959.

If the Red Sox had a sense of humor: Lou Stringer was a utility infielder in the parts of three seasons he played with the Sox but later in life became a car salesman in Los Angeles and sold a Corvette to Elvis Presley. Still later, he and his wife moved into a nursing home. After his wife died, and after another woman in the facility suffered the death of her husband, Lou stepped in and married her. He was a utility man to the end.

No. 34 (David Ortiz)

Should be retired for: Ortiz was not the only large fellow to wear No. 34 for the Red Sox. Before there was Big Papi there was El Guapo — right-hander Rich Garces. Generously listed at 250 pounds, Garces pitched in relief for the Red Sox from 1996 to 2002, going 23-8 with a 3.78 ERA. He was enormously popular with Red Sox fans.

If the Red Sox had a sense of humor: Al Papai (pronounced “Poppy”), a pitcher who went 4-2 with a 6.75 ERA in 1950. He was a 6-foot-3 right-hander, but there’s no record of whether he was known as Big Papai.

No. 45 (Pedro Martinez)

Should be retired for: Only 19 Red Sox players have worn No. 45, nine of them for just one season. But right-hander Gary Bell was a huge midseason pickup for the 1967 “Impossible Dream” Red Sox, coming over from the and posting a 12-8 record and 3.16 ERA in 29 appearances, 24 of them starts. He won 11 games in ’68.

If the Red Sox had a sense of humor: Catcher Walt McKeel was the last player to wear No. 45 before the arrival of the Dominican Dandy. Appearing in a total of six games in ’96 and ’97, he was hitless in three at- bats.

Silverman: Red Sox fortunate that Mitch Moreland is covering for Hanley Ramirez

Michael Silverman

I’m not questioning that Hanley Ramirez’ knee, hit by a pitch Sunday, was too sore for him to play last night, even though manager John Farrell penciled the designated hitter into the starting lineup.

But I continue to find it rather impressive that first baseman Mitch Moreland has been playing with a broken big toe for the last two weeks and continues to mash the ball.

And it’s almost shocking — and more than a little ironic — that with a home run and sacrifice fly in the 4-1 win against the Twins, Moreland moved into the team lead in RBI (41), tied Mookie Betts for the lead in home runs (12) and stayed atop the slugging percentage charts (.490). He is second in on-base percentage (.363) and walks (32), and third in runs, and doubles.

Basically, Moreland is putting up numbers like Ramirez is supposed to be putting up but most definitely is not (10 homers, 29 RBI, .406 slugging, seven doubles). And Ramirez has been unable to play first base more than two times all season because of shoulder issues.

Don’t know what’s really going on with Ramirez. Besides his knee, maybe his shoulders are hurting far more than we suspect, and that’s why he hasn’t put up big numbers yet.

All I know is that Moreland is producing like Ramirez should be producing. And he’s doing it while playing with a broken big toe.

This hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Farrell said Moreland has “kind of become a bedrock in our lineup.”

And this: “I think the way he’s gone about it given the physical condition he’s in, is a strong message to the remainder of this team.”

Moreland only laughed about the idea that he’s some kind of poster child for playing hurt and playing well at the same time.

“It’s what I do, man. If it’s not hurting bad enough to bring me off the field, I’m going to try to be out there and playing,” said Moreland. “It’s a lot more fun playing than it is sitting and watching. That’s the way I look at it. I try to go out there and be ready to go.”

Moreland has homered in his first at-bat in each of the past three games, and in the 10 games since he got hurt he has five RBI. He’s not hitting that well overall but has six hits over his last four games.

“It’s definitely starting to feel better,” said Moreland. “I haven’t quite checked on it again, just trying to do the precautionary stuff and ice it every night and try to get ready to go the next day but it’s feeling pretty good right now. It’s coming around.”

Moreland’s been just about the steadiest offensive force on the team all season. He was the league-leader for doubles for the first month or so of the season before playing more than previously expected at first base — because of Ramirez’ unavailability — began to wear him down a bit.

But he seems to be swinging with plenty of confidence lately. Over his last 33 games, he has 10 of those dozen home runs with 25 RBI and has reached safely in his last 16 games at Fenway Park, a stretch where he’s been batting .429.

Moreland is leaving a strong impression locally. In nine home games this month, he is slugging .892, and has homered in four of his last five games at Fenway and has multiple hits in 10 of his last 15 home games.

So, yes, he’s found a comfort zone in his new home field.

“I can say I have right now, but if it slows, I don’t know if I can say that,” said Moreland. “It’s just one of those things, you’ve got to just keep going up there and just try to keep it simple. See a good pitch and put the barrel on it. So, no matter where I’m at, that’s what I try to do.”

Last night, Moreland belted a no-doubt solo shot into the center field section of the Green Monster seats off one very good pitcher in Minnesota starter Jose Berrios. That came in the first inning for the go-ahead run that held all night. And he put another high-quality swing on a pitch from reliever Buddy Boshers for a sacrifice fly in the seventh, the last run the Red Sox needed in a 4-1 victory over the Twins.

Now count Farrell as grateful for not just Moreland’s availability but his swing, too.

“His all-field approach and particularly in this ballpark works well,” said Farrell. “He’s had a number of base hits, it’s almost like an even distribution where his base hits come from so the plate coverage is there. In his most recent stretch he’s been able to get on top of some fastballs that have been at the top of the strike zone or above for some power obviously.”

I know when the Red Sox drew up their offense over the winter, they thought Ramirez, and not Moreland, would be atop their offensive leader boards in late June.

They’ll take what they can get from whom they can get it from.

To date, that hasn’t been Hanley Ramirez, it’s been Mitch Moreland.

With Hanley Ramirez struggling, Red Sox considering others at DH

Jason Mastrodonato

It’s not just Hanley Ramirez’ shoulders and knees that could be keeping him out of the Red Sox lineup going forward.

His numbers may play a role, manager John Farrell said on Tuesday.

Ramirez was held out of the lineup for the second straight game because of a sore knee after he was hit by a pitch on Sunday. Farrell was uncertain if Ramirez would be available to pinch-hit. He is considered day-to- day.

How much of a loss is it to have Ramirez on the bench? That’s the question the Red Sox need to answer.

Entering Tuesday, Ramirez ranked 10th out of the 13 full-time American League designated hitters with negative-0.3 WAR, according to Fangraphs. Over his previous two years in Boston, he had been worth negative-1.8 WAR (2015) and 2.6 WAR (2016). It’s certainly not what the Sox expected when they decided to pay him $22 million per season.

He’s currently hitting .241 with a .747 OPS. Over his last 23 games, he's hit .185 with a .656 OPS.

Farrell was asked if he would consider starting other players at DH due to Ramirez' poor performance.

"I wouldn't rule it out,” Farrell said. “Where he was so good against left-handed pitching last year, that's been still a work in progress, for a lack of a better way to describe it.”

Ramirez hammered lefties to the tune of a .346 average and 1.097 OPS in 2016. Battling constant injuries this season, the 33-year-old is hitting .143 with a .562 OPS against lefties.

“We're always looking to put the best combination on the field,” Farrell said. “But the one thing you can't do is completely turn away from what Hanley did last year. While I know that is last year, we're still working to get some increased performance from him. I think he's still a key member in our lineup. The presence he provides, the impact he's capable of, and yet we're still working to get there."

Nine of Ramirez’ 10 home runs have been hit against right-handed pitchers.

“There has been extensive video review,” Farrell said. “There's been extensive conversations with him. There's been short stretches where he's, I think, shown the approach at the plate and the all-field ability to drive the baseball. That has been hit and miss a little bit. We're just trying to get a consistency that he's been known for."

Farrell said recently that a stint on the disabled list would not do much for Ramirez. The Red Sox instead are choosing to live with his frequent injury troubles and inconsistent production.

Chris Young and Sam Travis were both in the lineup on Tuesday night, with Young at DH and Travis at first base to spell Mitch Moreland.

Moreland has been playing with a broken toe and, after hitting his third homer in three games on Monday, was credited by Farrell for playing through the injury.

“I think the way he’s gone about it given the physical condition he’s in, is a strong message to the remainder of this team,” Farrell said.

Tuesday, Farrell said he wasn’t directing that message at any specific players.

“No, no, and I respect the question,” Farrell said. “But that was to highlight a guy who has been dealing with a broken toe and continues to perform at a high level and to compliment Mitch for the way he’s gone about it.”

* The Providence Journal

Sam Travis excelling even in limited playing time

Tim Britton

BOSTON — Sam Travis isn’t used to days off.

Travis is so unaccustomed to days off that, when he was sent down earlier this month, he didn’t take the usual day or two to collect his thoughts at Pawtucket. He asked into the lineup his first day back.

Travis isn’t used to days off because, well, he’s never really had them before. Prior to tearing his knee last season, Travis had played in 243 of a possible 261 minor-league games in his Red Sox career. He had watched a mere 18 from the dugout in the span of two years.

In his limited time with the Red Sox this season, Travis has already watched 15 games from the bench.

That’s what makes the first baseman’s production when he does play more remarkable.

Travis, who is in the starting lineup Tuesday and should be again on Wednesday against lefty starter Adalberto Mejia, has hit .391 with a .440 on-base percentage in his brief cameos for Boston this season. That’s not an easy thing to do for a guy not used to playing only once every few days.

“It’s extremely tough,” manager John Farrell said Tuesday. “The pregame work has been consistent.... That’s something that over the course of a high number of games or years played, you begin to tweak that routine. For a guy in the very early stages, to be able to handle to the extent he has so far, it’s been impressive.”

Travis blithely shrugs that all off, much like he blithely shrugs off most things that are supposed to be difficult but haven’t been for him.

“I haven’t really thought much of it,” he said. “When my name is called, I’ve got to be ready to go help the team win.”

Travis’ preparation doesn’t vary too much depending on his status in the lineup. He shows up each day ready to be penciled into the order; if he’s not, he has some time pregame to take a few extra ground balls or swings.

“I take it as if I am in the lineup and try to get better every day,” Travis said. “I get my work in. I’ve got to stay ready to go.”

Travis has enjoyed his time in the major-league clubhouse, feeding off the veterans around him and learning what it takes to stick in Boston. Although he hasn’t seen much playing time since his latest recall, the ideal Red Sox bench includes a potent right-handed bat like his — to start against left-handers and serve as a pinch-hitter at other times.

If and when Boston finally determines a third baseman going forward, Travis figures to have a more permanent home in the majors.

“It’s been great,” he said. “You’ve just got to keep it going and keep trying to get better every day. Never be satisfied.”

Red Sox still waiting for Hanley Ramirez to get hot against left-handers

Tim Britton

BOSTON — Hanley Ramirez remained out of the lineup on Tuesday, two days after he was hit by a pitch in the knee. Chris Young got another start at designated hitter.

That may not be such a bad thing for the Boston lineup considering Minnesota is throwing left-hander Hector Santiago. Young excels against lefties while Ramirez has struggled mightily against them, contrary to his career norms.

Ramirez is just 5-for-35 with one extra-base hit off southpaws this season. He’s traditionally been a better hitter against lefties than righties, and just last season he posted an OPS of 1.097 against them. Ramirez’s worst OPS against lefties in any one season is the .710 he submitted during his injury-plagued 2015. He’s currently at .562 this year.

Manager John Farrell admitted the Red Sox are a bit perplexed.

“That’s been still a work in progress,” Farrell said. “There has been extensive video review. There’s been extensive conversations with him. There’s been short stretches where he’s shown the approach at the plate and the all-field ability to drive the baseball. That has been hit-and-miss a little bit. We’re just trying to get a consistency that he’s been known for.”

Asked if he would consider using someone else at DH instead of Ramirez even when the latter is healthy, Farrell said he “wouldn’t rule it out.”

“We’re always looking to put the best combination on the field, but the one thing you can’t do is completely turn away from what Hanley did last year,” he said. “He’s still a key member in our lineup. The presence he provides, the impact he’s capable of — we’re still working to get there.”

Earlier this month, hitting coach didn’t seem overly concerned with Ramirez’s splits.

“I’m not going to dissect lefty/righty,” he said, adding that those splits are usually more relevant for left- handed hitters. “It’s just a matter of he hasn’t quite gotten his swing going and had it go for a while.”

John Farrell suspended for Tuesday night’s game

Tim Britton

BOSTON — Manager John Farrell was suspended for Tuesday night’s game after coming in contact with umpire Bill Miller during Saturday’s loss to the Angels. Bench coach Gary DiSarcina managed the game in Farrell’s absence.

In the seventh inning of Boston’s 6-3 loss, Fernando Abad was called for a balk that brought home a run from third. Farrell argued that the umpire had called time behind home before Abad stepped off the mound, which would have negated the balk. Farrell was ejected during a heated argument with Miller, the crew chief, after contacting him with his finger.

“Given what transpired the other night, I was not surprised by [the suspension] because there was some accidental contact during the argument,” Farrell said Tuesday.

The manager, though, stands behind his argument from the weekend.

“My stance remains steadfast,” he said. “I still firmly believe time was called.”

As a manager, Farrell cannot appeal the suspension the way a player can. He was also fined an undisclosed amount. The manager can watch the game from Fenway Park, so long as he stays away from certain areas such as the press box.

Major League Baseball does not make any discipline of its umpires public; that’s something Farrell would like to see changed.

“I think everyone in uniform would prefer that to be made public,” he said.

With DiSarcina running the team, Farrell said pitching coach Carl Willis might have the added responsibility of communicating with the replay staff to determine when to review plays on the field.

* The Springfield Republican

Pomeranz trade controversy has made LHP receive nonstop scrutiny; he's now proving critics wrong

Christopher Smith

BOSTON -- A 1 hour, 16 minute rain delay after the second inning didn't stop Drew Pomeranz from returning to the mound and pitching another three innings here at Fenway Park on Tuesday.

It did stop Twins starter Hector Santiago who didn't return to the game after the lengthy delay.

Pomeranz deserves credit. He saved the Red Sox bullpen, showed some toughness and allowed just one unearned run over 5 innings.

The lefty struck out seven and didn't walk anyone. He helped deliver the Red Sox into sole possession of first place in the AL East with a 9-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins.

The Yankees blew a ninth-inning lead to lose 4-3 to the White Sox in Chicago.

Red Sox fans didn't exactly embrace Pomeranz after Dave Dombrowski traded for him last July. And it basically was the result of a situation he couldn't control.

Dombrowski chose not to rescind the Pomeranz trade with San Diego despite MLB commissioner Rob Manfred giving him the chance.

The trade controversy caused Pomeranz to be portrayed in an unfavorable light almost immediately: The Red Sox were stuck with a damaged pitcher (Pomeranz) and the Padres ended up with a top prospect (Anderson Espinoza).

Pomeranz has received nonstop scrutiny.

The media, including myself, not only scrutinized the trade but also have questioned Pomeranz's ability to pitch deep into games consistently, his durability, his health, his struggles at Fenway Park and his high rate of home runs allowed.

His hustle even came into question when he didn't go hard enough after a couple infield grounders near the mound in Oakland on May 20.

The list of criticisms is lengthy. I wrote after his June 11 start that he'd be more valuable to the Red Sox pitching out of the bullpen.

Sure, some are fair criticisms, or at least topics we have a right to examine.

That said, he does deserve some credit, finally, for the way he has pitched of late -- and because of the toughness he showed here Tuesday.

He's 4-1 with a 2.70 ERA in his past seven starts -- or since his heated argument in the dugout in Oakland with manager John Farrell.

He's pitching better right now than Rick Porcello and David Price. During this impressive seven-game stretch, Pomeranz's ERA has dropped from 4.70 to 3.81.

"Last few starts lately I've just kind of had everything rolling," Pomeranz said. "Been locating and kind of attacking guys, and trying to keep my pitch counts down so I can stay in longer. Obviously the rain delay got me out of the game a little earlier than I would have liked to. But I still was kind of rolling. I have been the last few.

"I'm just trying to build on each one," Pomeranz added. "I finally feel settled like I'm out there repeating my mechanics. And I think that's what's helping me run some of these games together."

Thunder and lightning approaching Fenway Park during Red Sox game, June 27, 2017 He has pitched into the seventh inning in four of the seven starts. And pitching three innings after the 1 hour, 16 minute rain delay Tuesday was like lasting into the seventh.

He stayed loose by running in the batting cage and riding the exercise bike during the delay.

"We said if it's more than an hour or if it's past 10 o'clock, it would be kind of iffy," Pomeranz said. "And of course, it was 10 o'clock start time (after the delay). I was like, 'Well, shit.' It's a hard decision to make. They put it right on the time. ... But I felt pretty good."

He has said that he never paid any attention to the controversy surrounding his trade to Boston because it's something he couldn't control.

He handles criticism well. He never got publicly frustrated at anything written or said about him. He's let his pitching talk for him.

And finally, we're seeing why the Red Sox decided he was worth keeping.

Red Sox sign Aaron Perry, Boston's hard-throwing 14th round pick in the 2017 MLB draft (report)

Mark Chiarelli

BOSTON -- Aaron Perry, the Boston Red Sox' 14th round draft pick this year, has reportedly signed with the club, according to the Herald-Dispatch in West Virginia.

Perry, a high school senior at Hurricane High School (WV.) will forgo a scholarship to play at the University of Kentucky, instead opting to sign an "above-slot" deal with the Red Sox.

"It definitely was above slot," Perry told the Herald-Dispatch."And I get college paid for. It was hard to give up school, but I know that when I'm done playing baseball, I can go back."

The Red Sox can give prospects drafted after the 10th round up to $125,000 without tapping into their bonus pool -- a sum of money reserved for prospects taken in the first 10 rounds. If Boston chooses to pay a prospect drafted after the 10th round more than $125,000 -- which is the case with Perry -- the total amount counts against their overall bonus pool.

Boston's bonus pool this year is $5,666,100, according to MLB.com.

Perry is Baseball American's top-ranked prospect in West Virginia and its 184th-ranked prospect overall. But a stress fracture in his right elbow ended his senior high school season. That, coupled with his commitment to college, likely led to his falling in the draft.

He rose the prospect ranks last year, showcasing a fastball that sits between 91 and 94 mph, according to , and topped out at 95 mph last October.

Perry was set to start summer school at Kentucky on June 22nd, per the Charleston Gazette-Mail. Instead, his official signing will likely be announced Thursday and then he will report to Fort Myers.

Vazquez, Young homer in Sox win over Twins; Boston takes sole possession of first place in AL East

Mark Chiarelli

BOSTON -- How's this for taking what is given to you?

The Red Sox waited 50 minutes, sitting through the first of two rain delays, before Drew Pomeranz sent down the first six batters he faced and Christian Vazquez tagged a two-run homer. They then sat for 76 more minutes, waiting out a lengthy thunder and lightning storm that lit the sky behind Fenway Park, before returning to take turns lighting up Twins relievers.

The final score -- a 9-2 Red Sox win -- somehow felt tame considering 14 of Boston's first 24 batters reached, and Minnesota used four pitchers just to get through the first five innings. The Twins also committed three errors, two of which led to Boston runs.

The Red Sox improved to 43-34 and took sole possession of first place in the after the Yankees lost to the White Sox, 4-3.

Chris Young, in the lineup as the designated hitter for the second consecutive day while Hanley Ramirez deals with a sore left knee, launched a three-run homer in the sixth inning to make it 9-1.

Boston, meanwhile, received five strong innings from Pomeranz, who returned to pitch in the third inning following the second of two rain delays that lengthened Wednesday's game. He wasn't as effective following the break, allowing three straight runners to reach and a run in the fifth, but he responded by striking out a pair of Twins batters to avoid further damage.

Pomeranz struck out seven and won for the seventh time this year.

Minnesota chose to not bring starter Hector Santiago back following the second rain delay, ending his day after two innings and 49 pitches. He's now given up 15 homers in 67 innings following Vazquez's rifle in the second inning -- his first homer of the season.

Boston greeted the Twins' subsequent two relievers -- Alan Busenitz and former Red Sox pitcher Craig Breslow -- by scoring runs in each of the next three innings.

Jackie Bradley Jr. put the Red Sox up 3-0 in the third inning, rifling a single to center that eventually plated Dustin Pedroia after Twins centerfielder Byron Buxton airmailed the throw home. Boston appeared to be in position to strike for more, with Bradley Jr. and Bogaerts advancing into scoring position, but Sam Travis lined into an inning-ending double play that doubled up Bogaerts.

A sacrifice fly from Mookie Betts and an RBI single by Pedroia added two more runs in the fourth -- set up by a Vazquez walk and a Deven Marrero one-out double.

Bogaerts scored Boston's sixth run after Brian Dozier booted a grounder at second base in the fifth inning.

Dustin Pedroia went 3-for-3, scored a run and also walked. John Farrell did not manage Tuesday's game, instead serving a one-game suspension.

Tuesday's game, scheduled to begin at 7:10 p.m., finished at 12:34 a.m. The two rain delays combined to take just over two hours, clocking in at 2:06.

Vazquez goes yard

Christian Vazquez had gone 265 at-bats without a homer, his previous one coming on May 1, 2016 against the Yankees. He left little doubt Tuesday, launching a Santiago sinker 403 feet to left field. It left his bat at 106 miles per hour, according to Statcast, and he drove in Sam Travis, who walked to begin the inning.

Vazquez's homer came on the seventh pitch of the at-bat. He entered Tuesday's game fourth in the American League in two-strike hitting (.275 average) and is hitting .397 at Fenway Park this season.

He also threw out Eddie Rosario attempting to steal third base with no outs in the third inning, and stole second in the fourth inning.

Is Pomeranz turning the corner?

Since Drew Pomeranz clashed with Farrell in Oakland on May 20th after being lifted following four innings of work, the lefty has pitched well, going 4-1 with a 2.70 ERA in seven starts.

Pomeranz has allowed two runs or less in six of those seven starts. He has 44 strikeouts over that stretch (40 innings pitched) and his ERA dropped to 3.81 following Tuesday's start -- a far cry from his 5.29 mark of earlier this season.

Leftovers

Boston goes for the series win against the Twins on Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. Rick Porcello (4-9, 5.00 ERA) faces Adalberto Mejia (2-3, 4.93) ... Former Red Sox reliever Craig Breslow pitched Tuesday night. The Red Sox posted a welcome back message on the scoreboard and played his walk-up song, "Cult of Personality by Living Colour.

Red Sox depth starter Roenis Elias visits Fenway Park, still working way back from muscle strain

Christopher Smith

BOSTON -- Red Sox depth starter Roenis Elias was here at Fenway Park today as he continues to work his way back from a right intercostal muscle strain that has kept him out all season.

"He's still throwing live BP and sim games and he will continue," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "He's got multiple ones to go through here before any determination is made on where and when he gets activated, at what level. So he's still going through the build up of that right now."

Elias began the season on the disabled list after he suffered the strain March 9.

He made a rehab start May 7 for High-A Salem but it didn't go well. He allowed nine runs, seven earned, 10 hits and two walks while striking out just one in 4 innings.

The 28-year-old lefty, who the Red Sox acquired along with Carson Smith from the Mariners for Wade Miley in December 2015, still has minor league options. So he could start for Triple-A Pawtucket and be considered a major league depth starter when he eventually is activated.

Holt, Red Sox utility man, still experiencing symptoms, which is keeping him from rehab assignment

Christopher Smith

BOSTON -- Red Sox manager John Farrell said last week in Kansas City that he was hopeful Brock Holt (vertigo) was nearing a rehab assignment.

But Holt still is experiencing symptoms. Concussion specialist Dr. Micky Collins told the super utility player in late May not to begin another rehab assignment until all his symptoms were gone.

"When we were on the last road trip, felt like we were getting closer this past weekend," Farrell said here Tuesday at Fenway Park. "He's improving. He's faced live pitching and has done that multiple times. But given all that he's gone through, he's not able to go out until those symptoms have completely subsided. So while it's improving, he's still dealing with some of it."

The Red Sox recalled Holt without activating him May 26 because he wasn't going to meet the 20-day deadline players receive for rehab assignments. He hasn't played in a big league game since April 20.

Was Farrell sending hidden message to certain Red Sox players with his praise of Mitch Moreland?

Christopher Smith

BOSTON -- Some Boston sports radio hosts suggested today that manager John Farrell might have been delivering a message to Hanley Ramirez with the comment he made about Mitch Moreland on Monday.

Moreland is playing with a broken toe and homered for the third straight game last night.

"The way he's gone about it, given the physical condition he's in, is a strong message to the remainder of this team," Farrell said last night.

But Farrell today denied he was sending a message to any of his players with that comment.

"That was to highlight a guy that has been dealing with a broken toe, continues to perform at a high level and to compliment Mitch for the way he's gone about it," Farrell said here at Fenway Park.

Ramirez's production has been down all season as he continues to deal with issues to both shoulders. He has been limited to just two games at first base. He has served primarily as the DH but Farrell said today that he wouldn't rule out using others at DH if Ramirez doesn't begin to hit better.

Ramirez is batting .241 with a .341 on-base percentage, .406 slugging percentage, .747 OPS, 10 homers, seven doubles and 29 RBIs in 63 games.

Farrell 'wasn't surprised' by 1 game suspension, hopes MLB becomes more transparent

Mark Chiarelli

BOSTON -- John Farrell still believes he was right. But he was not caught off guard following the MLB's decision to suspend him for one game following his ejection Saturday night.

"Given what transpired the other night, I'm not surprised by it because there was some accidental contact during the argument," Farrell said. "So it's a one-game suspension."

Farrell's fiery exchange with umpire Bill Miller, stemming from a balk call against Fernando Abad that Farrell felt came after timeout was already called on the field, resulted in the Red Sox manager's first ejection of the season. It's the third time Farrell's been ejected by Miller over his career, and video appeared to show the pair bump each other as the argument progressed.

Speaking Sunday, Farrell maintained he did not bump Miller, although he said the tip of his finger grazed the umpire's shirt.

Farrell said Tuesday that the league has not provided him further explanation regarding the call, or clarified who was in the right.

"I haven't received any further determination or review of what transpired," Farrell said.

"My position, my stance, remains steadfast. I still firmly believes time was called. I wasn't arguing the balk, I was arguing the timing of it. And as I reiterate it today to those that I spoke with, I still stand by my side of the argument. Unfortunately there was contact made."

Red Sox bench coach Gary DiSarcina will manage in Farrell's absence Tuesday. Farrell can watch the game at the ballpark, but said he cannot do so in a "team-related area" or the press box.

As far as logistics are concerned, Farrell doesn't anticipate any hiccups Tuesday with DiSarcina at the helm. The only difference, he said, is that pitching coach Carl Willis will call the team's video booth on replay reviews and then relay the information to DiSarcina.

Farrell, who can't appeal the suspension, was asked Tuesday by CSNNE's Evan Drellich whether he wishes there was more transparency on the part of the MLB when altercations involving a manager and an umpire arise to publicly clarify points of contention.

The league does not release whether the umpire -- in this case, Miller -- is punished for his role in the incident. A pool reporter can be sent to the umpires' clubhouse following the game to seek clarity on potential controversial calls.

Miller did speak to Ken Powtak of the Associated Press following Saturday's game.

"I think there's been strides made," Farrell said. "With the pool reporter going to get postgame comments, not too long ago that wasn't even allowed."

He continued: "Yeah, I guess I would (wish the information was public). I think everyone in uniform would prefer that to be made public. Whether or not that happens, I don't know. But that's a choice I would make."

Hanley Ramirez could lose starts at DH for Boston Red Sox due to lack of performance vs. lefties

Christopher Smith

BOSTON -- Hanley Ramirez is batting just .241 with a .341 on-base percentage, .406 slugging percentage, .747 OPS, 10 homers, seven doubles and 29 RBIs in 63 games.

Health aside, would manager John Farrell start other hitters at DH over Ramirez because of Ramirez's subpar performance?

"I wouldn't rule it out," Farrell said, answering that question during his pregame media availability today at Fenway Park. "Where he was so good against left-handed pitching last year, that's been still a work in progress for a lack of a better way to describe it. So we're always looking to put the best combination on the field. But the one thing we can't completely turn away from is what Hanley did last year. And while I know that's last year, we're still working to get some increased performance from him. I think he's still a key member in our lineup. The presence that he provides. The impact that he's capable of. And yet. we're still working to get there."

Ramirez is only 5-for-35 (.143) with one extra-base hit vs. left-handed pitchers this year. The Red Sox could use Chris Young instead. He crushes lefties.

Sam Travis also is an option to DH. He is starting at first base only vs. left-handed pitchers.

Farrell said the coaching staff continues to look for the reason why Ramirez has struggled vs. lefties.

"There's been extensive video review," Farrell said. "There's been extensive conversations with him. There's been short stretches where he's shown the approach at the plate and the all-field ability to drive the baseball. That's been hit and miss a little bit. So we're just trying to gain a consistency that he's been known for."

Ramirez is not in the lineup again here Tuesday.

He will miss his second straight game. He was scratched from Monday's lineup with a sore left knee after being hit by a pitch Sunday.

"He's improved today," Farrell said. "He's responding to treatment. He's still going through some work right now. Would get a bat in his hand shortly to determine if he's available to pinch hit tonight."

* The Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Red Sox 9, Twins 2: Homers by Vazquez, Young set the pace

Bill Ballou

BOSTON -- For the Red Sox, no doubt, it was worth the wait.

They waited through long rain delays Tuesday night to finally beat the Twins, 9-2, with the victory ending their long wait to put a full game between them and the second place Yankees in the AL East title race.

The rain delays, one before and one during the game, took 2 hours, 6 minutes.

The Yankees were beaten by the White Sox. It has been a long, slow slog through the muck for the Red Sox to put a full game between them and another AL East contender. Boston was five games out of first place, its biggest deficit of the season, on May 10.

The Sox are 26-18 since then.

Tuesday night’s triumph was fueled by a fine start by Drew Pomeranz and the long ball as Christian Vazquez and Chris Young both homered. Pomeranz worked five innings interrupted by a rain delay after the second inning and gave up just one unearned run. He struck out seven and did not walk a batter before giving way to Blaine Boyer and the bullpen.

Vazquez gave the Red Sox an early lead with his first home run of the season, a two-run belt in the bottom of the second with Sam Travis on base. The homer came off Twins starter Hector Santiago who opened the inning by walking Travis.

Minnesota manager Paul Molitor elected not to bring Santiago back out after the rain delay and the Boston offense did more damage against the Twins bullpen, a group that includes former Fenway favorite Craig Breslow. The Sox reached Breslow for three runs in just one inning of work, but those three runs did not come from Young’s home run.

That was hit off Matt Belisle in the sixth.

It was the crowning blow of a three-run rally with all three runs being unearned due to an error by Twins third baseman Eduardo Escobar, one of three committed by Minnesota over the course of the game.

With two out in the sixth Dustin Pedroia singled, then Bogaerts reached on the error. Young’s home run went over the monster seats. It was his fourth of the season and the first three-run homer by a Boston batter at Fenway Park since April 5.

The win improved Pomeranz’ record to 7-4 and lowered his to 3.81. He is 4-1 in his last seven starts this year and his career record in a Boston uniform is finally in the black, as well, at 10-9.

Boyer pitched well in a two-inning stint then was relieved by Fernando Abad, who immediately gave up an opposite field home run to Escobar, making it a 9-2 game.

The Red Sox took advantage of the Twins defensive issues as they had runners on base all night. While Vazquez and Young had the biggest hits, Pedroia had a good night at the plate with three hits before taking a seat in the late innings in favor of Tzu-Wei Lin. Xander Bogaerts also had a pair of hits for the Sox.

* RedSox.com

Red Sox wait out rain to beat Twins, take 1st

Ian Browne and Evan Chronis

BOSTON -- Two lengthy rain delays did nothing to dampen the Boston bats, as the Red Sox rode a steady stream of hits and a strong pitching performance by Drew Pomeranz en route to a 9-2 victory over the Twins on Tuesday night at Fenway Park.

Christian Vazquez and Chris Young both smashed towering homers over the Green Monster. Dustin Pedroia scored twice and smacked three hits. Xander Bogaerts added two hits and two runs.

Bench coach Gary DiSarcina was the manager for the night, as John Farrell served a one-game suspension for an argument that took place with umpire Bill Miller on Saturday.

"Your day kind of changes in preparation and obviously talking to [pitching coach] Carl [Willis] about the pitching and talking to John about the pitching before he left," said DiSarcina. "It's a lot of fun. It's a lot of adrenaline. Growing up around here, I don't think I'm going to appreciate having a day like this until I'm looking back after the season is over."

Meanwhile, Pomeranz was sharp throughout despite the weather disruptions, holding the Twins to four hits and one unearned run over five innings. The lefty walked none and struck out seven while turning in his third consecutive strong start.

Following a 76-minute rain delay, Willis stood next to the mound and watched Pomeranz warm up to determine if the lefty should stay in the game to start the third inning. Pomeranz passed the test and prevented the bullpen from being taxed. The lefty was able to pitch another three innings before giving way to the 'pen.

"It was kind of crazy," said Pomeranz. "I didn't even realize it was supposed to rain at all tonight. We found out about like two minutes before I was about to go out for a normal game start time. Just kind of waited around. I didn't know there was a second cell coming either, I guess. We didn't know how long we were going to wait. I tried to stay loose down there after the second inning, kind of in the cage just running back and forth."

Conversely, the Twins chose to pull lefty Hector Santiago, who was making his first start off the disabled list, after the delay, leaving their bullpen to work six innings in the loss. Overall, it was a sloppy performance for Minnesota that included three errors and five unearned runs.

"We haven't had a lot of games where our defense has let us down to a degree that it had a big influence on the outcome," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "Tonight was a little bit different. [Byron Buxton] obviously got a wet ball and winged one, and we didn't catch it a couple times. We gave extra outs and those guys capitalized."

The victory put the Red Sox in sole possession of first place in the American League East by one game, as the Yankees lost in Chicago to the White Sox. The Twins remain a half-game behind the Indians in the AL Central.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Vazquez ends power outage: Vazquez had gone 265 at-bats without a home run before unloading for his two-run rocket into the Monster Seats in left-center against Santiago in the bottom of the second. The last time Vazquez went deep in the Majors was on May 1, 2016, against Dellin Betances of the Yankees. According to Statcast™, the drive had a projected distance of 409 feet.

"The home run battle was a seven-consecutive-fastball at-bat," Molitor said about the Santiago-Vazquez duel. "That was a big blow for sure."

Rosario's risky steal attempt backfires: On the first pitch after the second rain delay, Eddie Rosario started the third inning by clubbing a double off the Green Monster. He then tried to steal third, and was easily cut down by Vazquez, short-circuiting his team's momentum. The Twins were only trailing, 2-0, at the time, but the Red Sox would go on to score in each of the next four innings.

"Yeah, I mean that guy, he basically swings at everything and runs on every pitch," said Pomeranz. "It's kind of his MO, I think. We have Vazqy back there who doesn't let guys get by very easily."

QUOTABLE "Long night. I've seen some really good games here and I've seen some ugly ones. That would fall in the latter category." -- Molitor, on his team's performance

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS The Red Sox stole three bases, marking the fourth time this season they've stolen at least that many in a game. The Red Sox have won the last 11 games in which they've stolen at least two bases.

WHAT'S NEXT Twins: Left-hander Adalberto Mejia makes his 11th start of the season when the Twins meet the Red Sox at 6:10 p.m. CT on Wednesday. In his last start, Mejia allowed five walks, but held the Indians scoreless on two hits over five innings to pick up his second win of the year. The lefty is 1-1 with a 3.06 ERA on the road in 2017.

Red Sox: Right-hander Rick Porcello will try to build on the momentum he created in his last start, when he held the Angels to three earned runs over 6 1/3 innings. Porcello walked one and struck out eight in that one. In 28 career starts against the Twins, Porcello is 10-9 with a 3.83 ERA.

Sharp Pomeranz stays loose during long delay

Ian Browne

BOSTON -- As the time ticked away during Tuesday's 76-minute rain delay, Red Sox left-hander Drew Pomeranz hardly ever stopped moving.

If he was going to have any chance to keep pitching, Pomeranz knew he would have to stay loose.

"You know, I didn't really know what to do," said Pomeranz. "I just kept throwing. I was riding the bike and running sprints in the cage. If I would have felt like I was tight or anything at all, I wouldn't have come out, but I felt good. Just tried to grind it out."

When the delay finally ended in Boston's eventual 9-2 victory, Red Sox pitching coach Carl Willis stood next to Pomeranz as he warmed up for the start of the third inning.

"I just think [Willis] was making sure he was staying loose," said bench coach Gary DiSarcina, who served as manager on a night John Farrell served a one-game suspension. "Drew did a great job keeping loose throughout, but until you get out on the mound and start making pitches, even though there was no hitter up there -- Carl is just watching how he's reacting, especially his body language and how the ball is coming out of his hand. It looked good, so we just went with it."

Pomeranz showed enough to continue on, and he picked up a well-earned win. Over five innings, he allowed four hits and one unearned run, walking none and striking out seven. By staying in the game for as long as he did, Pomeranz prevented the Boston bullpen from getting overly taxed.

If the delay had lasted any longer, Pomeranz, who pitched through left forearm fatigue down the stretch last season, likely would not have continued.

"I said, 'If it is past 10 o'clock, it would get kind of iffy,' and of course it was 10 o'clock start time [after the delay]," Pomeranz said. "I was like, 'Shoot, it's a hard decision to make.' Of course, they put it right on the time I said I wouldn't go over. I felt pretty good and Carl went out there with me as I warmed up. I felt fine. Threw a couple of times in between just to stay hot."

Stay hot is exactly what Pomeranz did. This was his third straight strong start for the Red Sox, going 1-0 with a 1.53 ERA over that span.

Aside from the 76-minute delay between the second and third inning, the game also started 50 minutes late due to showers.

"It was kind of crazy. I didn't even realize it was supposed to rain at all tonight," said Pomeranz. "We found out about like two minutes before I was about to go out for a normal game start time. Just kind of waited around. I didn't know there was a second cell coming either."

For DiSarcina, it was a revealing glimpse into the type of tough decisions managers are forced to make.

"We hit the stop watch as soon as the tarp went on and he did a great job staying loose in between," DiSarcina said. "He kept heat on his arm. He rode the bike. He played a little toss, kept his body warm, so it was very impressive.

"I can see and appreciate the trials and tribulations and struggles John goes through daily, nightly, when it comes to removing a pitcher in the game and making those tough decisions, because it's difficult."

Farrell gets 1-game suspension for ejection

Ian Browne

BOSTON -- The Red Sox were without manager John Farrell for Tuesday night's game vs. the Twins after Major League Baseball issued him a one-game suspension for his actions arguing a balk call with umpire Bill Miller during Saturday's contest against the Angels.

Farrell was also fined an undisclosed amount for his suspension, which cannot be appealed, according to league rules.

The fact that Farrell poked Miller in the chest -- even though it might have been incidental -- was the main cause for the suspension.

"Given what transpired the other night, I'm not surprised by it because there was some accidental contact during the argument so it's a one-game suspension," said Farrell.

Farrell will be allowed to watch the game at Fenway Park, as long as it isn't in any designated team areas, or in the press box.

Bench coach Gary DiSarcina managed the Red Sox in Farrell's absence.

In the seventh inning of the Angels' 6-3 win over the Red Sox on Saturday, Miller, the third-base umpire and crew chief, called a balk on Boston left-hander Fernando Abad, allowing Cameron Maybin to score from third.

The hitter, Kole Calhoun, stepped out of the box and home-plate umpire Ryan Blakney raised his hands as to call time. But after a brief meeting, the umpire crew stayed with the ruling on the field that the balk occurred before time was called.

Farrell became incensed and received his first ejection of the season.

"I haven't received any further determination or review of what transpired [from the league]," said Farrell. "My position, my stance, remains steadfast. I still firmly believe that time was called. I wasn't arguing the balk. I was arguing the timing of it, as I reiterated today to those that I spoke with that I still stand by my side of the argument. Unfortunately, there was contact made."

Worth noting • Designated hitter Hanley Ramirez was out of the lineup for a second straight day after getting hit in the left knee by a pitch on Sunday.

"He's improved today, he's responding to treatment, he's still going through some work right now," Farrell said. "We'll get a bat in his hand here shortly to determine if he's available to pinch-hit tonight. Prior to yesterday's game, we said day to day and he's still in that status, but he is improving."

• Brock Holt, who hasn't played for the Red Sox since April 20 because of a prolonged bout with vertigo, remains in a holding pattern in his quest to go on a Minor League rehab assignment.

"You know, when we were on the last road trip, we felt like we were getting closer this past weekend," said Farrell. "He's improving. He's faced live pitching and has done that multiple times. But given all that he's gone through, he's not able to go out until those symptoms have completely subsided. So while it's improving, he's still feeling some of it."

* ESPNBoston.com

How hard will it be for Rick Porcello to rebound? Ask Dallas Keuchel

Scott Lauber

Eleven nights ago, Rick Porcello got knocked around for seven runs on 10 hits, including two home runs. It marked the fourth time in six starts that the Boston Red Sox right-hander allowed at least 10 hits, something he did only once all of last season. But then nothing about this year is anything like 2016 for Porcello.

Sitting across the field that night, in the Houston Astros' dugout, it all looked so familiar to Dallas Keuchel.

Like Porcello, Keuchel is a sinkerball pitcher without overpowering stuff. Like Porcello, Keuchel relies on getting weak contact in lieu of pumping fastballs past overmatched hitters. And like Porcello this year, Keuchel followed a Award-winning season in 2015 with a disappointing dud.

A late-blooming lefty, Keuchel didn't have a full-time spot in the Astros' rotation until 2014 at age 26. He went 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA in 232 innings over 33 starts in 2015 before going 9-12 with a 4.55 ERA in 168 innings over 26 starts last season, becoming the 19th pitcher since 1956 to follow a Cy Young season by posting a sub-100 adjusted ERA (100 is considered average; Keuchel recorded an 86).

Porcello is on track to become the 20th. After going 22-4 with a 3.15 ERA last season, he will lug a 4-9 record, 5.00 ERA and adjusted ERA of 93 into his start Wednesday night against the Minnesota Twins. And if it has caused folks to wonder if Porcello is a one-Cy wonder, it isn't anything Keuchel didn't hear last season.

"It's tough. It really is," Keuchel said. "This game is really tough. But you just got to keep telling yourself things are going to get better if you keep with it. I knew that if I put in the necessary work -- and I'm sure he does the same thing -- at some point it was going to pay off."

In Keuchel's case, part of the problem could be attributed to persistent left shoulder soreness that prevented him from getting that last little bit of extension in his delivery. As a result, his sinker and changeup were elevated in the strike zone and hitters teed off.

By all accounts, Porcello is healthy. But he did throw a career-high 223 innings last season en route to leading the Red Sox to a division title after averaging 178 innings per year from 2009 to 2015. It wouldn't be uncommon if the residual effect of that increased workload is at the root of Porcello's struggles.

"This game is really tough," Dallas Keuchel said. "But you just got to keep telling yourself things are going to get better if you keep with it." Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports Porcello is at his best when he pounds the bottom of the strike zone with two-seam fastballs. When he doesn't establish his sinker, it makes it more difficult for him to elevate his four-seamer, according to Red Sox manager John Farrell. And when Porcello loses confidence in his sinker, he tends to try throwing harder, which in turn messes with his delivery and further impacts his command.

It's a vicious cycle, one that doomed Porcello to a 9-15 record and 4.92 ERA two years ago in his first season with the Red Sox.

Porcello insists he's "not going to go back and look at all that stuff" from 2015, even though it might be instructive. Based on what Farrell has seen from Porcello this season, he “can't say it's dissimilar” to what the right-hander went through two years ago.

Although Keuchel notes that Porcello's average fastball velocity is a few ticks better than his, he also concedes that he "sees a lot of similarities in our styles," specifically their dependence on the sinker. And in watching Porcello two weeks ago in Houston, Keuchel sees some of the same things that plagued him last year.

"It's just been a year for him where the fastball command is not there," Keuchel said. "It's tough, but at the same time, there's fixes. It's not like he's lost everything he had in the tank. He's still throwing 93-94 [mph] when he wants to and still got some sink, but when you leave the ball up against some of the best hitters in the game, it's tough to get those back."

Indeed, Porcello has given up 132 hits, more than any pitcher in the league, in only 99 innings. He has allowed 16 homers after giving up 23 all of last season. And while Porcello's location has been off, hitters aren't missing. Opponents are batting .371 on balls in play against him compared to .269 last season and .312 for his career.

Despite his struggles, Porcello has somehow managed to complete at least six innings in 13 consecutive starts. And optimists such as Farrell point to Porcello's last three innings in Houston (one run on three hits) and his first six innings last Friday night against the (one run on five hits) as signs that things might be looking up.

The Red Sox need that to be the case during the second half of the season. In the aftermath of David Ortiz's retirement, the Red Sox knew the offense wasn't going to produce at a league-leading level. Instead, they were built around a starting rotation led by Porcello, David Price and new ace Chris Sale.

And while Sale has been arguably the best starter in the American League, Porcello has gotten hit hard and Price is still smoothing out the rough edges after missing the first two months of the season with an elbow strain.

But the best reason to be hopeful about Porcello is Keuchel's resurgence this year. Through 11 starts, he's 9- 0 with a 1.67 ERA and only 48 hits allowed in 75 2/3 innings. If not for a pinched nerve that landed him on the disabled list a few weeks ago, Keuchel might be the early Cy Young favorite in the American League.

"There was a lot of things going on in my own mechanics last year that I wasn't going to have good results," Keuchel said. "I knew most of the time when it was going to happen, and it did. Location in this game is so crucial that some of the best guys can go through rough stretches, and I think a large part of it [with Porcello] has to do with the fact that he's not locating his fastball.

"As much as I'm sure he hates that he's not helping the team out right now, for the most part, he probably knows in the back of his mind that things are going to turn around eventually and he's going to be the guy that everybody knows he can be."

It took an entire season for Keuchel to get back to that point. The Red Sox are hoping Porcello needs less time to rebound.

* WEEI.com

Red Sox 9, Twins 2: Maybe Drew Pomeranz is better than we thought

Ryan Hannable

Through the first seven starts of the year Drew Pomeranz had a 5.29 ERA and many had written him off, but eight starts later, the narrative is beginning to change with the left-hander.

Perhaps, he’s better than many gave him credit for, and he can actually be counted on in the rotation.

It wasn’t the easiest of outings Tuesday, mostly due to two rain delays — one 50-minute delay at the start and another of one hour and 16 minutes after the second inning — but Pomeranz battled through five innings to get the win, as the Red Sox beat the Twins 9-2.

"It was kind of crazy," he said. "I didn't even realize it was supposed to rain at all tonight. We found out about like two minutes before I was about to go out for a normal game start time. Just kind of waited around. I didn't know there was a second cell coming either, I guess. You know, I just went down. We didn't know how long we were going to wait. Tried to stay loose down there after the second inning kind of in the cage just running back and forth. We had said if it's more than an hour, and I said if it is past 10 o'clock, it would get kind of iffy and of course it was 10 o'clock start time.

"I was like, '[Expletive], it's a hard decision to make. Put it right on the time I said I wouldn't go over.' I felt pretty good and Carl went out there with me as I warmed up. I felt fine. Threw a couple of times in between just to stay hot."

Pomeranz went five innings and allowed one run (unearned) on four hits, while not walking a batter and striking out seven. Entering the game he had a 10.11 strikeouts/nine innings ratio, which was among the top 10 in the American League. The Red Sox have won five out of his last seven starts and he has taken the lost just once in his eight starts. Since leaving the May 14 game early with an injury, he has an ERA of 2.66 in his last eight outings.

The left-hander was clearly laboring in the fifth inning as after getting the first out, the next three batters reached on an error and two singles (one driving in a run) to set up first and third with one out, but he struck out the next two batters to end the threat and his night.

"I finally feel settled like I am out there repeating my mechanics. I think that is what is helping me run some of these games together," Pomeranz said.

After the rocky start to the year, he has certainly put things together. Following the win Tuesday, he’s now allowed two earned runs or less in 12 out of his 15 starts this season.

"I've said before, I don't know how ready -- if I was 100 percent ready at the start of the year, but I know I was ready enough that I could go out there and give us a good chance to win," Pomeranz said. "I kind of worked my butt off that first month just to repeat my mechanics and get comfortable with everything. Finally I'm breaking through all that and I've had a lot more consistency."

While he may not be at his All-Star form of a year ago, Pomeranz is turning into a reliable member of the starting rotation and that is all the Red Sox need given the big names at the top.

Hanley Ramirez could lose at-bats at DH even when healthy

Sam Alberti

Before Tuesday's game, Red Sox manager John Farrell commented on Hanley Ramirez's health status as well as his issues at the plate, particuarly against left-handers.

Ramirez has been sidelined the past two games after being hit by a pitch in the knee on Sunday. Farrell provided some insight into how his recovery has been progressing.

“He’s improved today, he’s responding to treatment," he said. "He’s still going through some work right now. We’ll get a bat in his hand here shortly to determine if he’s available to pinch hit tonight. Prior to yesterday’s game, day-to-day, and still in that status, but he is improving.”

Health aside, Ramirez has been struggling at the plate, hitting .241 as of now, which would be a career-low. As a result, Farrell let it be known he wouldn't rule out using other options in the DH role.

"Where he was so good against left-handed pitching last year, that's been still a work in progress, for a lack of a better way to describe it," he said. "We're always looking to put the best combination on the field, but the one thing you can't do is completely turn away from what Hanley did last year. While I know that is last year, we're still working to get some increased performance from him. I think he's still a key member in our lineup. The presence he provides, the impact he's capable of, and yet we're still working to get there."

After batting .346 when facing left-handed pitching last season 2016, Ramirez has hit just .143 with a .562 OPS against lefties so far this season. Farrell said there has been no specific reason for this slump and they are doing what they can to get him back to what he was doing last season.

"We continue to go that way, to see what has been the change," Farrell said. "There has been extensive video review. There's been extensive conversations with him. There's been short stretches where he's I think shown the approach at the plate and the all-field ability to drive the baseball. That has been hit and miss a little bit. We're just trying to get a consistency that he's been known for."

How Rick Porcello may have finally fixed himself

Sam Alberti

Rick Porcello has been a disappointment this season, to say the least. Heading into his start Wednesday night, the reigning Cy Young boasts a lackluster 5.00 ERA, allowing 132 hits in only 99 innings pitched with 55 earned runs.

Porcello, however, believes he has found the way back to his form of a year ago.

In his last start he pitched a strong 6 1/3 innings, giving up three earned runs and striking out eight. Despite giving up three runs in the seventh inning, Porcello looked like his former self through the first six. He credits this seeming resurgence to just letting things flow and not over thinking when he's on the mound.

"Just kind of letting things flow, and just trying to smooth it out instead of trying to be so meticulous and mechanical with everything," he told WEEI.com. "Just kind of be aggressive and stop thinking so much about little things, but some of the stuff you have to be aware of and cognizant of, certain parts, your mechanics, but there’s a fine line. You can go too far with it or you could not be aware of it enough, and it could be difficult to find that balance some times. That mindset [Friday] felt pretty good, and got some better results with it."

Through the start Porcello worked noticeably quicker than his usual pace, much akin to his counterpart Chris Sale. This uptick allowed for him to find a good rhythm and better control the game.

"I felt like I was working quick, but I felt really good about it. I didn’t feel like I was getting out of control," Porcello said. "I felt like that pace was a good pace for me, and it seemed like it was keeping them fairly off balance. Sometimes just that can be a difference maker. I think it’s just some more of the mindset, probably adds a little bit to just your mound presence. The slower you work, hitters can kind of sense your thinking, or whatever it is, and gives them the opportunity to think too, and that can work to your disadvantage."

In line with his successful night, it was clear that Porcello getting better movement on his pitches throughout the night, particularly his two-seamer, that in previous starts this season. He again attributed this improvement to fine tuning certain aspects of his motion and finding a tempo that worked for him.

"Yeah, I think it’s the tempo of my delivery yesterday, and a little bit quicker allow you to be more fluid," Porcello added. "[T]he slower I work the more mechanical I can get and it doesn’t flow as much. There’s certain things that go along with that that prevent me from having that same kind of action. A lose wrist up front instead of closed. There’s a whole long list of them we could go through, but that kind of seemed like it got everything locked back in and I just felt much more comfortable in driving the ball down field and just kind of letting it go."

* CSNNE.com

Hanley Ramirez Has To Improve Or Red Sox Need To Try Others

Evan Drellich

BOSTON — It doesn’t really matter what’s holding Hanley Ramirez back: his health, his desire to play through injuries, neither, both. The Red Sox need him to hit better as the designated hitter, or give someone else a chance in his place.

Tuesday is June 27. From May 27 on, Ramirez is hitting .202 with a .216 on-base percentage and .369 slugging percentage.

Putting Ramirez on the disabled list so that he can heal up, or at least attempt to, would be reasonable. If you can’t hit well — if you can’t even be in the lineup, as has been the case the last two days — you're hampering the roster.

Ramirez was out of the lineup for a second straight game on Tuesday because of his left knee, which was hit by a pitch Sunday. He’s been bothered by his shoulders all season.

“He’s improved today. He’s responding to treatment,” manager John Farrell said Tuesday of Ramirez’s knee. “He’s still going through some work right now. Would get a bat in his hand here shortly to determine if he’s available to pinch hit tonight. Prior to yesterday’s game, day to day, and still in that status, but he is improving.”

The route to better production doesn’t matter. As long as the Sox get some, be it from Ramirez or somewhere else. Flat-out benching Ramirez in favor of Chris Young or Sam Travis or both for a time should be on the table.

When it comes to lineups vs. lefties, Farrell might be thinking the same way.

Farrell was asked Tuesday if he’d consider playing someone at DH other than Ramirez for performance reasons.

“I wouldn’t rule it out,” Farrell said. “Where he was so good against left-handed pitching last year, that’s been still a work in progress, for lack of a better way to describe it. So we’re always looking to put the best combination on the field.”

A right-handed hitter, Ramirez is just 5-for-35 (.143) vs. lefties this season, after hitting .346 against them a year ago.

On the flip side: in the final three months of the 2016 season, Ramirez hit .300 with a .379 OBP and .608 slugging percentage overall. That’s from the start of July through the end of the regular season vs. all pitchers.

“You know, the one thing you can’t completely turn away from is what Hanley did last year,” Farrell said. “While I know that’s last year, we’re still working to get some increased performance from him. I think he’s still a key member in our lineup. The presence he provides, the impact that he’s capable of. And yet, we’re still working to get there.”

Farrell said the team hasn’t been able to pinpoint a particular reason for Ramirez’s struggles vs. southpaws.

“No,” Farrell said. “There’s been extensive video review. There’s been extensive conversations with him. There’s been stretches, short stretches, where he’s I think shown the approach at the plate and the all field ability to drive the baseball. That’s been hit and miss a little bit. So, we’re just trying to gain a consistency that he’s been known for.”

Mitch Moreland's been playing with a fractured big toe in his left foot. After he homered and had another impactful night Monday, Farrell made some comments that are hard to read as anything but a message to Ramirez.

“In [Moreland's] most recent stretch, he’s been able to get on top of some fastballs that have been at the top of the strike zone or above for some power obviously,” Farrell said. “But I think the way he’s gone about it given the physical condition he’s in, is a strong message to the remainder of this team.”

Asked about that comment a day later, Farrell shot down the idea he was trying to reach Ramirez or anyone else with that remark about playing hurt.

“No,” Farrell said Tuesday. “I respect the question, but that was to highlight a guy who has been dealing with a broken toe, continues to perform at a high level and to compliment Mitch for the way he’s gone about it.”

It doesn't matter why Ramirez isn't producing, at a certain point. Either he is or he isn't. If not, they need to be willing to give someone else an extended look, whether it lands Ramirez on the DL or simply the bench.

MLB Could Explain Umpire Rulings More Often

Evan Drellich

BOSTON — We know that Red Sox manager John Farrell did something wrong. In the absence of any sort of formal announcement otherwise, we’re left to assume the umpires did everything properly — but there’s room for MLB to make that clearer.

If the NBA can put out Last 2 Minute reports, why can’t MLB provide more regular explanations or reviews of contested calls?

Farrell on Tuesday said he’d like to see more public accountability in the umpiring realm, hours before the manager was to sit out Game No. 77. Farrell was suspended one game for making contact with crew chief Bill Miller on Saturday night as manager and umpire rained spittle on each other over a balk call that went against the Sox.

Well, was it a balk or not? Did Miller do anything wrong as well?

“I don’t know if there was anything levied on the other side,” Farrell said. “I don’t know that.”

But would he like such matters to always be public?

“I think there have been strides made in that way,” Farrell said. “I guess I would. I think everyone in uniform would prefer that to be made public. Whether or not that happens, I don’t know, but that would be a choice I would make.”

The league has a thorough internal review system. But it is just that: internal. Most of the time, any way.

On most every night at Fenway Park, there is someone on hand watching just the umpires and reviewing them.

MLB, to its credit, has announced suspensions for umpires in the past. The league has made public acknowledgments when calls have been made incorrectly. More of that seems viable — even if it’s an announcement to reaffirm that the call was made and handled properly, and here are the reasons why.

“I haven’t received any further determination or review of what transpired,” Farrell said. “My position, my stance, remains steadfast. I still firmly believe that time was called [before the balk call was made]. I wasn’t arguing the balk. I was arguing the timing of it. As I reiterated today to those that I spoke with, I still stand by my side of the argument. Unfortunately, there was contact made.”

Sox Don't Need Sonny Gray, And They Know It

Evan Drellich

BOSTON — Sonny Gray is not what the Red Sox need.

As of Monday, the power rankings of their trade targets should go as such: 1. Third baseman 2. Reliever 3. Back-end starter.

When he was addressing the addition of Doug Fister three days ago, Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski noted that a premier starter is not what he lacks.

“Unlike maybe some other clubs, I don't believe that we need to add a top-of-the-rotation-type starter,” Dombrowski said. “We have [Chris] Sale. I think David Price continues to make strides to come back. His stuff is good he's just got to get back. [Drew] Pomeranz has thrown well for us. [Eduardo] Rodriguez has thrown well. We know Rick Porcello is a good pitcher.

“So we're not, maybe other clubs are looking for that No. 1, No. 2 type starter. That's not really important for us. I think it's more important to be in a position where we add depth for us, somebody that can help us win major league games if needed.”

Yahoo’s Jeff Passan on Monday reported that the Red Sox “have quietly sent some of their most respected evaluators to his last two starts. This could fall under standard due diligence, but one source familiar with their intentions said the Red Sox are keen for Gray – and when president Dave Dombrowski targets a player, the price for other teams jumps accordingly.”

Due diligence is indeed all the Red Sox are up to, a baseball source with knowledge of the team’s thinking told CSNNE.com on Monday.

The Red Sox’ trade chips are limited, if they don’t want to drastically diminish their farm system. Gray is very close with David Price, but Gray's 4.45 ERA isn’t inspiring. He has a 3.60 FIP — fielding independent pitching — and has great talent. But again, he doesn’t play the hot corner.

Offense on a whole is a greater need. The Sox entered Monday with the third lowest slugging percentage in the AL. Hanley Ramirez is now battling some left knee pain as well as his shoulder issue, after he took a pitch off the knee Sunday.

It’s warmed up, but the Sox power bats have not also warmed up.

“I wouldn’t hinge this all on just temperature,” manager John Farrell said Monday. “And I don’t know that we use that as an excuse prior. . . Over the last three or four weeks, it’s kind of stagnated a little bit. I think the biggest thing for us as a group is to still maintain a consistent approach at the plate. When we think about getting too much muscle in a swing, eventually the strike zone expands, you don’t get the pitch that you’re looking for. We can’t afford to maybe go away from that approach for the sake of maybe trying to drive the ball with greater consistency.”

Tzu-Wei Lin was starting for the Sox on Monday, yet another in the third-base carousel. Jhonny Peralta and Pablo Sandoval (rehab assignment) are going to alternate time at third base starting Tuesday with Triple-A Pawtucket.

That’s where they need help.

The bullpen can’t be overlooked either. Carson Smith started a throwing program again Monday, but it’s unclear when he’ll be able to return, or at what effectiveness.

* Associated Press

Young, Vazquez homer for Red Sox in 9-2 win over Twins

BOSTON -- Drew Pomeranz wasn't expecting one rain delay, let alone two. But he got through both just fine.

Pomeranz pitched five solid innings, Chris Young hit a three-run homer and the Boston Red Sox moved into first place in the AL East with a 9-2 victory against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night.

"It was kind of crazy. I didn't even realize it was supposed to rain at all tonight," Pomeranz said.

Pomeranz (7-4) had to sit through nearly an hour delay before the game started, then a 76-minute delay between the second and third as a thunderstorm slowly passed over Fenway Park. Despite the interruption, the left-hander held the Twins to an unearned run and four hits, struck out seven and walked none.

Christian Vazquez homered for the first time in more than a year, helping the Red Sox win consecutive games for the first time in nearly two weeks. Dustin Pedroia had three hits and scored twice.

Bench coach Gary DiSarcina managed the Red Sox with John Farrell serving a one-game suspension handed down by Major League Baseball.

"It's a lot of fun. It's a lot of adrenaline. I can see and appreciate the trials and the tribulations and the struggles John goes through daily and nightly," DiSarcina said. "I don't think I'm going to appreciate it until the season's over and I'm looking back at having a day like this."

The Red Sox capitalized on three errors by the Twins and moved a a game ahead of the , who lost 4-3 to the White Sox on Tuesday.

"Long night," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "I've seen some really good games here and I've seen some ugly ones, and that would fall in the latter category for sure."

Hector Santiago (4-7) returned for the Twins after a stint on the 10-day disabled list with a strained left shoulder. He allowed two runs and one hit in two innings.

"I feel really good right now. Obviously it's only two innings," Santiago said. "I feel like I had some really good velocity, really good acceleration on the off-speed (pitches)."

The only hit Santiago allowed was Vazquez's two-run homer in the second. The Red Sox led 6-1 when Young blew it open with a drive off one of the signs above the Green Monster in left.

"We just didn't do a lot of damage control after we got back out and start playing again," Molitor said.

Minnesota didn't score until the fifth when Jorge Polanco drew a one-out walk and Eddie Rosario and Byron Buxton followed with consecutive singles off Pomeranz, who was fading and faced six batters in the inning.

Eduardo Escobar added a solo homer for Minnesota in the eighth.

Boston hadn't won consecutive games since beating Philadelphia three in a row from June 12-14.

VERSATILE VAZQUEZ

Vazquez hit his first home run since May 1, 2016. It was his third career homer and all three have come with one man on base.

Vazquez also stole a base after walking in the fourth and caught the entire game. Vazquez threw out Rosario when he attempted to steal third after leading off the third with a double off the wall in left.

"He's been great behind the plate all year. He's been hitting the ball all year," Pomeranz said. "It was good to see him get that home run tonight."

SUSPENSION

Farrell was suspended for poking umpire Bill Miller in the chest during an animated argument over the weekend.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Twins: Santiago was making his first start since June 6 at Seattle. The Twins placed him on the 10-day DL the next day. To make room on the roster for his return, recently acquired RHP Dillon Gee was sent down to Triple-A Rochester.

Red Sox: DH Hanley Ramirez sat out his second straight game with a bruised left knee from a pitch that hit him Sunday.

UP NEXT

Twins: Rookie LHP Adalberto Mejia (2-3, 4.93 ERA) pitches in Fenway Park on Wednesday night for the first time.

Red Sox: RHP Rick Porcello (4-9, 5.00 ERA), the 2016 AL winner, looks to win consecutive starts for the first time this season.

* The Minneapolis Star Tribune

Red Sox take off, crush Twins 9-2 after rain delays

Phil Miller

BOSTON – When the weather is bad, the Twins somehow get worse.

For the second time in six days, the Twins were forced to wait out a storm delay — two of them this time, actually — and when the game commenced, they played like they were all wet. Hector Santiago’s return to action was a steady drizzle of pitches off the plate, the bullpen gave up a monsoon of hits, and even the normally steady defense turned soggy. The result was a dispiriting 9-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox in a game that ended after midnight Wednesday.

Just like Thursday, when Nik Turley sat around all afternoon at Target Field while it rained and then put his team in a deep hole against the White Sox, the pitching gave the Twins little chance once the skies cleared. An astonishing 17 of the first 31 Red Sox batters reached base, two of them via error but two of them via long and loud home runs, and Boston scored in five consecutive innings to encourage 90 percent of a sellout crowd of 36,804 to leave Fenway Park early.

“We haven’t had a lot of games where our defense has let us down to a degree that had a big influence on the outcome. [Tuesday] was a little bit different,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “We gave [the Red Sox] extra outs, and these guys capitalized.”

Did they ever. Byron Buxton scooped up a ball off the wet grass and sailed a throw home high over catcher Jason Castro’s head, enabling a run to score. Brian Dozier kicked a double-play grounder into short left field, another run-scoring error. Eduardo Escobar missed a grounder to third and that, too, resulted in an extra Boston run. The Twins’ pitching wasn’t very good — 10 hits and seven walks are probably enough to lose most games even if the defense is sparkling — but five unearned runs meant the Twins had no chance.

“I’ve seen some really good games here and I’ve seen some ugly ones,” Molitor said. “[Tuesday’s game] would fall in the latter category for sure.”

Santiago had waited three weeks to pitch in the majors again, after feeling discomfort in his pitching shoulder in his last start on June 6, so standing by for an extra 50 minutes as a pregame storm cell passed by wouldn’t figure to make much difference. But when he finally reached the mound, he had plenty of trouble finding the plate. He needed 49 pitches to record only six outs, and one of those pitches, a 2-2 sinker to Boston catcher Christian Vazquez, landed more than 400 feet from home plate, high up in the monster seats in left-center.

“It’s crazy when you go 20 days without being in a big league game, how that [strike] zone feels like it’s closing in on you,” Santiago said. “But I feel like I had some good velocity, some good separation between the fastball and breaking balls. I just wish it could have gone on longer.”

That wasn’t going to happen, because once Santiago got the third out in the second inning, the grounds crew put the tarp back on the field. Five minutes later, the thunder and lightning returned, and the game was delayed again by 76 minutes. Santiago didn’t return once the game resumed, but Boston starter Drew Pomeranz did, and he quickly became the beneficiary of a lackluster performance by the Twins.

Actually, the first batter upon resuming was Eddie Rosario, who doubled off the wall. But as if to trigger all the mistakes to come, Rosario suddenly took off for third base two pitches later. He was out by several feet, and the Twins never brought the tying run to the plate again.

“I don’t know what he saw,” Molitor said. “I don’t know what he saw.”