The Saturday, May 8, 2021

* The Boston Globe

Bobby Dalbec finally has his day, blasting three- homer to push Sox past Orioles

Julian McWilliams

BALTIMORE — endured an 0-for-27 skid.

One that included 11 . His last hit? April 27 vs. the Mets.

In the face of his struggles, his manager, , unwaveringly made the decision to stick by his rookie infielder, understanding that it only takes one to get Dalbec going. All Dalbec needed, Cora said, was a breaking ball he could pull. In the top of the third inning, Dalbec shattered his funk, finding that one hit up the middle off Orioles starter Matt Harvey. The Red Sox wouldn’t score that inning, but in the fourth inning with two outs the club blitzed Harvey for four runs.

The Sox finally brought across their first run on a RBI single. elicited a walk, bringing Dalbec to the plate.

And an 0-2 Harvey offering, Dalbec finally got his hanging breaking pitch, obliterating a Harvey curveball into the misty dark sky in left field. It solidified a Sox 6-2 win at Camden Yards.

“You got to be patient with the player,” Cora said. “One of the things that I told you guys a week ago, if we don’t feel these guys can do the job, then we made a bad choice in .”

Eduardo Rodriguez gave the Sox five solid innings. They were five tough innings for the lefthander, however, who yielded seven hits and 14 foul balls. The Orioles worked Rodriguez’s pitch count up to 91. Rodriguez yielded his only run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. Cedric Mullins doubled followed by an RBI single by Trey Mancini. Rodriguez is now 11-5 with a 3.28 ERA in his career vs. Orioles. He is 7-2, with a 2.76 ERA at Camden Yards. In nine straight games he’s pitched against the Orioles, the Red Sox have won.

Hirokazu Sawamura came into the game in place of Rodriguez in the sixth inning and immediately allowed a solo shot to Ryan Mountcastle that shrunk the Red Sox lead to 4-2.

Heading into the evening, the Red Sox have played .500 ball since their nine-game winning streak was snapped by the Twins last month. Cora said on numerous occasions that his team has to play better, while still acknowledging the success that his team has had in the midst of their inconsistent play over the last 20 games.

“At the end of the day, before this game we had the best record in ,” Cora said. “Not too many people thought we were going to be able to do that before the season.”

Yet Cora also acknowledged the improvement in the Orioles, an organization that has seen its struggles as of recent.

“I believe that they will be competitive this year. And they’re getting to the point that they’re going to be in the conversation of one of those teams in the division.”

Garrett Whitlock worked two scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth. Meanwhile, the Sox’ offense added some much needed insurance behind a Christian Vázquez RBI single in the eighth that scored and an RBI double by Marwin Gonzalez in the ninth that scored Dalbec.

The Sox collected just seven hits to the Orioles’ 11. Yet the time in which the Red Sox gathered their seven, most notably Dalbec’s blast, was the difference in this one.

“It all comes down to timing, seeing the ball. And it’s usually not a swing thing. I’ve never taken a bad swing when I saw the ball well, and I was on time. So I think you know, that learning curve, it’s huge,” Dalbec said.

Kiké Hernández placed on

Julian McWilliams

BALTIMORE — The Red Sox placed Kiké Hernández on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain, the team announced Friday evening prior to their opening series matchup against the Orioles. was activated. Hernández tweaked his hamstring Thursday on a double vs. the Tigers.

Both catcher Jett Bandy and Chavis made the trip to Baltimore as members of the team’s taxi squad. Manager Alex Cora said before the game that if they did decide to put Hernández on the IL, that Chavis would likely be the one to fill his role. Chavis began the season in Triple A Worcester

“He’s versatile,” Cora said. “He can play first, second, third. We can put him in left. He’s a right-handed bat.”

Hernández has provided solid defense for the Red Sox, with the majority of his time coming in center field. Nonetheless, he has struggled with the bat at the leadoff spot, hitting .239 with just a .298 on-base percentage.

Alex Verdugo has found his place in Boston.

In reality, that might not be that much of a feat for the fiery, passionate and personality-filled outfielder. Even in a pandemic-plagued 2020 season which ended in a last place American League East finish, you heard Verdugo’s voice echo throughout a stadium of none. He had the numbers to back up his talk in the Sox’ 60-game shortened season, finishing the year slashing .308/.367/.478 with an .844 OPS and six homers. But not the fans to appreciate what he brought to the table.

Now, with the Red Sox increasing their audience up to 25 percent capacity as of May 10, more eyes will be on him, something that excites the outfielder.

“I love it,” said Verdugo, noting that the team began the season with roughly 4,500 fans. “We’ve had some times where it gets pretty noisy. Obviously just to see double that and just see some more fans filling [the stands] is going to be huge.”

Verdugo hasn’t let up with the bat this season. Heading into the Red Sox’ series against the Orioles, the outfielder slashed .315/.377/.509 with four homers and an .886 OPS from the two-hole. Verdugo, who loves to talk hitting, intimated that this is a club that feeds off each other’s information when it comes to that aspect of the game.

While J.D. Martinez has established himself as a hitting nerd, scouring video and constantly making mechanical adjustments/tweaks, Verdugo, in his own right, is one, too.

“I’m more of an approach guy,” Verdugo said. “If I’m following my approach, and following what I want to do, my game plan at the plate, then the results happen and my swing follows suit.”

Verdugo relies on feel, too. If he feels his shoulder flying open, he’ll tap his shoulder. If his hips open quickly, he’ll tap there also. If he’s lunging over the plate, he’ll push his chest back. For Verdugo, it’s a reminder of what he needs to do to be successful.

“Every swing I take, I kind of see where it is,” Verdugo said. “See how I felt against it. See, where my body landed? And then if it’s like, I didn’t like that, [I try] to fix that.”

Verdugo has slowly become a fan favorite, known for not only his unfiltered honesty, but also his high IQ on the baseball diamond, particularly when he stands in the box.

“I love to play baseball, Verdugo said. “I come every day to win. I come to compete and my emotions are sometimes raw but they’re real, and I think Boston fans appreciate it. I think they like the way I play and the passion that I bring.”

Brandon Workman’s back

The Red Sox signed reliever to a minor league deal Thursday and assigned him to Triple A Worcester. Workman was one of the best closers in baseball during the 2019 season as a member of the Red Sox, owning a 1.88 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 71 ⅔ innings pitched. Yet in 2020, he fell off a cliff, registering a 4.05 ERA in 6 ⅔ innings with the club. He was traded to the Phillies along with reliever in exchange for and pitching prospect . Workman’s struggles continued. He registered a 6.92 ERA in 13 innings with the Phillies, and then followed that up with a 6.75 ERA in eight innings with the Cubs before he was released in late April. Workman has a devastating curveball when he’s at his best. In 2019, hitters hit just .128 on that pitch. But much of the success on his curve according to Cora, has a lot to do with his four-seam fastball velocity. Over the last two years he’s seen a slight dip in his average four-seam velo, going from 92.9 m.p.h. in 2019 to 91.5 this season. “When his velocity is a tick up, it helps everything else,” Cora said. “With him velocity is very important because the shape of the breaking ball and the spin is usually the same. It’s still a good breaking ball. But if he doesn’t have something else to separate it he becomes a one-pitch .” The Sox feel as if they can help Workman regain some of his old form and want him to contribute at some point this season. “There’s a comfort level [with the Red Sox],” Cora said. “And hopefully we can help him regain that confidence. And like I said, hopefully he can become a factor” . . . (hand contusion) is still receiving treatment and is available to pinch run and play defense. The hope is that he can start Sunday.

Baseball insiders know is a ‘force.’ They’re just waiting for the rest of the world to notice

Alex Speier

Two moments in the 1,000th game of Xander Bogaerts’s career illuminated the shortstop’s enormous significance to the Red Sox.

In the bottom of the fourth inning of a 12-9 win over the Tigers on Thursday, Bogaerts fell behind in the count, 0 and 2, against lefthanded reliever Tyler Alexander. Alexander opted for a cutter, which Bogaerts crushed off his left shin, crumpling to the ground.

“I hit it square on the barrel,” said Bogaerts. “[But] I knew I wasn’t going to come out.”

He never does. Bogaerts, after all, played 148 games in 2017 despite the fact that he couldn’t hold the bat with two hands for roughly five out of six months that season.

“He doesn’t take days off,” said Christian Vázquez.

Bogaerts plays every day and he plays hurt. He ranks 11th in the majors in games since his big league debut, and most of the players ahead of him are first basemen. Only one other player (Brandon Crawford) has been as durable as Bogaerts in the middle infield.

Bogaerts is driven to play hurt because he believes he can contribute. Such was the case on Alexander’s next pitch, when Bogaerts showcased another of his distinguishing abilities, staying on a changeup just off the ground and flicking a run-scoring single to shallow center.

Those incredible hands offered Bogaerts a chance of survival at the start of his career, when he was overmatched by big league and uncertain of his future. He spent half of the 2014 season overwhelmed, hitting .143 with a .395 OPS in a 60-game stretch while hearing mounting calls for his demotion.

“I definitely had a bumpy road,” he recalled. “I remember getting booed in 2014 and I was so young. I was like, ‘What the hell are these people booing me for? I’m just 21.’ ”

Bogaerts silenced the boos by adapting, learning to use elite hand-eye coordination to throw the bat on the ball and use the entire field. In 2015, those skills translated to a .320 average and his first Silver Slugger Award.

Yet while he hit for average from 2015-17, Bogaerts was largely overshadowed — whether by peers at shortstop (Carlos Correa, Francisco Lindor) or more prominent teammates (, J.D. Martinez, and , among others). Yet he had not plateaued.

Bogaerts, with encouragement from new manager Alex Cora, emerged as a power-hitting force in 2018, a middle-of-the-order presence whose .539 slugging percentage ranks second among shortstops over the last four years. He has steadily ranked among the most valuable players in the game, including a 2021 campaign in which he’s hitting .356/.402/.593.

Baseball insiders understand his value. Yet his national reputation has not equaled his production.

“He’s just a steady force,” said Tigers manager A.J. Hinch. “He’s grown to be one of the more underappreciated shortstops certainly in the American League … Maybe it’s because he’s hitting behind a J.D. Martinez type. He’s just kind of in the shadows. He can sneak up on you as a very, very good player in the league.

“It’s substance over style … He’s just very comfortable with who he is. He doesn’t try to really do too much, doesn’t try to sit in the spotlight. He just shows up and does his job, gets a couple hits, makes all the plays, does it with a smile on his face. He’s a really remarkable player.”

Within the Red Sox, there is no question about Bogaerts’s stature. He is beloved, and the respect he’s earned has cultivated a commanding presence that was also on display on Thursday.

In the sixth inning, with the Red Sox trailing, 7-6, Bogaerts coaxed a walk to load the bases. As Bogaerts headed to first, he turned to on-deck hitter Rafael Devers.

“Come on!” Bogaerts appeared to shout, exhorting his teammate. Devers hit a first-pitch, two-run single to put the Red Sox back on top.

That moment, too, spoke to his evolution. When Bogaerts arrived in the big leagues as a 20-year-old in 2013, four years after signing with the team out of Aruba, he was cautious and quiet on a veteran-laden team that won the . Now, he is the veteran possessor of two rings, and the message delivered to Devers offered a small window into the leadership role Bogaerts has assumed at age 28.

“He learned right away what it’s all about to play in this market, this city, this stadium, for this franchise. He doesn’t take a day for granted,” said Cora. “He’s not as vocal or loud as Dustin [Pedroia] … but he’s always ready. He’s always prepared. He has helped me also off the field.”

To illustrate, Cora jokingly cited an example from Wednesday, when his 3-year-old twin sons — Xander and Isander — refused to eat breakfast.

“They love Xander Bogaerts,” said Cora. “So I called Xander and said, ‘Tell them what they have to do.’ He said, ‘Hey, you guys have to eat.’ They crushed breakfast. It was amazing.”

Yet the joke was meant to reinforce the broader point: Bogaerts has been a franchise cornerstone for 1,000 games across nine seasons. He’s in a select club — one of 30 Red Sox to play 1,000 games with the franchise, and one of nine to do so before turning 29 — whose exclusivity signals the shortstop’s importance.

“I’ve really learned to appreciate him,” said Cora. “We’ve got a lot of kids out there that we love — Carlos and Francisco, Javy [Báez]. But I’m happy that my shortstop is Xander Bogaerts. Hopefully he can play here for a long, long time.”

He already has played in Boston for a long, long time — with Thursday’s milestone allowing Bogaerts a chance to step back and appreciate all that has happened and all that he has become within the only organization he’s ever known.

“To play 1,000 games in an organization you have to be productive and be a guy that pretty much they can rely on,” said Bogaerts. “I’m happy to be the player that I’ve become.”

Former Red Sox manager is running for mayor of Stamford, Conn.

Andrew Mahoney

How does Mayor Bobby Valentine sound?

The former Red Sox manager announced on YouTube he is running to be the mayor for Stamford, Conn.

The three-minute video opens with Valentine outdoors, smiling while petting a pair of collies, then cuts to clips of aerial views of Stamford as Valentine does a voice-over.

“It’s been great to see Stamford grow the way it has grown over the years, and I want to lead us into that new world that Stamford will be in the future,” said Valentine.

The next two minutes and 15 seconds are testimonials from people endorsing Valentine.

“He’s easy to talk to you,” said Luis Velazquez. “You never think somebody with that kind of status would talk to you like a normal person in the street.”

Valentine appears in the final 30 seconds of the video to make his pitch.

“I’m Bobby Valentine, and I’m running to be mayor of our city, Stamford, Connecticut,” Valentine states. “The greatest commodity I have is my time, and I want to give my time and my energy and my wherewithal back to the city that has given me so much over my lifetime. We’re in it together.”

The video ends with a link to his campaign website. Not mentioned in the video or on the website is his one-year stint with the Red Sox in 2012. He was fired after the team went 69-93.

“I shouldn’t have taken that job to begin with,” Valentine, 70, told the Globe’s Stan Grossfeld last month. “I should have stayed at ESPN, where I was making $2.5 million and didn’t have a care in the world, instead of working my ass off and not being appreciated for seven months of my life.”

In 2013, Valentine was named director of athletics for Sacred Heart in Bridgeport, Conn., a position he still holds.

Has there ever been a more important Boston sports figure with a more anonymous profile than Ernie Adams?

Dan Shaughnessy

Picked-up pieces while anticipating a long Bruins playoff run and a quick exit for the Celtics . . .

Sixty-eight-year-old Ernie Adams retired this past week after serving as Bill Belichick’s “football research director” for 21 seasons and nine Super Bowl appearances.

Has there ever been a more important Boston sports figure with a more anonymous profile than Ernie Adams? In the words of the late, great David Halberstam, Adams was “Belichick’s Belichick.” Adams was Belichick’s sounding board, confidant, and consigliere. He was The Man To See and The Decider. Adams was Belichick’s Dick Cheney, trusted, invisible, and happy to be in a position of power without ever having to explain himself. He was the J.D. Salinger, New England football’s Garbo in khaki pants, a mystery wrapped inside an enigma. When Ernie worked for Belichick in Cleveland in the 1990s, Browns owner Art Modell famously said, “I’ll pay anyone $10,000 if they can tell me what Ernie Adams does.”

Nobody stepped forward to collect the Ernie bounty.

I did a deep dive on Adams before Super Bowl XLIX in Arizona in February 2015 (that’s the one when Ernie worked on the “Go Malcolm” goal-line call in the hotel ballroom walkthrough the day before the game). It was at the height of the Deflategate nonsense and the “dominant” Patriots had not won a Super Bowl in 10 years. Adams did not agree to be interviewed (still won’t, and can’t say that’s a bad call by him), but I interviewed more than a dozen football folks who had seen Adams climb through the Patriot organization — starting in 1975 — to his position as Bill’s silent, aide-de-camp.

No one was able to explain what Ernie Adams did. We knew there was a dedicated “Ernie” phone on the Patriots sideline. We knew Adams was in Bill’s ear the entire game (”What have we got, Ernie?”) telling Belichick whether or not to throw a challenge flag. We knew Adams ran downstairs to make recommendations at halftime and that the Patriots had an amazing history of great third-quarter play.

I called Bill Parcells, a Pro Football Hall of Famer who restored the Patriots to respectability in the mid- 1990s, to ask about Ernie Adams.

“I can’t really tell you anything about him," said Parcells. “I just don’t know the guy."

Swell. But Bill, I postured, the Giants press guide says that Ernie Adams was your “director of pro personnel” when you were head coach of the team in 1983 and 1984.

“He was?” Parcells asked, incredulously. “I don’t remember that. I don’t remember him being on my staff. If he was on my coaching staff, I don’t remember what he was doing. And I . . . have a pretty good memory. And I didn’t have any interaction with him.”

Perfect. Only Ernie Adams could be “director of pro personnel” for a Hall of Fame NFL coach and inspire no recollection decades later. It was ever the Ernie Way.

Adams was with Parcells in the 1980s because Belichick was with the Giants in those years, winning his first two Super Bowl rings under the Tuna.

Belichick and Adams go way back — all the way to prep school. Bill and Ernie played offensive line at Phillips Andover in the 1970s and forged a football bond that was not broken until this week when Adams voluntarily stepped down from his ambiguous but important position with the Patriots.

Adams was an NFL’s Rain Man, a grid savant who dazzled Chuck Fairbanks’s staff in the 1970s, memorizing playbooks in a single day when he worked in the bowels of old Schaefer Stadium. In 1979, at the age of 26, he was Phil Simms’s quarterback coach with the Giants. Adams left football in the late 1980s to make a bundle on Wall Street for a few years, but came back to the NFL when Belichick was hired as head coach of the Browns in 1991. For the next 30 years, he was Belichick’s Belichick.

Last Saturday, in a surprise move, Belichick took a moment to cite Ernie’s contributions and announce that it would be Adams’s final draft with the team. Belichick said he wanted to “thank Ernie for all he’s done and recognize all that he’s done.”

Three days later, the Patriots announced that Adams was officially retired, effective immediately.

There was never anyone like him. There will never be anyone like him. Adams was the power behind the throne. He was legit. A football force. His retirement is the end of an era. Belichick and the Patriots are going to miss him.

▪ The Red Sox’ cost-cutting plan came back to bite them last weekend in Texas. Brock Holt beat Boston with a two-run single Sunday. Holt was let go after 2019 because the Sox wanted cheaper options for a Swiss Army knife reserve player. On the same day Holt beat the Sox, had two more hits, giving him five hits and two homers over two days for the first-place Royals. Meanwhile, Franchy Cordero, the “cheaper” alternative the Sox acquired for Benintendi, made the final out in Texas on his way to a hitless streak of 0 for 25.

▪ All those who believe should have been credited with a no-hitter for his seven inning “complete game” against the Braves, consider this: According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Nolan Ryan on 23 occasions pitched seven hitless innings. Elias counted 497 instances of a starter pitching seven-plus innings of no-hit ball between 1961-2021.

▪ Headline last week in the New York Daily News: “Hold on to your trash cans, Astros are comin’ to town.” This was followed by “WELCOME CHEATERS!” one day later, while the New York Post settled on, “TAKE OUT THE TRASH!” A Globe commenter submitted, “Bang The Trash Can Slowly.” Just too easy.

▪ Quiz: Whitey Ford faced 18 batters at least 100 times. Only one batted over .300 against Ford, hitting .339 off the Chairman of the Board. Name him (answer below).

▪ Oscar Robertson compiled 181 triple-doubles while playing in an era that made no note of the distinction. The Big O averaged a triple-double in his second NBA season. Wizards guard Russell Westbrook averaged a triple-double with the Thunder in 2016-17, 2017-18, and 2018-19, and goes into the final week of this season with a chance to pass Robertson’s career total. Westbrook had 180 triple-doubles going into the final week of regular-season play.

▪ Folks from Our Lady of the Valley Regional School in Uxbridge on Thursday broke ground on the Grace Rett Athletic Complex. Rett, a Holy Cross rower, was killed in a Florida traffic crash en route to a training session with her teammates in 2020. The project posthumously fulfills Rett’s longtime dream for her elementary and middle school to have its own indoor athletic space.

▪ The New York Times this past week reported that 78,000 unvaccinated volunteers are scheduled to work the Olympic Games in Tokyo in July. “Unless they qualify for vaccination through Japan’s slow age-based rollout, they will not be inoculated against the coronavirus,” the Times reported. “For protection, volunteers are being offered little more than a couple of cloth masks, a bottle of sanitizer, and mantras about social distancing.”

▪ On his way to his fourth MVP award, Mike Trout hit .413 in his first 23 games. So why is it that I feel like he rarely does anything against the Red Sox? Just my imagination? Sort of. It turns out Trout is a lifetime .304 hitter against Boston with 9 home runs, 28 RBIs, and 8 stolen bases in 49 games. The Angels make their only trip to Fenway next weekend.

▪ Mac Jones and Christian Barmore are the 11th and 12th Nick Saban players drafted by Belichick.

▪ Pass Go! and collect $200 if you knew that Barry Bonds hit three of his 73 homers against in 2001.

▪ Mets franchise shortstop Francisco Lindor ($341 million) had a horrible April and got booed by hometown fans, so the Mets fired hitting coaches Chili Davis and Tom Slater. Veteran eyeballs were replaced by analytics. Weak.

▪ The late, great Stan Musial would be happy to know he is not forgotten. In a random note about baseball symmetry last week, I failed to mention that Stan the Man had exactly 1,815 hits at home and 1,815 on the road. No less than 20 readers reached out to give Musial his due. The number is engraved in the minds of seamheads.

▪ Stan Kasten, one of the Dodgers’ owners, is a superstitious guy. When the Dodgers led the Rays, 3-2, in last year’s World Series, Kasten went to the potential clinching game with one of his sons and visited the restroom at Globe Life Field while the Dodgers trailed in the bottom of the sixth. “We scored and took the lead while I was in there, so I couldn’t leave the [expletive] bathroom," acknowledged Kasten. “I ended up watching us win the World Series on a concourse monitor in front of the bathroom."

▪ Willie Mays, the “Say Hey Kid,” turned 90 Thursday. Go to ESPN.com and read Tim Kurkjian’s Cooperstown-worthy piece on Mays. Kurkjian has first-hand accounts from Mays, , Ken Griffey Jr., Pete Rose, Juan Marichal, and just about everyone else who matters. A must-read.

▪ There’s a real possibility that the Celtics’ regular-season finale against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden could have important playoff implications regarding seeding and the “play-in” round, which will take place May 18-21.

▪ Folks at NBC Sports Boston need to stop blaming referees when the Celtics lose. They’re making NESN look like “60 Minutes."

▪ Former Globe sports scribe Peter May has a book coming out this coming week examining one of golf’s hot-button issues: Did Ben Hogan win five US Opens? Set against the backdrop of the wartime home front, the tome explores the 1942 Hale America National Open, which Hogan won, and the controversy attached to the USGA decision not to count it as an official US Open. Hogan went to his grave believing he’d won five.

▪ Quiz answer: Al Kaline. Kaline (April 6) and Ford (Oct. 8) both died in 2020.

* The Boston Herald

Bobby Dalbec leads Red Sox to victory after ’s slump-busting pep talk

Jason Mastrodonato

Deep in an 0-for-27 slump, and with the organization facing the question of whether or not he’d be better off in the minor leagues, Bobby Dalbec wasn’t sure if he’d ever get a hit again.

To help him out, Red Sox manager Alex Cora reminded him of a certain recently-retired player who had gone through a similar extended slump early in his career.

Cora dialed up Dustin Pedroia.

“You just got to talk about it,” Dalbec said after snapping out of his slump with a three-hit game in the Red Sox’ 6-2 win over the Orioles on Friday. “If you keep it internalized the whole time, it’s going to eat you up.”

What did Pedroia have to say?

“It’s part of, just got to grind through it,” Dalbec said. “It’s never as bad as it seems and it’s never as good as it seems, too, so that’s the whole ride-the-wave thing. Just got to be the same guy.

“He’s awesome. He’s awesome.”

Dalbec had been swinging it so poorly that he’d been lifted for a pinch-hitter with the game on the line Thursday, and it was in the team’s best interest as Christian Vazquez came through with a game-tying RBI single.

Entering Friday, Dalbec ranked near the bottom of every statistical category for qualified big leaguers.

Then he singled in his first at-bat to break an 0-for-27 skid that felt like a weight lifted off his shoulders.

“I would say the last couple days I didn’t really have that pressure. I kind of just tried to have fun and just see the ball,” he said.

In his second at-bat, Dalbec got a hanging piece of fruit from Matt Harvey, who threw a curve that didn’t really curve, and the rookie slugger hammered it deep into the left-field bleachers for a three-run homer that turned out to be the game-winner.

“It’s always good when he hits the ball out of the ballpark,” Cora said. “But he put good at-bats. The walk at the end was a good one, too.

“We have to be patient. It’s not that easy. We’ve been seeing good pitching throughout, even in spring training. You’ve got to be patient with the player. One of the things I told you guys a week ago, if we don’t feel these guys can do the job then we made a bad choice in spring training. You’re going to go through ups and downs throughout the season. Hopefully (Dalbec’s) happened early in the season.”

Pedroia was a good man to call, considering what he went through as a rookie. Called up late in the 2006 season, the 22-year-old Pedroia hit .191 with a .561 OPS in an uninspiring 31-game debut.

The same thing happened the following year, when he was stuck in a slump to start the season. On May 1, 2007, he was hitting .172 without a .

If ever there was a time for a fan base to give up on a young prospect, that was it.

But over the final 118 games of the ’07 season, Pedroia hit .335 with 45 extra-base hits and won American League Rookie of the Year. He won the MVP the following season.

Ever since then, ask Pedroia about a teammate’s slump, or even a hot streak, and you’ll usually get some variation of the same answer: Baseball seasons are 162 games and it doesn’t matter what you do over 30 or even 60 games because at the end of the season, your numbers will be there.

To hear it straight from the horse’s mouth was important for Dalbec.

“I know what I can do,” he said. “So, it was just a matter of time.”

The distinction between Pedroia and Dalbec, though, is that Dalbec already had some major-league success. He sped out of the gate with eight homers in 23 games last year. And with his second homer of the season on Friday, he became one of the 12 fastest Red Sox players ever to reach 10 career home runs.

Having that success in his back pocket should theoretically help a young player during a slump. But Dalbec said it didn’t do much.

“I did that last year and then go through this and it feels like I’ve never swung a bat in my life,” he said. “My bat felt better left-handed a couple days ago, swinging left-handed. It happens to everyone. Not the first time, not the last time. I think I’ve said that before, too.”

There’s still a long way to go. With three hits Friday, Dalbec’s average is up to .191.

“Like I said about Franchy Cordero yesterday and today, it’s good to see them smile,” Cora said. “This is a tough sport and for them to see results, it’s a good feeling.

“Hopefully they can take off now.”

Red Sox Notebook: Alex Cora wants to see more velocity from Brandon Workman

Jason Mastrodonato

When Red Sox manager Alex Cora found out Brandon Workman was coming back to the organization on a minor league deal, he texted him to say thank you.

“For giving us a chance,” Cora said.

The last time Cora managed Workman, the right-hander was in the midst of a breakout season in which he was arguably the most dominant reliever in baseball. His 2019 stat line jumps off the page: 71 2/3 innings, 1.88 ERA, 104 strikeouts and one home run allowed.

In the parts of two seasons since: 27 2/3 innings, 6.18 ERA, 34 strikeouts and six homers allowed.

“Obviously, it didn’t go well in the second half last year and it didn’t go well with the Cubs,” Cora said. “There’s a few things that we recognize with our information department that hopefully he can regain and he can become a factor.”

Last August, the Red Sox traded Workman and Heath Hembree to the Phillies in a deal that now looks like a lopsided victory for Chaim Bloom. The Sox’ side of the return, Nick Pivetta and Connor Seabold, could be contributing in Boston for years.

Neither Hembree nor Workman pitched well in Philadelphia and both were unsuccessful in landing lucrative contracts this winter. Hembree signed with the Reds and Workman signed with the Cubs, though he was released and is now back on a minor league deal, reporting to Triple-A Worcester.

“We always talk about his velocity,” Cora said. “It was a topic in ’18, in ’19 spring training. When his velocity is a tick up, it helps everything else. … I think with him, velocity is very important because the shape of the breaking ball and the spin, it’s usually the same. It’s still a good breaking ball but if he doesn’t have something else to separate, he becomes a one-pitch pitcher and game-planning comes into play.”

Workman, 32, averaged 93 mph on his fastball in ‘19 but has averaged 91 to 92 mph since.

“Sometimes it’s mechanical, sometimes it’s just going out there and getting repetitions,” Cora said. Workman’s former coaches with the Red Sox “always said it: ‘Velocity needs to be at a certain level and if that happens, the other stuff is good.’ ”

The Sox don’t have a lot of relief depth in the high levels of the minors, so it’s not a longshot to think Workman will be pitching at at some point this year.

“We have to get him back and get him some confidence too,” Cora said.

Battling injuries

With Kiké Hernandez dealing with a hamstring injury, Christian Arroyo fighting off a hand injury and playing through a back injury, the Red Sox entered a four-game set with the Orioles with a beat- up roster.

Michael Chavis was on the taxi squad in Baltimore and was activated to the active roster just before Friday’s game. Hernandez was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain.

Arroyo was also held out of the lineup Friday, though Verdugo was slotted in the two-hole while Marwin Gonzalez was in the leadoff spot in Hernandez’s absence.

“Obviously we’re a little banged up with Christian, too,” Cora said. “Christian is feeling better, he got treatment today so we’ll talk and obviously make a decision to see where he’s at physically and obviously what we have to do.”

Arroyo is limited to only defense and baserunning, but the Sox hope he’ll be able to swing the bat as early as Sunday.

Chavis could be used all over the field while Hernandez is out.

“He’s versatile, he can play first, second, third, we can put him in left field,” Cora said. “A right-handed bat so if something happens most likely it will be Michael.”

Mix it up

Nathan Eovaldi might be getting too predictable.

After three strong starts to begin the year, he has a 6.65 ERA and .301 batting average against in his last four outings.

“When you throw 100 mph, sometimes you’re like, ‘You know what, I’m just going to reach back and let it eat,’ ” Cora said. “And with him, mixing up his pitches is what makes him that good. I think around the league also they understand he’s actually throwing more strikes than ever. So game planning wise, people will make adjustments, then we have to make adjustments.”

Red Sox manager Alex Cora: ‘Not too many people thought we’d have the best record in baseball’

Jason Mastrodonato

As ugly as the Red Sox have played over the last week while facing two of the worst teams in baseball, you wouldn’t know it by talking to them.

“For how bad we’ve played or for how we’ve been .500 since the nine-game winning streak, we still have the best record in baseball,” manager Alex Cora said of the team’s 19-13 record entering Friday.

Sloppy defense contributed to a total of 12 errors in three games with the Tigers this week. Starters and Eduardo Rodriguez have taken steps backwards. And the Sox still haven’t gotten much production from left field or first base.

“But we’ve got to take a look at the positives too,” Cora said. “I know people like to point out the negatives and all that, but at the end of the day, before this game, we have the best record in baseball and not too many people thought we were going to be able to do that before the season.

“So you tell the guys we’re in a good spot, but we still have to keep getting better. We still have to work and they’ve been doing a good job preparing for games and doing all that stuff. So we’ll just keep with the program and keep preaching that, and we will play cleaner baseball.”

No matter how bad they play, an explosive offense has allowed them to win games they have no business winning. They’re 10-4 when scoring first and 9-9 when the other team scores first.

Overall, the Sox lead the majors in runs (166), average (.267), OPS (.776) and doubles (72), among other categories.

“We have some guys that are seeing the ball really well right now and swinging extremely well,” said outfielder Alex Verdugo. “And it’s just key moments, working a key walk, then getting a little hit, now you’re at first and third. It’s just putting the guys in the right positions and having the right mindset in those at-bats.

“It’s easy to go up there and say, ‘aww, man, I’m going to try to hit a home run, I’m going try to get us the lead or tie the game,’ and you just miss it or pop it up. That doesn’t really help us.”

Verdugo has been as hot as anyone, having reached base safely in 24 straight games, the longest on-base streak in the majors this season. He’s hitting .351 in that span after starting the year 0-for-11 in his first three games.

He said he’s loved getting to know J.D. Martinez and watching the way he studies hitting, but Verdugo doesn’t consider himself a player who relies on mechanics the way Martinez does.

“I’m more of an approach guy,” he said. “If I’m following my approach and I’m following what I want to do and my game plan at the plate and if I’m following and sticking to it and truly sticking to it, then the results kind of happen. My swing kind of follows suit.”

Martinez entered Friday leading the majors in RBI (31), while he’s tied with Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuna Jr. for the lead in home runs (10).

“He’s one of those guys that the team has to circle, ‘hey, this guy can’t beat us,’” Verdguo said. “He’s just locked in.”

If the Sox could get anything from their corner outfield spots and first base, there’s no telling how good the offense would be.

Hunter Renfroe and Bobby Dalbec combined to go 0-for-9 with 14 runners left on base in the Sox’ 12-9 win over the Tigers on Thursday. They’re collectively two of the least productive everyday players in MLB this year.

Franchy Cordero has been just as bad, but unexpectedly came off the bench due to an injury to Kiké Hernandez and had his first three-hit game in a Red Sox uniform.

“I think Franchy is a great player,” Verdugo said. “He’s got a lot of pop, he’s got a lot of power, he’s a good defender and he can do a lot for us. So, just to see him kind of relax a little bit, I think having the day off and then kind of just being thrown in the game with an injury, I think it was kind of good for his mind. He didn’t have a lot of time to think or maybe prepare for that pitch or try to get a gameplan.

“Obviously the results haven’t been there but you know he’s been working very, very hard on his swing and in the cage so, I think, Franchy is going to be huge for us.”

* The Providence Journal

Bobby Dalbec breaks out as Red Sox beat Baltimore

Bill Koch

Bobby Dalbec spoke on the phone this week with a former Red Sox player who endured a 1-for-28 slump as a rookie.

The future four-time All-Star managed a lone hit in two weeks. He was batting .172 on May 2 and losing playing time to a veteran utility man who would become his manager 11 years later.

Dustin Pedroia told his fellow Arizona resident to keep grinding. It certainly turned out rather well for him. And Dalbec’s time to break out arrived Friday night at Camden Yards.

The first baseman snapped an 0-for-27 drought with a single to left and a three-run homer. Boston opened its four-game series against the Orioles with a solid 6-2 victory, and a player with seemingly endless power potential led the way.

“You’ve just got to talk about it,” Dalbec said. “If you just keep it internalized the whole time it’s going to eat you up.”

Pedroia soon found himself on a five-game hitting streak early in that first full season. He was in the midst of a 14-gamer just a month later on June 2, and his average was up to .333. The future Rookie of the Year in 2007 and Most Valuable Player in 2008 slowly relegated Alex Cora to his previous role as a strategically deployed backup.

“It’s good to see them smile,” Cora said. “This is such a tough sport. For them to see results, it’s a good feeling.”

Dalbec crushed eight home runs in just 92 plate appearances after making his debut last season. The next step in his career was to take over at first base as an everyday player, and that transition has been a bumpy one. Dalbec entered this matchup hunting for his first hit since April 27.

“It all comes down to timing and seeing the ball,” Dalbec said. “It’s usually not a swing thing. I’ve never taken a bad swing when I saw the ball well and I was on time.”

Dalbec jumped on a hanging breaking ball from Matt Harvey and opened up what was just a 1-0 lead. The Red Sox added single runs in each of their last two at-bats to give a second straight night off. Boston became the first team in the big leagues to reach 20 victories – it took them 21 fewer games than in a lost 2020 season.

“I know every time I go out there I’ve just got to keep the game like it is,” Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez said. “I know the lineup we have. I know they’re going to score some runs.”

The middle of the Red Sox order has done plenty of flexing to date, but the bottom half scuffled through the first month. Hunter Renfroe, Franchy Cordero and Dalbec were anchors instead of threats. Renfroe enjoyed a 6-for-12 stretch in last weekend’s series against the Rangers while Cordero snapped his own 0- for-25 drought with a three-hit game in Thursday’s victory over the Tigers.

“He’s an awesome dude,” Dalbec said. “He came up to me in Texas after one of the games and we talked for five or 10 minutes.

“It’s great to have teammates like that. Very fortunate to have teammates like that.”

Will this be the start of something for Dalbec? Boston seems content to give him an extended period to find himself. Their prolific bats elsewhere — Alex Verdugo, J.D. Martinez, Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers are all sizzling have the Red Sox topping the big leagues in a host of primary offensive categories.

“You’ve got to be patient with the player,” Cora said. “If we don’t feel these guys can do the job then we made a bad choice in spring training roster-wise.

“You’re going to go through ups and downs throughout the season. Hopefully theirs happened early in the season.”

RED SOX JOURNAL: Verdugo continues to be an on-base machine

Bill Koch

Alex Verdugo has made it a habit in 2021 to reach base safely.

The Red Sox outfielder entered Friday night's game against the Orioles riding a 24-game on-base streak, the longest of both his career and in the big leagues this season. Verdugo went 2-for-6 with a run scored and two RBI in Thursday’s marathon 12-9 victory over the Tigers at Fenway Park.

“If I’m following my approach and I’m following what I want to do and my game plan at the plate, if I’m following and truly sticking to it, the results kind of happen,” Verdugo said. “My swing kind of follows suit.”

Any base hit or walk in Friday’s series opener against the Orioles at Camden Yards would have put Verdugo in some nice company. J.D. Martinez (26 games in 2018) and Mookie Betts (25 games in 2019) are the last two Boston hitters to reach base safely in as many as 25 straight games. Those two lineup cornerstones helped power the Red Sox to their most recent championship three years ago.

“If you hit the ball on the barrel, you win,” Verdugo said. “You already win something. Whatever happens the rest of the way, I can’t control where the defense is positioned.”

Verdugo has generally batted second for the Red Sox through 32 games, just ahead of Martinez and Xander Bogaerts. He’s one of eight left-handed hitters in the big leagues with at least a .315 batting average and .850 OPS. Verdugo’s OPS spiked to .981 over this current run.

Verdugo’s all-out style tends to be well received in the Boston market historically, and more fans will have the opportunity to witness it next week. The Red Sox will jump to 25% capacity at Fenway Park beginning with their next homestand against the Athletics and Angels. Boston will push 10,000 fans in terms of total attendance beginning with Tuesday’s matchup against Oakland.

“I think Boston appreciates people who play hard and give it their all,” Verdugo said. “If you produce and the numbers are there, they’ll love you even more.”

Arm-weary bullpen

The Red Sox were hoping for a quality start from Eduardo Rodriguez on Friday. That means at least six innings.

Boston’s bullpen certainly could use a bit of rest. Austin Brice is the lone Red Sox reliever who didn’t pitch on Wednesday or Thursday against the Tigers. Matt Barnes has worked in half of the club’s 32 games while shut down Detroit in his 15th appearance Thursday.

“We’re a little bit thin bullpen-wise tonight,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We’ll see how it goes.”

Boston starters had finished six innings or more eight times entering the matchup with Baltimore. Rodriguez accounted for two of those outings, but he managed just five innings last time in a loss at Texas. Nathan Eovaldi covered only 4 1/3 innings in the finale against Detroit.

Trending in right direction

The Red Sox and Orioles entered Friday tied in ERA at 3.98.

Boston posted a franchise-worst at 5.58 in 2020. But the Red Sox have come in under 4.00 in four different seasons since 2007. Josh Beckett fronted a rotation that helped Boston post a 3.87 ERA and capture one of its four championships this century.

Baltimore has scuffled through five seasons with an ERA of 5.00 or higher since 2007. The Orioles have cracked the 4.00 mark only twice, including a 3.43 finish in 2014. Baltimore finished 96-66 that season and captured a surprising American League East crown.

“Their program is going to be good — especially the pitching side of it,” Cora said. “They have some good people running the organization who have an idea about pitching. It’s trending up.”

Cora is familiar with Mike Elias, the executive vice president and general manager with the Orioles since November 2018. Their tenures with the Astros overlapped in 2017 with Cora serving as bench coach and Elias working in the front office. Houston finished with less than a 4.00 ERA three times in a five-year span from 2015-19.

Hernandez on IL

The Red Sox placed Kiké Hernández on the 10-day injured list due to a right hamstring strain on Friday night, ahead of the game in Baltimore. The team recalled infielder/outfielder Michael Chavis from Triple-A Worcester.

Hernández was removed from Thursday game in the first inning. He is batting .239 (27-for-113) with four home runs, 10 RBI, and a .723 OPS in 30 games this season, making 21 starts in center field and six at second base

Making progress

Danny Santana (right foot) is off to a quick start on his rehab assignment at Class-A Greenville.

The Red Sox utility man homered and doubled as part of a three-hit game for the Drive on Thursday. Santana is 4-for-7 overall while seeing his first live-action of the season.

“It’s not only about the foot injury,” Cora said. “It’s about him missing last year. We have to make sure he builds up.”

Santana underwent minor surgery to clear a foot infection during spring training. His more extensive operation came last year, as Santana had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right elbow.

The Red Sox are hoping to eventually add the 30-year-old to the depth among their position players. He cracked 28 home runs and posted an .857 OPS with the Rangers in 2019. Santana was limited to just 15 games last season.

LINEUP JUGGLE: Injuries force Cora to adjust his batting order

Bill Koch

Red Sox manager Alex Cora’s rough draft of Friday’s lineup featured a pair of left-handed hitters at the top.

Alex Verdugo and Rafael Devers were placed ahead of J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts. Verdugo would have moved up from his usual second spot while Devers would have made a leap from his usual fifth spot.

“I sent a text message last night with a lineup like that,” Cora said. “This morning I started looking at other stuff and information. I don’t feel prepared to do that.”

Boston opened its four-game series against the Orioles at Camden Yards on Friday night without Kiké Hernandez (right hamstring), who was removed in the bottom of the first inning on Thursday against Detroit. Marwin Gonzalez jumped from the bottom half of the lineup to the top in the first game against Baltimore. The switch-hitter holds a career .321 on-base percentage batting left-handed and lined up against right-handed starter Matt Harvey.

“I told him just be Rickey Henderson today and hit a few home runs,” Cora said. “His on-base percentage against righties has been solid. The numbers are not there, but it’s kind of a long at-bat with him all the time. It’s a grind.”

On Thursday, Hernandez doubled off the Green Monster against the Tigers and took third base on an infield out. He signaled to the bench for a replacement and Franchy Cordero came on, starting what turned out to be a breakout three-hit performance. His RBI double and pair of singles helped the Red Sox to a 12-9 victory and a series win.

“I just like where Raffy is behind those two righties and having Alex in front of them,” Cora said. “So far it has worked.”

That heart of the lineup has fired the Red Sox to the top of the big leagues in several offensive categories. Boston entered Friday first in runs scored, batting average, OPS, doubles and extra-base hits. Martinez became the first Red Sox player since Mo Vaughn in 1995 to record at least 10 home runs and 30 RBI in his first 30 games.

“You have a guy who’s at the top of all the leaderboards right now in stats,” Verdugo said. “I feel like he’s one of those guys teams have to circle and say, ‘Hey, we can’t let this guy beat us.’ ”

Boston has been below standard elsewhere, and the offense as a whole is seeking some improvement around the edges. teams have posted a collective .341 on-base percentage out of the leadoff spot this season — it's just .298 for Hernandez. Cordero snapped an 0-for-25 slump in the bottom of the second on Thursday with his liner to the corner in right while Bobby Dalbec entered Friday in an 0-for- 27 slump.

Verdugo hit first in 33 of his 53 games during his Red Sox debut in 2020. He slashed .304/.362/.442 with 13 doubles and a pair of home runs. Verdugo reached base at a .403 clip while leading off in a given inning, doing so in 77 plate appearances.

Devers dominated out of the second spot while emerging as a star in 2019. He played in 71 games behind primary leadoff man Mookie Betts and posted a 1.032 OPS, including 36 doubles and 19 home runs. Devers finished with 32 home runs and 54 doubles while leading the big leagues in total bases.

Hernandez received treatment early Friday in Baltimore and was hoping to avoid a stint on the injured list. Christian Arroyo (left hand contusion) also made an early visit to the club’s medical staff and could be in line to make his next start on Sunday. Michael Chavis is on Boston’s taxi squad for this trip and would most likely be the player recalled from Triple-A Worcester if Hernandez or Arroyo are forced out of action.

“He’s versatile,” Cora said. “He can play first, second, third — we can put him in left field. He’s a right- handed bat.

“If something happens, most likely it will be Michael.”

* MassLive.com

Bobby Dalbec crushes 3-run homer, leads Boston Red Sox over Orioles as he ends his 0-for-27 slump

Christopher Smith

BALTIMORE — Bobby Dalbec ended an 0-for-27 slump with a single in the third inning Friday.

The slugger then crushed a 399-foot, 107.9-mph three-run homer into the left field seats in the fourth inning.

The Red Sox won 6-2 over the here at Camden Yards.

Boston (20-13) scored its first five runs with two outs. Hunter Renfroe’s RBI single put the Red Sox ahead 1-0. Franchy Cordero then walked before Dalbec’s blast, which made it 4-0.

Christian Vázquez’s RBI double with two outs in the eighth put Boston ahead 5-2.

Dalbec entered 11-for-32 (.344) with a homer, triple and two doubles against left-handed pitchers. But the right-handed hitter was only 4-for-54 (.074) with two doubles against right-handed pitchers.

Both the single and homer came against right-handed starter Matt Harvey.

Marwin Gonzalez’s RBI double in the ninth made it 6-2.

Rodriguez goes 5 innings

Eduardo Rodriguez went 5 innings. Manager Alex Cora preferred 6 innings.

Cora said before the game, “This is one of those games where we always take care of him but it would be important for us to get at least a quality start, for him to go six (innings) and give us a chance to win. We’re a little bit thin bullpen-wise tonight.”

Rodriguez threw 91 pitches (61 strikes). He allowed just one run. But he gave up seven hits and three walks while striking out only two.

He threw 28 changeups, 23 cutters, 19 four-seam fastballs, 15 sliders and six sinkers. His four-seamer averaged 91.6 mph and topped out at 92.8 mph, per Baseball Savant.

Whitlock records hold

Garrett Whitlock pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth inning to earn his fifth hold. He allowed no runs and three hits.

Saturday’s matchup

Righty (1-2, 4.40) will stat for the Red Sox on Saturday. The Orioles have not yet named their starter.

Boston Red Sox notebook: Michael Chavis likely to play Saturday; Rafael Devers’ steal of third comes after Alex Cora’s J.D. Martinez comparison

Christopher Smith

BALTIMORE — The Red Sox recalled Michael Chavis from Triple-A Worcester before Friday’s game to take Kiké Hernández’s spot on the active roster.

Hernández was placed on the 10-day IL because of a right hamstring strain.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Chavis likely will play Saturday against the Orioles here at Camden Yards.

“He did a good job in spring training early on,” Cora said. “I do believe toward the end because of the competition, he started chasing hits and he got out of his approach.”

Chavis competed with Christian Arroyo for the final positional roster spot.

“We know what he can do. I saw it in ‘19,” Cora said. “Obviously the league caught up with him. I do believe he did a good job in spring training knowing the boundaries of his swing. And hopefully, when he gets a chance here, he can do it.”

In his first 26 major league games, Chavis batted .296 with a .389 on-base percentage, .592 slugging percentage, .981 OPS, nine home runs, two doubles, 24 RBIs, 14 walks and 30 strikeouts (119 plate appearances). In 111 major league games since then, he has batted .228 with a .281 on-base percentage, .382 slugging percentage, 14 homers, 13 doubles, three triples, 53 RBIs, 25 walks and 147 strikeouts (427 plate appearances).

How long will Hernández be out?

Cora said the hope is Hernández will return after 10 days on the IL and he won’t need any longer.

Hernández left Thursday’s game during the first inning because of right hamstring tightness.

Who will lead off?

With Hernández sidelined, who will lead off for the Red Sox?

Marwin Gonzalez led off Friday. Cora said he likely will use Gonzalez as the leadoff hitter against right- handed starting pitchers. He’s likely to use Christian Arroyo as the leadoff hitter against left-handed starters.

Devers steals third

Rafael Devers stole third base Friday.

“I told him the other day that on one of the websites, they had J.D. (Martinez) running ahead of him speed- wise and he took it personally,” Cora said. “He’s a good base runner. He’s a good athlete. He’s fast actually. Just gotta be careful with him, right? He’s scores from first. He takes his chances as far as like stealing bases and he’s in better shape than last year.”

Rodriguez relies on secondary pitches

Eduardo Rodriguez threw 91 pitches (61 strikes). He allowed just one run. But he gave up seven hits and three walks while striking out only two.

He threw 28 changeups, 23 cutters, 19 four-seam fastballs, 15 sliders and six sinkers. His four-seamer averaged 91.6 mph and topped out at 92.8 mph, per Baseball Savant.

“I didn’t feel like I had my fastball command today,” Rodriguez said. “So that’s why I decided to throw all my secondary pitches.”

Cora added, “I was hoping six (innings) but he grinded. They put good at-bats. They put some good swings on pitches inside and put the ball in play. But he gave us the chance to win and we got the W.”

Dustin Pedroia gave Boston Red Sox’s Bobby Dalbec advice about ‘grinding’ through slump; ‘He’s awesome’

Christopher Smith

BALTIMORE — Red Sox manager Alex Cora has talked with Bobby Dalbec about the slump Dustin Pedroia went through during his rookie season in 2007. Pedroia went 10-for-55 (.182 batting average) in April.

But Pedroia slashed .333/.389/.467/.856 in 119 games from May 1 through the end of the regular season and won AL Rookie of the Year.

“I talked to Pedey the other day, too,” Dalbec said. “You’ve just kind of got to talk about it. If you just keep it internalized the whole time, it’s gonna eat you up.”

Dalbec broke his 0-for-27 slump with two hits, including a three-run home run, Friday here at Camden Yards. He helped the Red Sox win 6-2 over the Baltimore Orioles.

Dalbec played at the University of Arizona and returns to Arizona during the offseason. He hit with Pedroia at Pedroia’s Arizona house following the 2019 season.

“Part of it, you’ve just kind of got to grind through it,” Dalbec said, summarizing Pedroia’s message. “It’s never as bad as it seems. And it’s never as good as it seems, too. So the whole ride-the-wave thing. You’ve got to be the same guy. He’s awesome.”

Dalbec said the whole team, including Franchy Cordero, has helped him during this tough stretch. Cordero broke his own 0-for-25 slump with three hits Thursday.

“Me and him have had a few talks and been pulling for each other and talking to each other after games,” Dalbec said. “Just so it didn’t feel like we were alone going through it. So that helps a lot. He’s an awesome dude. He came up to me in Texas after one of the games and we talked for five, 10 minutes. So it’s great. It’s good to have teammates like that.”

He said his teammates and coaches have stuck with him and stressed positivity.

“I know what I can do,” Dalbec said. “It’s just a matter of time. Obviously I don’t want to hurt the team at the dish. That’s why I’ve been really grinding on defense throughout this — so I can help the team in some way.”

Dalbec said he didn’t feel much pressure the past couple of days.

“I just tried to have fun and just see the ball,” Dalbec said. “It felt really good to get a couple and getting something rolling. So just gotta keep working.”

Dalbec said it all comes down to timing and seeing the ball.

“Just trying to see the ball deeper,” Dalbec said. “I feel like I was seeing the ball well out of the hand during that tough stretch. But I was just trying to make decisions too early. Didn’t really feel like myself attacking the ball.”

Boston Red Sox lineup: Alex Cora tells Marwin Gonzalez ‘just be Rickey Henderson today and hit a few homers’ in leadoff spot

Christopher Smith

BALTIMORE — Kiké Hernández will not play Friday against the Baltimore Orioles here at Camden Yards.

He left Thursday’s game in the first inning because of right hamstring tightness.

Marwin Gonzalez, who is playing second base, will lead off with Hernández out.

“I told him (Gonazlez) just be Rickey Henderson today and hit a few home runs,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “His on-base percentage against righties has been solid. I know the numbers aren’t there but it’s kind of like a long at-bat with him all the time. It’s a grind. We saw it yesterday. We’ve seen it throughout. Just get on base with those guys behind.

“We were playing with the idea of putting those two lefties (Alex Verdugo and Rafael Devers) together to lead off. Alex to lead off and Raffy. Actually, I sent a text message last night with a lineup with that. And this morning, I started looking at other stuff and information, and I don’t feel prepared to do that. I just like where Raffy is behind those two righties and having Alex in front of them. So far it has worked. And just putting a switch-hitter (Gonzalez) in front of them and someone who as a left-handed hitter, his on-base percentage is higher than a lot of guys that we have, I just went with him.”

Gonzalez has a .333 on-base percentage against righties. But he is hitting just .197 with a .262 slugging percentage against them.

Hunter Renfroe is in right field. Franchy Cordero is in left field. Alex Verdugo will play center field.

Boston Red Sox lineup:

1. Marwin Gonzalez 2B

2. Alex Verdugo CF

3. J.D. Martinez DH

4. Xander Bogaerts SS

5. Rafael Devers 3B

6. Christian Vázquez C

7. Hunter Renfroe RF

8. Franchy Cordero LF

9. Bobby Dalbec 1B

Pitching matchup: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (4-0, 4.18) vs. RHP Matt Harvey (3-1, 4.06)

Boston Red Sox rain delay: Friday’s game vs. Orioles will begin at approximately 8:40 p,m.

Christopher Smith

BALTIMORE — The Boston Red Sox’s game Friday here at Camden Yards is in a rain delay.

The game was scheduled to start to 7:05 p.m. The game now is expected to begin at 8:40 p.m., the Orioles announced. The tarp is being removed from the field.

The National Weather Services’ forecast for tonight in the Camden Yards area states: “Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 11pm, then scattered showers. Low around 44. South wind 6 to 9 mph becoming northwest in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.”

The precipitation potential percentage is 76% at 7 p.m., 77% at 8 p.m., 66% at 9 p.m., 55% at 10 p.m. and 37% at 11 p.m., per the National Weather Service.

The Red Sox enter with a 19-13 record. They sit atop the AL East standings. The Orioles are 15-16. They are in last place in the AL East.

Boston Red Sox roster moves: Michael Chavis recalled from Worcester, Kiké Hernández (hamstring) placed on 10-day IL

Christopher Smith

BALTIMORE — The Red Sox have placed Kiké Hernández on the 10-day injured list due to a right hamstring strain.

Michael Chavis was recalled from Triple-A Worcester before Friday’s game here at Camden Yards to take Hernández’s spot on the 26-man roster.

Hernández left Thursday’s game during the first inning after doubling because of right hamstring tightness.

Chavis has spent just one day on the active roster this season. The Red Sox activated him for their game against the Orioles on April 10 when J.D. Martinez was placed on the COVID-related injured list due to cold-like symptoms for that one day.

Chavis is 1-for-7 with a double in two games for Worcester this season.

“He’s versatile,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “He can play first, second, third. We can put him in left field. Right-handed bat.”

In his first 26 major league games, Chavis batted .296 with a .389 on-base percentage, .592 slugging percentage, .981 OPS, nine home runs, two doubles, 24 RBIs, 14 walks and 30 strikeouts (119 plate appearances). In 111 major league games since then, he has batted .228 with a .281 on-base percentage, .382 slugging percentage, 14 homers, 13 doubles, three triples, 53 RBIs, 25 walks and 147 strikeouts (427 plate appearances).

“I feel better than I was in 2019. I feel better than I have ever in , honestly,” Chavis said recently. “I feel like the way I performed in spring training kind of relayed that. Honestly, I feel incredible.”

Boston Red Sox injuries: Kiké Hernández (right hamstring tightness) received treatment, roster move might happen

Christopher Smith

BALTIMORE — Kiké Hernández is not in the Boston Red Sox’s starting lineup Friday against the Baltimore Orioles here at Camden Yards. He left Thursday’s game in the first inning because of right hamstring tightness.

Christian Arroyo — who is dealing with a left hand contusion after being hit by a pitch Wednesday — is available off the bench but mainly to run and play defense. His X-rays were negative.

“Obviously we’re a little bit banged up,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said.

The Red Sox might need to make a roster move if they determine Hernández is unavailable to come off the bench Friday.

Michael Chavis is here in Baltimore as part of the taxi squad. And so he could be added to the roster, replacing one of the relievers.

“(Hernández) came here and got treatment,” Cora said. “We’ll probably make a decision later on, see where he’s at and see what we can do.”

Cora said Arroyo feels better.

“He got treatment today,” Cora said. “So we’ll talk to (head trainer) Brad (Pearson). BOH (GM Brian O’Halloran) is with us on this trip. Sit down, call (chief baseball officer) Chaim (Bloom) and then obviously make a decision. See where he’s at physically.

“He can run. He can play defense,” Cora added about Arroyo. “We do believe with the way he’s reacting to the treatment and all that, he should be able to hopefully start on Sunday.”

Chavis, if added to the roster, is available to play left field, too.

“Most likely if something happens, probably that’s the route that we’ll take,” Cora said. “He’s versatile. He can play first, second, third. We can put him in left field. Right-handed bat. So if something happens, most likely it will be Michael.”

Danny Santana should help Boston Red Sox but Alex Cora stresses, ‘We need to be patient with him’

Christopher Smith

BALTIMORE — Danny Santana should help Boston Red Sox at some point. But when? Manager Alex Cora stressed patience.

The 30-year-old switch-hitter, who Boston signed to a minor league contract in March, is 4-for-7 with a double and homer in two games on a rehab assignment with High-A Greenville.

He will have a day off Friday.

Cora said there is not yet a plan to promote him to a higher level (Double A or Triple A) to continue his rehab.

“We have to be patient,” Cora said. “He hasn’t played in a while. It’s not only the foot injury. It’s about him missing last year. We have to make sure he builds up. I talked to him today. He feel good. In the mornings, he feels great but we have to be patient with him.”

Santana, who bashed 28 home runs for the in 2019, spent time in the hospital during spring training with a foot infection. He also underwent an ulnar collateral ligament repair and augmentation procedure last September (per MLB.com).

He’s versatile. He has played every position except for catcher during his major league career. So he could play first base if Bobby Dalbec continues to struggle and play some left field if Franchy Cordero needs time in Triple A.

Dalbec is in the midst of an 0-for-27 slump. Cordero had three hits Thursday, breaking an 0-for-25 slump.

Santana batted .283 with a .324 on-base percentage, .534 slugging percentage, .857 OPS, 28 home runs, 23 doubles, six triples, 81 RBIs and 21 steals in 130 games (511 plate appearances) for the Rangers in 2019. That year was an outlier in his career, especially in terms of power. He has a .260/.299/.418/.717 slash line in 509 major league games in seven seasons (2014-20).

Can Brandon Workman help Boston Red Sox? ‘When his velocity’s a tick up, it helps everything else,’ Alex Cora says

Christopher Smith

BALTIMORE — Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora called Brandon Workman on Super Bowl Sunday. The conversation wasn’t about football. It was about potentially returning to the Red Sox in 2021.

“It was recruiting actually at that time,” Cora said. “It didn’t work out.”

Workman signed with the Cubs instead. But the righty has found his way back to the Red Sox. Boston signed him to a minor league deal and assigned him to Triple-A Worcester.

Workman had been designated for assignment by the Cubs last week.

“I texted with him a few days ago just thanking him for giving us a chance,” Cora said. “And just get to work. He feels good about it. Obviously it didn’t go well in the second part of the season last year and didn’t go well with the Cubs. There’s a few things we recognize with our information department that hopefully we can regain and he can become a factor.”

The righty allowed six earned runs in 8 innings (6.75 ERA) in 10 appearances this season.

Workman’s four-seam fastball has averaged 91.5 mph this year, down from 92.5 mph in 2020 and 92.9 mph in 2019, per Baseball Savant.

“We always talk about his velocity,” Cora said. “It was a topic in ‘18. It was a topic in ‘19 spring training. When his velocity’s a tick up, it helps everything else. Teams make adjustments. I saw his last one against the Braves and he threw a lot of breaking balls. And he threw some good ones and some bad ones. But I think with him, velocity is very important because the shape of the breaking ball and the spin, it’s usually the same. It’s still a good breaking ball. But if he doesn’t have something else to separate, he becomes a one-pitch pitcher. And like I said, game-planning comes into play. His cutter, too, is part of the equation. We’ve just got to get him back to gain his confidence, too.”

How does he regain velocity?

“Sometimes it mechanical. Sometimes it’s just go out there and get repetitions,” Cora said. “I don’t know how it went in spring training as far as his build-up and all that. But that was something we always talk about here — about his velocity. ... The velocity needs to be at a certain level and if that happens, then the other stuff is good, too. I know he’s happy. There’s a comfort level that hopefully can help him out to regain that confidence. And like I said, hopefully he can become a factor.”

Ranking MLB ballparks, from Fenway Park to Tropicana Field | Chris Cotillo (MLB Notebook)

Chris Cotillo

April brought the return of some normality for the MassLive Red Sox beat, as Chris Smith and I each took road trips for the first time since Sept. 2019. I went to New York for the two-game series on April 27 and 28; Smith traveled to Texas and watched the Red Sox drop three of four to the Rangers last weekend and is in Baltimore for this weekend’s series.

Returning to the road got me thinking about my favorite — and least favorite — ballparks around the country, so I figured now would be a good time to rank them. But first, a note: I’ve only been to 18 of the 30 parks, not yet experiencing the joys of crowd favorites Oracle Park or PNC Park or having to wade through sewage at the -- checks Wikipedia for name -- RingCentral Coliseum in Oakland. Here’s where I haven’t been:

Rogers Centre (Toronto), Guaranteed Rate Field (Chicago), Comerica Park (Detroit), Globe Life Field (Texas), Angel Stadium (Anaheim), Oakland Coliseum (Oakland), Wrigley Field (Chicago), American Family Field (Milwaukee), PNC Park (Pittsburgh), Busch Stadium (St. Louis), Oracle Park (San Francisco), Chase Field (Phoenix)

So a 1-through-18 ranking will have to do:

1. Fenway Park — Boston, MA

Fenway is in a league of its own, not only because its my current office and the place where I caught games growing up. It’s truly one of a kind, with “living museum” still serving as the best phrase to describe it. When you’re there, you feel like you’re part of history. The environment is like no other. And the neighborhood around the park is quietly becoming one of the most vibrant in Boston.

2. Coors Field — Denver, CO

I’ve never met anyone else who ranks this place as high as I do, but I think it’s magnificent. The brick structure, view beyond the outfield and The Rooftop in right field are all some of the coolest features in baseball. The crowd is always solid, too. Criminally underrated.

3. Dodger Stadium — Los Angeles, CA

I might be biased because my only experience here was during the World Series, but Dodger Stadium lives up to the hype. As many before me have said, it’s an old ballpark with a modern feel. Unique location and views add to the mystique, and the perfect weather helps. But this place is incredible.

4. Petco Park — San Diego, CA

I debated putting Camden Yards in this spot but Petco gets the edge because of location, location and -- you guessed it -- location. Situated squarely in the Gaslamp Quarter (which I think is one of the coolest neighborhoods in America), this place fits in perfectly and delivers every time. A little hard to navigate for media members, but that matters little. Don Orsillo is one lucky guy.

5. Oriole Park at Camden Yards — Baltimore, MD

Camden is high on everyone’s list, but it has stood the test of time and is still among the best places to watch a game in the country. The warehouse — like the one in San Diego — is a unique feature that blends in perfectly, and it doesn’t seem like there are many bad seats in the house. Now the Orioles are tasked with creating a better product for the fans who show up.

6. T-Mobile Park — Seattle, WA

I’ll call it Safeco Field forever, but T-Mobile Park should be a bucket list park for any baseball fan. It’s not exactly downtown but close enough, and everything about it feels uniquely Seattle. Like OPACY, not a great product there in recent years. But it’s a park deserving of one.

7. Target Field — Minneapolis, MN

It has been a while — my only time in Minnesota was for the 2014 All-Star Game — but Target Field is the perfect example of a new park done right. Solid location, with the limestone adding a unique touch that works. No one ever complains about this place and they shouldn’t. Consensus top-10 park in North America.

8. Kauffman Stadium — Kansas City, MO

Of all the places I’ve been, Kauffman was the most surprising in a good way. It’s a pain to get to, but once you’re there, you realize it’s a beautiful ballpark that not many people seem to recognize as such. Like Dodger Stadium, it has aged well.

9. Citi Field — New York, NY

Citi might be ranked higher than it should be due to recency bias, but there’s not much wrong with the place. Beautiful from the outside and has tons of character on the inside. The Rotunda is one of the most well-done features at any baseball park in the league. Loses points for location, but it’s by far the best ballpark in New York.

10. Truist Park — Atlanta, GA

People don’t seem to like the artist formerly known as SunTrust Park as much as I do, but I thought it was well-built with good sightlines and am looking forward to going back in June. The Battery is a little artificial but seems to be catching on, even if seems like it’s hours from downtown Atlanta. I think this place will find its way at the top of most people’s ballpark rankings in a few years.

11. — New York, NY

I’ve probably been to Yankee Stadium the most of any non-Fenway stadium, and despite the pristine media dining, I still don’t think there’s much to get excited about. The idea that fans there don’t create a good atmosphere is outdated and wrong, but there’s still a corporate feel that makes it feel like JerryWorld Lite. Might be jaded by the fact my Uber from midtown took 2 ½ hours to get there on a Friday afternoon the first time I covered a Sox-Yankees game in 2018.

12. Minute Maid Park — Houston, TX

First off, it smells like crayons. Reeks like a Crayola factory. But the location is fine, there are some unique features — I’m a fan of the train and the Crawford Boxes — and when it’s rocking, it’s as loud as any ballpark. As if the Astros needed even more of a home-field advantage.

13. Progressive Field — Cleveland, OH

There’s nothing wrong with Progressive Field, but there’s also nothing super special about it either. I might have it lower than I should because my laptop was stolen out of the press box during the 2019 All-Star Game. Either way, not a lot of character despite a pretty solid location in downtown Cleveland.

14. Citizens Bank Park — Philadelphia, PA

The sports complex in Philadelphia will always hold a special place in my heart because I got to watch UNC clinch a spot in the Final Four at the Wells Fargo Center in 2017. But Citizens Bank Park — despite a great view of the city in center field — is best described as not being as cool as it looks on TV. A little cramped and cookie-cutter, if you ask me. Some disagree.

15. Great American Ball Park — Cincinnati, OH

GABP has some character — and a great name — but has a minor-league feel to it, and that’s tough to escape. Maybe it’s because I’m not a chili guy. Who knows?

16. loanDepot park — Miami, FL

I haven’t been back since they removed the ridiculous statue in center field, so maybe this place will move up a little bit the next time I rank ballparks. But the Marlins’ home looks like a spaceship, tries too hard to provide too many weird features for fans not interested in watching the game and reminds me of some of the stadiums in outer space on MVP Baseball 05.

17. Nationals Park — Washington, DC

Talk about a place that just does absolutely nothing for me. Cookie-cutter to the extreme, though the neighborhood around it has improved dramatically. Zero character. Swing and a miss.

18. Tropicana Field — St. Petersburg, FL

It’s cliché to put the Trop last, but without going to Oakland, there’s no real competition. The Rays are one of the best organizations in baseball and deserve a new stadium. The one good part about this place is that it has great sightlines from the press box.

***

10 observations from the last week in baseball:

1. The Brandon Workman signing is a great move by the Red Sox, who tried to bring him back over the winter, too. Won’t be a surprise if he’s back in the big leagues very soon.

2. This week’s Red Sox-Tigers series was one of the ugliest in recent memory. Just absolutely brutal baseball.

3. If this is in fact the end for Albert Pujols, what an incredible career.

4. Sure seems like the Red Sox will have room for Michael Chavis soon.

5. Fun story here from our Matt Vautour on veteran catcher Chris Herrmann hitting the first home run in WooSox history.

6. Reading between the lines, it seems like it will be a while before we see Jarren Duran roaming the outfield at Fenway Park.

7. Since winning nine in a row, the Red Sox are just 10-10, yet they still have the best record in baseball at 19-13. Six teams are within a game of that mark and 16 teams -- including the Rays and Yankees -- are within three.

8. In Chris Smith’s weekly minor-league notebook, he poses an interesting question: Is Garrett Whitlock the top starting pitching prospect in the Red Sox organization?

9. Really tough start to the George Springer era in Toronto. About as bad as it could have gone so far.

10. On this week’s edition of The Fenway Rundown, Smith and I recap our first road trips in 19 months and discuss Franchy Cordero, Chris Sale and more.

* The Worcester Telegram

'He’s a war hero here.' Reliever Brandon Workman hopes to rediscover his form with WooSox

Joe McDonald

TRENTON, N.J. — Brandon Workman was one of the first WooSox players to arrive at the ballpark Friday afternoon. The veteran pitcher quickly changed into his new uniform and was the first player on the field.

It all felt so familiar for him being back in the Red Sox organization after he was signed to a minor-league deal Thursday. The only difference is there’s a ‘W’ on his hat and not a ‘P’ this time around. If everything goes according to plan, maybe one day soon it will be a ‘B’ on his hat.

“He’s a war hero here,” said WooSox pitching coach Paul Abbott.

The two-time World Series champion (2013 and 2018) with the Red Sox was recently designated for assignment by the . Workman wanted to find a spot where he would be comfortable in an attempt to rediscover his electric stuff, so returning to the Red Sox organization seemed like a natural fit.

“I feel like it’s a good spot to get throwing the ball the way I want to and get back to where I need to be,” he said.

After 10 seasons in the Red Sox organization, Workman was traded, along with Heath Hembree, to the for Connor Seabold and Nick Pivetta. Workman struggled in his brief stint with the Phillies and was granted his release last October. He then signed as a free agent with the Cubs in February. He was 0-2 in 10 games (eight innings) with a 6.75 ERA for the Cubs this season before he was released on April 30.

Before he’s thrown into game action, Workman is scheduled to throw a few side sessions and he said he’s healthy and ready to go.

“We want to get him in as soon as possible and see what we got,” Abbott said. “With data we can go back and compare things he did that were successful when he was with us.”

In his first go-around with the Red Sox, Workman experienced just about everything a pitcher could deal with at both the minor- and big-league levels. Overall, he was instrumental in the club’s success and he’s hoping to rekindle that magic now that he’s back.

“They’ve obviously seen me at my best here, and they’ve seen me not be good, too,” he said. “I feel like it’s somewhere people know me, know how I pitch, know what I’m doing well, and when I’m not. I’m hoping this is a good spot to get back on track.”

Part of that is regaining confidence in his cutter, which has been a successful pitch for him in the past, especially in Boston.

“We’re just going to try and get everything working right,” Workman said.

It’s not unusual for a player to return to a former team, but it can be a challenge for that athlete to revive past success. It was a good sign that he was the first player on the field Friday, which indicates his desire to work hard and do what needs to be done.

Workman was 21 when the Red Sox drafted him in the second round of the 2010 draft. Now the 32-year- old understands the club is giving him an opportunity to contribute.

“From the player’s standpoint when you’re in that situation, you can do the math, you know primetime is short, but when you struggle, familiarity is pretty important. When you have people who know you and really care about you, it goes a long way,” Abbott said. “When you’re the new guy in somebody else’s organization they’ve got other players that want to give shots to and when you’re not one of their own, and not lights out right away it’s tough for them to give you any slack.”

Workman will be given every opportunity with the WooSox. When he thinks about what could be ahead, it’s easy to remember the success and development he enjoyed with the Red Sox. As the team’s closer in 2019, he posted a 10-1 record with a 1.88 ERA, along with 16 saves in 73 relief appearances. He held opponents to a .123 average that season.

“I grew up in this organization,” he said. “I was a kid when I got drafted and through that process I grew up and now I have a kid. I’ve done a lot in this organization. It was a lot of growing and maturing as a person and a lot of maturing as a baseball player. There are a lot of great people here. A lot of people I enjoy being around. I was here for a decade, so it’s a comfortable situation.”

Workman has already won two World Series (2013 and 2018) with the Red Sox, along with a Governors’ Cup championship (2014) with the PawSox. He’s back in this organization in hopes of winning again.

“Every year,” he said. “That’s the thought no matter what, so that’s obviously the goal coming in and they have a really good team up top and hopefully I can contribute to that.”

* RedSox.com

Red Sox first to 20 wins as Dalbec breaks out

Ian Browne

For the Red Sox, this is the week that slumps are fading away.

Or in the case of Bobby Dalbec in Friday night’s 6-2 win over the Orioles at Camden Yards, his slump was belted deep into the seats in left field for a three-run homer. The victory moved the Red Sox to 20-13, making them the first team in MLB to reach the 20-win mark.

Dalbec, who came into the night in an 0-for-27 rut, showed his first sign of promise in the top of the third when he lined a single to right with an exit velocity of 104.5 mph.

But the real fun came an inning later when with two on and two outs, Dalbec swatted a hanging curveball from Matt Harvey for a no-doubter that left his bat at 107.9 mph with a launch angle of 36 degrees and a Statcast-projected distance of 399 feet.

These heroics came a day after Franchy Cordero broke an 0-for-25 dry spell with three big hits to lift Boston to a 12-9 comeback win over the Tigers.

Did Cordero’s breakout on Thursday help inspire Dalbec on Friday?

“Yeah, me and him had a few good talks, and [we’ve] been pulling for each other and talking with each other after games, just so it didn't feel like we were alone going through it,” Dalbec said. “So that helps a lot. He’s an awesome dude, and I'm glad that he came up to me in Texas after one of the games. We talked for five to 10 minutes, so it's great. It’s good to have teammates like that. I'm very fortunate to have teammates like that.”

It turns out Dalbec got pep talks from more than just teammates. How about a recently retired Red Sox legend?

You see, Dalbec isn’t the first highly touted rookie to slump mightily for Boston. In 2007, Dustin Pedroia -- who, by the way, won the American League Rookie of the Year Award that season -- was hitting .172 on May 1.

Alex Cora, Boston’s manager, was the guy who spelled Pedroia a lot during Pedroia’s early slump in ’07. And it was Cora who put Dalbec in touch with Pedroia earlier this week.

“Yeah, a couple days ago, I talked to [Cora] about [Pedroia],” Dalbec said. “I talked to Pedey about it the other day, too. You’ve just got to talk about it. If you keep it internalized the whole time, it’s going to eat you up.”

What type of advice did Pedroia give Dalbec?

“Just that this is part of it, just got to grind through it,” Dalbec said. “It's never as bad as it seems, and it's never as good as it seems, too. So that's the whole ‘ride the wave’ thing. Just got to be the same guy. He's awesome.”

On Tuesday, it was Hunter Renfroe who busted out with three hits, including a homer.

You might say that it’s finally bottoms up for the much-maligned lower third of Cora’s batting order.

As it is, the Red Sox lead the Majors in most of the most significant offensive categories. If that offense becomes more balanced, a team that has led the AL East for most of the season becomes even more dangerous.

As for Dalbec, this is the type of showing people expected when he belted eight homers in 80 at-bats in his first taste of big league life last season, and after he led the Grapefruit League this year with seven homers. His homer against Harvey was his second of the season.

“He’s been working hard,” Cora said. “It’s not lack of effort. I’m glad he got a single on the first one, and [Harvey] hung a breaking ball and he put a good swing on it. Like I said about Franchy yesterday and today [with Bobby], it’s good to see them smile. This is a tough sport, and for them to see results, it’s a good feeling. And hopefully they can take off now.”

Notes: Chavis back up; Workman returns

Ian Browne

Rather than risk being short-handed on the bench, the Red Sox placed Kiké Hernández on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain prior to Friday’s game against the Orioles at Camden Yards.

Hernández suffered the injury sliding into second on a double in Thursday’s 12-9 win over the Tigers at Fenway Park.

Infielder Michael Chavis, who played for the Red Sox in 2019 and '20, was recalled from Triple-A Worcester to take Hernández’s spot on the roster.

Christian Arroyo is also ailing after being hit on the left wrist by a pitch for the second time this season on Wednesday. His availability is limited, which played a role in Boston making a roster move Friday.

Manager Alex Cora hopes that Arroyo will be ready to start by Sunday.

Hernández has been Boston’s primary leadoff man this season and has been valuable with his defensive versatility, spending most of his time in center field and second base.

Marwin Gonzalez got the first shot to lead off in Hernández’s absence. Gonzalez had 37 career plate appearances in the leadoff slot entering Friday’s game, slashing .333/.459/.433.

“I told him, ‘Just be Rickey Henderson today and hit home runs.’ His on-base percentage against righties has been solid,” Cora said. “I know the numbers are not there, but it’s kind of like a long at-bat with him all the time. It’s a grind.”

Chavis is also versatile, with the ability to play first, second and third.

Workman back with original team Brandon Workman had the best days and years of his career playing for the Red Sox. So perhaps it makes sense that Boston is the team he will try to regain his form with.

The Red Sox signed Workman to a Minor League deal on Thursday. He will start at Worcester and try to pitch his way back to Boston.

Workman was dominant for the Red Sox in 2019 (1.88 ERA in 73 outings) and was traded to the Phillies last Aug. 21.

He struggled mightily for the Phillies (6.92 ERA in 14 appearances) and signed with the Cubs as a free agent on Feb. 18. Workman couldn’t find it in Chicago, either, notching a 6.75 ERA in 10 games before getting released.

“I texted with him a few days ago. Just thanking him for giving us a chance and told him to just get to work,” Cora said Friday. “And he feels good about it. Obviously, it didn’t go well in the second half last year, and it didn’t go well with the Cubs. There’s a few things that we recognize with our information department that hopefully he can regain, and he can become a factor.”

The Red Sox have had some inconsistency from the lower-leverage members of their 14-man pitching staff. Workman certainly could provide a boost if he can get back on track.

A key for Workman will be to get some of his velocity back so there will be enough of a differential with his offspeed pitches.

“I saw his last one against the Braves [on April 27], and he threw a lot of breaking balls,” Cora said. “He threw some good ones and some bad ones. I think with him, velocity is very important because the shape of the breaking ball and the spin, it’s usually the same. It’s still a good breaking ball, but if he doesn’t have something else to separate, he becomes a one-pitch pitcher and game-planning comes into play. His cutter, too, is part of the equation. We have to get him back and get [him] some confidence, too.”

In his first stint with the Red Sox, Workman was part of World Series-winning teams in 2013 and ’18. Boston drafted him as a starter as a second-round pick from the University of Texas in '10.

* WEEI.com

What a difference this version of Bobby Dalbec makes

Rob Bradford

Who knows where he goes from here.

It would be easy to resurface the notion that Bobby Dalbec sits at the same crossroads Dustin Pedroia did in 2007, with virtually the identical number of plate appearances.

And if Friday night isn't just a one-time deal, than maybe we will look back and say that Dalbec's two-hit game against the Orioles -- which included a three-run homer -- was the equivalent of that game on May 5, 2007, when Pedroia used a pair of hits against Johan Santana to begin his surge toward American League Rookie of the Year.

But this is the one thing we do know after witnessing the Red Sox become the first team in Major League Baseball to reach 20 wins: When Dalbec swings the bat like this, Alex Cora's lineup takes on a whole new dimension.

"He’s been working hard," said Cora after his team's 6-2 win over the Orioles. "It’s not lack of effort, like I said yesterday. I’m glad he got a single in the first one and he hung a breaking ball and he put a good swing on it. Like i said about Franchy (Cordero), yesterday and today, it’s good to see them smile. This is stuff a tough sport and for them to see results it’s a good feeling and hopefully they can take off now."

Much as was the case with Pedroia, the struggles following Dalbec throughout the early stages of the 2021 season were no surprise. Pitchers and teams were going to adjust, unlike in the Grapefruit League when he was hitting homers almost on demand.

It's why the comparison was an easy one to draw for Dalbec and his manager, who just happened to be the one who helped the former second baseman through that April, 2007 downturn. Now it was his first baseman's turn.

“Yeah, a couple days ago, I talked to [Cora] about [Pedroia],” said Dalbec, who had been in an 0-for-27 slump. “I talked to Pedey about it the other day, too. You’ve just got to talk about it. If you keep it internalized the whole time, it’s going to eat you up.”

Now, we wait.

If Dalbec does get hot, life just gets a whole lot easier for the Red Sox. It's not rocket science: Home runs are good, and this is a guy who can hit a bunch of them.

Want proof? The Red Sox are 7-0 when hitting two or more homers this season and 16-7 when notching at least one. Dating back to last season the Sox' record is 8-2 when Dalbec goes deep.

And now with the likes of Hunter Renfroe and Franchy Cordero showing signs of life, Dalbec's resurgence would go a long way to plugging the lineup hole that had been plaguing this team for much of the season.

“Yeah, me and (Cordero) had a few good talks, and [we’ve] been pulling for each other and talking with each other after games, just so it didn't feel like we were alone going through it,” Dalbec said. “So that helps a lot. He’s an awesome dude, and I'm glad that he came up to me in Texas after one of the games. We talked for five to 10 minutes, so it's great. It’s good to have teammates like that. I'm very fortunate to have teammates like that.”

There were other positives for the Red Sox in their win, such as another rookie, Garrett Whitlock, bouncing back after two straight subpar outings to throw two scoreless innings. Or starter Eduardo Rodriguez giving up just one run in five innings.

But Dalbec was the story this time around. The Red Sox are banking on it becoming a regular thing.

"I mean it’s always good when he hits the ball out of the ballpark," Cora said. "But he put good at-bats. The walk at the end was a good one too. It’s one of those we have to be patient. It’s something that, it’s not that easy. We’ve been seeing good pitching throughout, even in spring training. You’ve got to be patient with the player. One of the things i told you guys a week ago, if we don’t feel these guys can do the job then we made a bad choice in spring training roster wise. You’re going to go through up and downs throughout the season. Hopefully theirs happen early in the season and like I said just put consistent at-bats. If they do that they're going to be in good shape."

Bobby Dalbec can lean on the Dustin Pedroia reminder

Rob Bradford

Alex Cora witnessed it first-hand.

It was 2007 and a rookie by the name of Dustin Pedroia was struggling mightily throughout his first month as a major league starter. How bad? Through May 4 he was hitting .180 with a .535 OPS.

Then-general manager Theo Epstein had predicted the possible early-season slump for Pedroia before the season, knowing that the Red Sox would need the likes of a veteran like Cora to fill in the gaps. (Cora did just that, hitting .360 with a 1.207 OPS in April.)

Then came the May 4 off day, when Pedroia got together with hitting coach Dave Magadan to make a few adjustments. The fork in the road had been set. Starting with two hits against Minnesota's Johan Santana, Pedroia's season took off, ultimately landing with the American League Rookie of the Year.

It's a story Bobby Dalbec should soak in.

The Red Sox' rookie first baseman is obviously going through the same sort of early-season struggles Pedroia endured, hitting .174 with a .507 OPS.

Dalbec also just happens to be sitting with relatively the same amount of career plate appearances as Pedroia did when he started down his very different path. On May 7, 2007, the former second baseman sat at 177 plate appearances in the big leagues. Dalbec? He's at 184.

"He came out of the shoots slow and I think he put a lot of pressure on himself," said Red Sox hitting coach . "He wanted to really get off to a good start and it just didn’t happen. You could just tell in some of his swings that to me, his stride got longer, he started to lose that lower half and not standing above the ball with his body as much, and so I felt like his swing got a little loopy and inconsistent. I think more of that was just mental than physical. His mental thoughts were affecting the physical and that just shows you he’s a tremendous worker and he pays attention to detail, and I think that’s where you give the young man credit, Bobby, of making those adjustments and not just falling away and battling back. That’s a good sign for him to make those adjustments, but it does give the credit to his talent and what he’s capable of doing. He just has to figure out, he doesn’t have to carry this team, he just has to have competitive ABs, do his thing and he’s going to be in our lineup for a long time.”

For now, Dalbec -- who is hitless in his last seven games, going 0-for-25 with 11 strikeouts -- waits for his Pedroia-esque turnaround.

"You’ve just got to keep working with him," Cora said after Thursday's win. "At this level, like I said, it’s not that easy. I know that he was very successful last year, but we know that there’s still work to do. Honestly, those conversations, we always talk about our players and what’s best for them. Right now, he’s been playing a lot of first base. He’s been playing a lot. We’re going to keep helping him out to get out of this. Obviously people see the slump and they start thinking about the minor leagues, but right now, just keep giving him confidence and giving him at-bats and see where it takes us. The good thing is that we are where we are as a team with the record. He knows that. He just needs to keep working and we’re going to keep helping him out. It’s not easy, like I said. To hit at this level is not easy. Right now, he’s in one of those stretches where he’s really struggling."

Enrique Hernandez heads to injured list, Michael Chavis called up

Rob Bradford

Michael Chavis has gotten the call.

The infielder who turned in perhaps the most impressive spring training of any Red Sox player has been summoned from Triple-A Worcester to replace Enrique Hernandez on the 26-man roster. Hernandez has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a strained right hamstring.

Hernandez injured his leg while legging out a first-inning double Thursday, leaving the game after reaching third one batter later.

The leadoff hitter's absence is not only going to necessitate someone else manning the top of the batting order, but will force some shifting in Alex Cora's defensive alignment.

With Christian Arroyo still recovering from a sore hand after being hit by a pitch, Chavis figures to be a regular option at second base, with Marwin Gonzalez also available at the spot. Alex Verdugo figures to get the priority of playing time in center field, where Hernandez was getting the majority of his playing time.

Chavis had gone 1-for-7 with Worcester in its first two games of the season, having appeared in one major- league game as a pinch-runner during the Red Sox' April 10 win at Camden Yards.

Chavis, who was already with the Red Sox in Baltimore as a member of the taxi squad, hit six home runs in Grapefruit League action, finishing spring training with an .892 OPS.

* NBC Sports Boston

Grading Chaim Bloom's biggest Red Sox trades shows a pattern: He's winning

John Tomase

Chaim Bloom joined the Boston Red Sox a year and a half ago with a clear mandate: cut payroll, rebuild the farm system, and construct a sustainable winner.

He has certainly shredded a roster in desperate need of retooling. Only 14 players remain from the 40-man he inherited, including injured pitchers Chris Sale and .

Bloom has said goodbye to stars like Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi, and Jackie Bradley Jr., as well as some lesser lights you probably forgot existed, like Mike Shawaryn, Travis Lakins, and Juan Centeno.

While Bloom has been active on the waiver wire, in free agency, and in the Rule 5 draft, today we want to grade his five major trades. All of them tell us something about the chief baseball officer's approach to the job, his willingness to take risks, and the trust he puts in his internal evaluations even when they conflict with conventional wisdom.

He already owns more hits than misses, which bodes well as these surprise early contenders of 2021 position themselves for greater success down the road.

The deal: Sent Mookie Betts to the Dodgers with and cash for outfielder Alex Verdugo, infielder Jeter Downs, and catcher

Evaluation: Betts did not fit Boston's long-term window, not at $350 to $400 million. Placed in the wretched position of trading a former MVP and World Series winner as his first big move, Bloom nonetheless managed to turn one year of Betts into three intriguing players.

Verdugo has emerged as a core piece, with numbers that surpass those of Betts five weeks into the season, for whatever little that's worth. The 24-year-old may never win an MVP like his predecessor, but he could very easily make his first All-Star team this season.

He symbolizes so much of what the Red Sox have done well, from taking what he's given offensively and using all fields, to delivering in the clutch, to playing with energy and excitement. He went 2 for 6 in Thursday's win over the Detroit Tigers to stretch his league-leading on-base streak to 24 games. He's hitting .315 with an .886 OPS.

Verdugo alone already looks like a better return than previous teams have secured for trading a transcendent star. The Rangers turned into two overrated years of Alfonso Soriano. All the Expos had to show for Pedro Martinez was Carl Pavano and Tony Armas Jr. The best player the A's got for All-Star Josh Donaldson was sub-.500 right-hander Kendall Graveman.

The Royals might be the best comp after sending Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke to the Brewers in 2010 for what ended up being core pieces of their World Series winners five years later -- Gold Glove center fielder Lorenzo Cain and shortstop Alcides Escobar.

The point is, it's actually hard to get these trades right. That Bloom acquired a quality big leaguer, his best prospect (Downs), and a catcher with power -- all while removing half of Price's salary and all of his poisonous attitude -- is a win.

Call me crazy, but as much as it hurt to lose Betts, I love this trade.

Grade: A

The deal: Sent closer Brandon Workman and reliever Heath Hembree to the Phillies for right-handers Nick Pivetta and Connor Seabold.

Evaluation: This may not be Derek Lowe and for Heathcliff Slocumb, but it's Bloom's version of a home run.

Sending Workman and Hembree to a pseudo-contender desperate for bullpen help was the easy part. Identifying Pivetta as the centerpiece of the return was not.

The Phillies had already given Pivetta a shot to start, and after showing some flashes, he had blown it, pitching himself first into the bullpen and then the minor leagues. When the Red Sox acquired him, he was a mess in the midst of yet another mechanical overhaul, desperate to rediscover the promise that had produced 188 strikeouts in 164 innings in 2018.

Seeing his potential as a starter required serious squinting, because he had posted a 5.50 ERA with the Phillies. But Bloom loved Pivetta's 6-foot-5 frame, his mid-90s fastball, and the elite spin rate on his curveball. The Red Sox sent him to the alternate site for a month of honing before he made two excellent starts in September.

Pivetta opened 2021 in the rotation and has yet to lose a start in his Red Sox career. He's 4-0 with a 3.23 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 30.2 innings this season, exhibiting the kind of hyper-competitive demeanor that calls to mind old friend Rick Porcello.

Seabold, meanwhile, opened eyes by pumping his fastball to 96 mph in spring training, but he's currently sidelined with a sore elbow that the Red Sox aren't deeming serious.

As for Workman and Hembree, they were atrocious in Philadelphia. Hembree has since hooked on with the Reds and Workman is actually back with the Red Sox after signing a minor-league deal on Thursday.

Grade: A+

The deal: Traded to the Royals with cash for outfielder Franchy Cordero and two players to be named later. The Royals sent outfield prospect to the Mets, who sent right-hander Josh Winckowski and a player to be named later to the Red Sox.

Evaluation: We tackled this trade in some depth earlier this week, and our thoughts haven't changed -- we won't be able to evaluate it until the Red Sox receive the three remaining players to be named.

That said, we do know a few things. For one, Benintendi sure looks like he has rediscovered his mojo, and that could make the deal an unequivocal loss. He extended his hitting streak to 10 games on Thursday and has raised his average from .193 to .272 in just two weeks. Thin in the outfield beyond Verdugo, the Red Sox could certainly use a player like Benintendi.

Cordero, meanwhile, looked ticketed for Worcester, at least until he was forced into duty on Thursday and responded by going 3 for 5 with some of his loudest contact of the season. Thus far, our fears about Cordero have come to pass -- the impressive tools don't add up to an impressive player, though I suppose there's a chance he figures it out.

For now, the Royals have no regrets. While it's tempting to give this one an incomplete, we'll grade it thusly: There are three more prospects coming, which means there's a chance it won't be a total loss.

Grade: C-minus

The deal: Effectively purchased from the Yankees in order to acquire prospect Frank German, a right- handed pitcher.

Evaluation: This deal raised eyebrows immediately, and not just because it represented only the third trade between the two rivals in nearly 25 years. It was also strange because the big-market Yankees couldn't afford a relatively productive player, and the acting-like-a-small-market-team Red Sox stepped up to bail them out.

The Red Sox viewed the trade as an opportunity to add an established late-inning reliever, yes, but primarily to use the roughly $8 million they'd be assuming in salary to buy a prospect. As with the Benintendi deal, we won't know how it worked out until German either pans out or flames out.

What we do know is there are probably better ways the Red Sox could've spent $8 million on their 2021 roster than Ottavino, who has proven distressingly inconsistent through the first five weeks.

He's basically walking a batter an inning while trying to find his fastball command, and this after posting a 5.89 ERA during the shortened 2020 season. He may eventually straighten out, but there's a chance this is money wasted.

Grade: C

The deal: Traded to Padres for outfielder Jeisson Rosario and Hudson Potts.

Evaluation: It's easy to forget, but Moreland started last season on fire, hitting .328 with eight home runs for a going-nowhere team in his walk year. That made him a prime rental for a contender and the Padres bit for the price of two mid-tier prospects.

The early returns are inconclusive. Rosario showed up to spring training out of shape and Potts strained an oblique. With the minor league seasons finally starting this week, the Red Sox will get a better look Rosario, who opens at Double-A Portland, while Potts remains sidelined.

Rosario possesses good on-base ability and the potential to play center in the big leagues, while Potts could hit for some power. Neither boasts a particularly high ceiling.

Then again, the Red Sox didn't surrender much. Moreland was a goner in free agency anyway, and after posting disappointing numbers (.203-2-8) in San Diego, he signed with the Oakland A's this winter.

Grade: C

* BostonSportsJournal.com

Final: Red Sox 6, Orioles 2

Sean McAdam

Bobby Dalbec snapped out of an 0-for-27 slump with a single in his first at-bat, but saved his best work for his second at-bat — a three-run homer that helped deliver a 6-2 Red Sox win over the Baltimore Orioles.

The Sox also got run-scoring doubles from Christian Vazquez and Marwin Gonzalez to add on late in the game.

Eduardo Rodriguez lasted only five innings, but improved to 5-0 as the Red Sox won their second straight. They’re 4-0 at Camden Yards this season.

WHO: Red Sox (19-13) vs. Baltimore Orioles (15-16) WHEN: 7:05 WHERE: Oriole Park at Camden Yards SEASON SERIES TO DATE: 3-3 STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (4-0, 4.18) vs. RHP Matt Harvey (3-1, 4.06)

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Gonzalez 2B Verdugo CF Martinez DH Bogaerts SS Devers 3B Vazquez C Renfroe RF Cordero LF Dalbec 1B

ORIOLES

Mullins CF Hays RF Mancini DH Severino C Franco 3B Mountcastle LF Galvis SS Valaika 1B Urias 2B

IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:

T8: Red Sox add an insurance run when Christian Vazquez doubles into the left field corner. Nice baserunning from Devers, who scores all the way from first.

T7: Red Sox lineup has been shut down by the Orioles bullpen of late — no hits over the last three innings and just one baserunner.

B6: Ryan Mountcastle takes deep to right-center to bring the Orioles to within two. Sawamura has allowed four homers in 13.2 innings and that’s a problem.

B6: Rodriguez lifted after five. The Red Sox may be second in the A.L. in games in which their starters go five innings, but the problem is, as was the case tonight, they go only five. Eventually, that’s going to catch up with the bullpen and the workload that’s being placed on the relievers.

B5: Rodriguez is in some trouble here, with a run here and two on and his pitch count climbing to 90. Before the game, Alex Cora said the Sox could use a deep start from Rodriguez, but it doesn’t appear they’re going to get more than another inning.

T4: Dalbec, who snapped his hitless streak earlier in the game, gets a hanging breaking ball middle-middle and clubs it into the seats in left for a three-run homer. Second homer of the year and part of a big night for the slumping first baseman.

T4: Just when it seemed like the Red Sox were about to squander a chance, having missed a chance to bring in Devers from third with one out, Hunter Renfroe comes through with a sharp line single to left, giving the Sox a 1-0 lead.

B3: Ramon Urias got a big jump on Rodriguez, but a strong throw from Christian Vazquez made a strong throw throw to cut him down. That’s just the fourth runners caught stealing in 14 tries against Vazquez this season.

B3: All three hits off Rodriguez tonight have been bloopers that fell in front of outfielders — very little hard contact.

T3: Just as Franchy Cordero snapped a long hitless streak Thursday, Bobby Dalbec does the same here, singling up the middle with one out and ending what had been an 0-for-27 slide.

T2: Great bat control by Rafael Devers, who brings his hands in and fights off an inside pitch by punching it down the left field line for a one-out double.

B1: For the third straight start, Rodriguez’s fastball velocity is off, topping off at 92 mph in the first inning. That can be overcome if he can command it; if not, that fastball becomes more inviting and hittable.

B1: Bad baserunning mistake by Cedric Mullins, who was at third base on a line drive hit directly to right fielder Hunter Renfroe and, even with Renfroe overthrowing second, is easily doubled up for a huge out.

PRE-GAME STATS: The Red Sox have the best record in baseball (19-13, .594)…After they were swept by the Orioles in the first series of the year, they’re 19-10 (.655) in games and 5-1-3 in series…The Sox’ +26 run differential ranks fourth in the AL. ,…The Sox lead the majors in come-from-behind wins with 13….The Red Sox’ winning percentage on the road (.692) is the best in the American League and tied with the for the best in the majors…. the Sox also rank fourth in road ERA at 3.26…. The Sox started 6-0 and 8-1 on the road before going 1-3 at Texas last weekend….The Red Sox lead the majors in runs (166), batting average (.267), slugging percentage (.444), OPS (.776), doubles (72), and extra-base hits (113)… The Sox have hit 11 homers in their last six games, though none of their 16 hits yesterday were homers. In their last 5 games, the Sox are batting .311 with an .856 OPS, and averaging 7.4 runs per game)….In the month of May, Xander Bogaerts is hitting .476 (10-for-21) and has scored eight runs….Alex Verdugo has a 24-game streak of successfully reaching base safely — the longest on-base streak in the majors this season and the longest of his career. The last Red Sox to reach base in 25+ consecutive games were Mookie Betts (25 games in 2019) and J.D. Martinez (26 games in 2018). During the streak, Verdugo has hit .351 with a .981 OPS during the streak (34-for-97, 10 BB, 2 HBP), after going 0-for-11 through his first 3 games of the season….Martinez leads the majors in RBI (31) and total bases (80) and is tied for the lead in homers (10)… He leads the AL in runs scored (28) and extra-base hits (20) and is tied for the lead in doubles (10)…He also ranks 2nd in the majors in hits (40), 6th in AVG (.348), and 3rd in OPS (1.127)…He’s one of eight players in team history to amass 10 or more homers and 30 or more RBI in the first 30 games of a season…Statistical oddity: The visiting team has won each of the last seven meetings between the Red Sox and Orioles, including all six this season….The Sox own the highest win % at Camden Yards (.603) among AL teams, going 143-94….Ten of the Red Sox first 36 games are against the O’s. They then don’t meet again over the equivalent of more than half the season, covering 82 games from May 11 to Aug. 12…The Sox have won each of Eduardo Rodriguez’s last eight starts against the Orioles, his original team…Since the start of 2018, he is 7-0 with a 2.01 ERA vs. the O’s….The Sox saw two pitching streaks come to end Thursday — they had struck out 10 or more hitters in the nine previous games and also had had their starter go at least five innings in each of the previous 10 games…Trey Mancini is 10-for-34 with two homers lifetime against Rodriguez while Pedro Severino is 5- for-10 with a homer...Christian Vazquez is 3-for-3 in his career against Matt Harvey and Rafael Devers is 2-for-5 with a homer.

NOTES:

The Red Sox’ lineup is without Christian Arroyo (left hand contusion. Arroyo is improving and can contribute in the field or on the bases and should be back in the starting lineup by Sunday. However, the Sox decided to take a more conservative approach with Kike Hernandez and placed him on the 10-day IL with a strained right hamstring. To take Hernandez’s spot on the roster, the team recalled Michael Chavis, who had been in Baltimore as part of the team’s traveling taxi squad.

Alex Cora said he wants to see Eduardo Rodriguez improve his command. If he can get ahead of hitters, he can expand the strike zone with his changeup up and down in the strike zone.

With both Hernandez and Arroyo out of the lineup, Cora had Marwin Gonzalez in the leadoff spot.

Cora is happy to have Brandon Workman back in the organization. Workman signed a minor league deal with the Sox Thursday after being designated for assignment for the Cubs last week. Cora said he tried to convince Workman to sign with the Sox over the winter, but the reliever opted to sign with Chicago. Cora added that diminished velocity might have been an issue for Workman with the Cubs. “I texted with him a few days ago, thanking him for giving us a chance and (told him to) ‘Get to work,’ ” he said. “There’s a things that we recognized with our information department that hopefully he can regain and he can become a factor. We always talk about his velocity. When his velocity is a tick up, it helps everything else. I think, with him, velocity is very important because the shape of the breaking ball and the spin is usually the same. But if he doesn’t have something to else to separate, he becomes a one-pitch pitcher. We just have to get him to gain his confidence, too. Sometimes it’s mechanical, sometimes (in a matter of) repetitions. I know he’s happy. There’s a comfort level (with the organization). Hopefully, he can become a factor.”

BSJ Game Report: Red Sox 6, Orioles 2 – Dalbec’s homer leads Sox to road win

Sean McAdam

All you need to know about the Red Sox’ win over the Orioles, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:

HEADLINES

Dalbec’s turn to break out: Last week in Texas, it was Hunter Renfroe’s time to break out of a long slump at the plate. On Thursday at Fenway, it was Franchy Cordero’s turn, breaking out of a hitless streak that had lasted for a couple of weeks. And Friday, it was Bobby Dalbec’s time to shine. Dalbec went into the game with the weight of a 0-for-27 skid. He singled in the third inning to end his slump, but saved his big hit for the fourth when he jumped on a hanging breaking ball from Matt Harvey and sent it deep into the seats in left field for a three-run homer. “I had been trying to make decisions too early and didn’t really feel like myself attacking the ball,” said Dalbec. “The last few days, I’ve been seeing the ball better.” Dalbec credited current and former teammates as well as some past hitting coaches for providing support and some input. But Dalbec has discovered that when he gets in ruts at the plate, the problem is less about his swing and its mechanics and more about his timing and seeing the ball well.

Rodriguez is good enough: Before the game, Alex Cora had expressed hope that, with an overworked bullpen of late, the Sox could count on a deep start from lefty Eduardo Rodriguez. He didn’t get that, with Rodriguez going just five innings. But there was a reason: Rodriguez didn’t have his customary fastball command, and without it, had to depend on an assortment of secondary pitches to get the Orioles out. That translated into 50 pitches thrown between the second and third inning, and at 91 pitches after five, he was done. Still, Rodriguez did his job for as long as he was there, scattering seven hits and limiting the Orioles to a single run while improving to 5-0 on the season.

Sox add on late: More than a few times in recent weeks, the Red Sox have had the habit of squandering early-game scoring opportunities and failing to add on to early leads. Friday night, they did their adding on late, scoring one run in the eighth and another in the ninth. That proved important, too, since with a four- run lead, the Sox didn’t have to utilize closer Matt Barnes in the ninth for a save situation. In general, Cora got to reset his bullpen, since he didn’t use any of his high-leverage relievers (Barnes, Adam Ottavino and Darwinzon Hernandez), all of whom worked a lot on the last homestand and previous series in Texas

TURNING POINT

The Sox were leading 4-2 in the eighth inning with two outs when Christian Vazquez lofted a double to the left-field corner, scoring Rafael Devers with the first of two late-inning insurance runs. Before that run, the Sox had been held scoreless since the fourth inning and were asking for trouble going into the late innings, in a small ballpark, with just a two-run lead. But the RBI-double from Vazquez and another one from Marwin Gonzalez in the ninth, helped provide some needed breathing room.

TWO UP

Garrett Whitlock: After a couple of rough outings — one in Texas last weekend and another against Detroit when he was tagged with the loss — the rookie righthander bounced back nicely and gave the Sox two scoreless innings.

Rafael Devers: In addition to a double in the second, Devers made contributions on the bases — stealing third base in the fourth inning and later, scoring all the way from first on a double by Christian Vazquez.

ONE DOWN

Hirokazu Sawamura: Ultimately it didn’t end up costing the Sox, but coming in for the sixth inning, Sawmura allowed a homer to the first batter he faced — his fourth allowed in just 14.1 innings. That can’t continue if Sawamura is going to be a trusted reliever.

QUOTE OF NOTE

“I love pitching, no matter where it is. I would say for the first couple of starts of my career, I was excited to be pitching here. But now it’s just another ballpark, another team for me.” Eduardo Rodriguez, who improved to 8-0 at Camden Yards since 2018.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING:

Alex Verdugo saw his on-base streak snapped at 24 consecutive games with an 0-for-5 night.

With Kike Hernandez placed on the IL before the game, Marwin Gonzalez hit leadoff for the first time this season.

The game marked the 26th time in 33 games that a Red Sox starter pitched at least five innings.

The Red Sox improved to 4-0 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards this season.

UP NEXT

The series continues at 7:05 p.m. Saturday with RHP Garrett Richards (1-2, 4.40) vs. TBA.

* The Athletic

Michael Chavis gets another chance with Red Sox as Kiké Hernandez heads to the IL

Jen McCaffrey

Just over two years ago, Michael Chavis made his long-awaited major-league debut when a struggling Red Sox offense needed a spark in the wake of an infielder’s injury.

Sound familiar?

It’s not quite the same scenario this time around, but Chavis, now with 138 major-league games under his belt, is getting another shot at contributing with the big-league club.

The Red Sox placed infielder/outfielder Kiké Hernandez on the 10-day injured list Friday with a strained right hamstring and recalled Chavis, who had been with the team in Baltimore on the taxi squad. Manager Alex Cora said he expects Chavis to be in the lineup Saturday.

“Just (need) consistent at-bats. He did a good job in spring training early on,” Cora said. “I do believe towards the end, because of the competition, he started chasing hits and he got out of his approach. We know what he can do. I saw it in ’19, but obviously the league caught up with him.”

Since his debut in April 2019, Chavis has struggled to find consistency in a role that’s often been in flux. That first season, he joined a tired Red Sox team coming off a season-opening West Coast road trip and took over second base after Dustin Pedroia had played what would be his final game in a Red Sox uniform.

Chavis offered that initial spark, hitting .270 with a .911 OPS, 10 homers and two doubles over his first 30 games but cooled off the rest of the season, struggling to adjust to the majors. He struck out 91 times over his final 65 games that season.

Last season wasn’t much better for the 2104 first-round pick, who hit .212 with a .636 OPS in 42 games for a listless Red Sox club.

But this past winter, Chavis focused on losing weight, getting faster, retaking control of his career.

“This whole offseason, (Cora) and everyone were talking out how we were going to key in on being faster, and how we needed to play faster and how base running was going to be a big aspect,” Chavis said this spring. “When I was approaching my offseason, a lot of what I did was running oriented. That’s how I’m in the shape that I’m now. I feel incredible. I think it’s actually showing up pretty well in the field.”

In 25 spring training games, the 25-year-old hit .250 with an .892 OPS, three doubles and six homers. But in the end, Cora and chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom opted to go with Christan Arroyo as their 26th man, a move that has so far paid off.

Outside of serving as the 27th man for a doubleheader on April 10, Chavis spent the past month at the alternate site and then at Triple-A Worcester waiting his turn.

Rather than fighting the unpredictability, Chavis embraced it, knowing the team had acquired utilitymen Hernandez and Marwin Gonzalez over the winter and that he might be squeezed out of the role he’d once occupied.

“It’s been the most focused I’ve been of any offseason previously,” he said toward the end of March. “In regards to my position, I’m not sure if I have one. I’m not sure where I fit in, but as uncomfortable as that is, and as awkward as that is, I don’t feel uncomfortable. I worked my butt off this offseason. I did what I needed to do to prepare for this.”

With Hernandez out and Arroyo nursing a bruised hand after getting hit by a pitch earlier this week, the Red Sox bench is thin. Utilityman Danny Santana, who’s rehabbing at High-A Greenville, still needs more at-bats as he works his way into game shape. And outfield prospect Jarren Duran isn’t likely to see a promotion for at least another month.

So it’s Chavis’ turn once again to see if he can provide meaningful at-bats.

“I do believe he did a good job in spring training knowing the boundaries of his swing,” Cora said. “Hopefully when he gets a chance here, he can do it.”

* Associated Press

Dalbec ends slump, lifts Red Sox past Orioles 6-2

BALTIMORE (AP) — Bobby Dalbec snapped an 0-for-27 skid with a single and a three-run homer, powering the Boston Red Sox to a 6-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night.

“I just tried to have fun and see the ball,” Dalbec said. “It felt really good to get a couple (of hits) and to get something rolling. I just have to keep working.”

Eduardo Rodriguez (5-0) allowed one run and seven hits with two strikeouts and three walks over five innings to help the Red Sox improve to a major league-best 20-13.

Boston has won the last nine games Rodriguez has started against Baltimore, where he originally signed as an international free agent in January 2010 before being traded to the Red Sox for reliever .

“I love pitching no matter where it is,” Rodriguez said “I will say, for the couple starts of my career, I was excited to pitch over here because that’s where I signed from Venezuela. But now, it’s just another ballpark to me.”

Ryan Mountcastle had three hits, including his first homer since the Orloles’ home opener on April 8.

The game was delayed 1 hour, 38 minutes because of rain.

Rafael Devers reached on a two-base error in the fourth inning by Matt Harvey, who couldn’t handle Pat Valaika’s throw. After stealing third, Devers scored on a single by Hunter Renfroe and Boston led 1-0. Dalbec’s three-run shot later that inning boosted the lead to 4-0.

“He’s been working hard,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said about Dalbec. “It’s good to see those swings, This is such a tough sport. For him to see results, it’s a good feeling. Hopefully, he can take off now.”

Harvey (3-2) snapped a three-game winning streak, allowing four runs — all unearned — and four hits, with three strikeouts and a walk over four innings. He managed to lower his ERA from 4.06 to 3.60.

“I just really didn’t have it tonight,” Harvey said. “Kind of just was all over the place, really just physically didn’t feel that great and wasn’t able to get it done. I wasn’t able to limit the damage when I needed to that inning and it just wasn’t a good start.”

A single by Trey Mancini gave the Orioles their first run of the night in the fifth and Mountcastle cut the margin to 4-2 with a solo homer an inning later off Hirokazu Sawamura.

Christian Vazquez and Marwin Gonzalez each had an RBI double to round out the scoring for Boston.

“We kept playing and when we do that, we are a really good team,” Cora said.

QUIET NIGHT

The last time Red Sox DH J.D. Martinez played at Camden Yards on April 11, he came off the COVID-19 list and hit three home runs. This time, Martinez went 1 for 5 with two strikeouts.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Red Sox: INF/OF Kiké Hernandez was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain he sustained the previous night against the Tigers. In a corresponding move, Michael Chavis was recalled from Triple-A Worcester. “He can play first, second, third. We can put him in left field,” Cora said.

Orioles: OF Anthony Santander (ankle) is jogging and is close to starting baseball activities. Santander has not played since April 20 but could be back in the lineup in one or two weeks. … RHP Mac Sceroler (right shoulder tendinitis) threw a side session Friday and did not have any setbacks. Sceroler, a Rule 5 pick, is 0- 0 with a 7.36 ERA in two games.

UP NEXT

Red Sox: RHP Garrett Richards 1-2, 4.40 ERA) will make his third start against the Orioles this season. In the previous two games, he’s gone 0-1, allowing eight runs and 10 hits with six strikeouts and five walks over seven innings.

Orioles: Zac Lowther (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will get the first start of his career after throwing one scoreless inning out of the bullpen this season.

* The New York Post

David Ortiz slams Angels for ‘devastating’ Albert Pujols release

Jenna Lemoncelli

MLB legend thinks Albert Pujols deserves better after the slugger was released by the Angels on Thursday.

Ortiz, who grew up with Pujols in the Dominican Republic, reacted to the news in an Instagram post on Friday.

“Brother @albertpujols all the way with you incredible career one of the most beloved player of all time on and off the field,” he wrote alongside a smiling photo that featured the two pros. “l do not agree on the move that just happen that was devastating for fans and player l know this is a business but l was expecting someone like you to walk away like you deserve you have done so much for baseball that is hard to replace someone like you ……much love and respect always our future first ballot HOF 100 all the way unanimous.”

The Angels released Pujols nearly two months into the final season of a 10-year, $240 million contract. Despite struggling at the plate as of late – he had a .198 batting average with a .250 on-base percentage in 24 Angels games in 2021 – Pujols has been a consistent defender in the latter half of his career.

Perry Minasian, the first-year general manager for the Angels, said the decision was solely determined by the baseball operations department.

“It’s more about opportunity,” Minasian said, according to ESPN. “Albert is not a bench player. We felt like, for him, with respect to him, keeping him on the bench, him not getting any playing time, would not do him any good or the team any good.”

Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez, who’s good friends with Pujols and a former Red Sox teammate of Ortiz’s, called the release “shameful” in a tweet on Friday.

In February, Pujols told the Los Angeles Times that he would likely decide if he’ll play beyond his Angels contract “at the end of the year.”

In his illustrious 21-season MLB career, Pujols recorded 2,886 games played, 12,486 plate appearances, 10,925 at bats, 1,852 runs, 3,253 hits, 669 doubles, 667 home runs, 2,112 RBIs, 1,334 walks and 99.4 WAR.

The 41-year-old is a three-time MVP and 10-time All-Star. He ranks third all-time in RBIs and fifth in career home runs.