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The Boston Red Sox Friday, May 14, 2021 * The Boston Globe Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox bust out of hitting slump in rout of A’s Julian McWilliams The Red Sox were in an offensive funk heading into Thursday’s series finale against the A’s. The Sox had dropped their last three games, beginning with a loss Monday in Baltimore against the Orioles. During that slide, the Sox hit just .141/.198./239 with a .437 OPS in 101 plate appearances and stranded 16 baserunners. After starting the season on an offensive tear — especially from the heart of the order — the Sox were in a collective offensive rut. On Thursday, however, the Sox’ bats came alive again. The Red Sox sent 17 hitters to the batter’s box against Oakland A’s starter Sean Manaea, who managed to retire just six of them. The Red Sox chased Manaea after two innings, battering the lefthander for seven runs on 10 hits, including a pair of home runs, in an 8-1 win at Fenway Park, which helped the Sox avert a three-game sweep. Boston’s 13-hit assault came on the heels of a pair of setbacks vs. the A’s during which the Red Sox had nine hits combined. Michael Chavis led off the game with a scorching double that slipped underneath the glove of A’s center fielder Rámon Laureano, who appeared to make a bad read on the ball. Known for his accurate arm, even Laureano couldn’t nab the hustling Chavis, who safely reached after a head-first dive into second base. “I knew it was going take a second for [Laureano] to get up,” Chavis said afterward. “So off the bat, I’m just trying to take a hard turn around first. Then it was just a read, where I was just waiting to see what was going to unfold.” What unfolded afterward was a Red Sox offensive onslaught. After J.D. Martinez’s single scored Chavis, Xander Bogaerts (3 for 3 with a walk and 3 RBIs) took Manaea deep for a two-run homer to left, giving the Red Sox a quick 3-0 lead. In the second frame, Hunter Renfroe singled. Bobby Dalbec came to the plate and ripped Manaea’s second offering, an 89.7 m.p.h. sinker, to straightaway center for a two-run homer that expanded Boston’s lead to 5-0. It was Dalbec’s third homer of the season. Manaea, who threw a no-hitter against the Red Sox three years ago in Oakland, was working on his second career no-hitter in his previous outing against the Rays. Manaea surrendered a leadoff double in the eighth to Mike Brosseau. Before the game, Red Sox manager Alex Cora knew the type of pitcher his team was facing in Manaea. “He’s a good one,” Cora said. “We just got to make sure we get him up. Be very disciplined in the strikes zone, and if we do that we should be OK.” The Red Sox proved to be more than OK. Manaea appeared as if he was leaving the ball on a tee for the Red Sox, who registered seven hits with an exit velocity of 105-plus m.p.h. It was the hardest hits allowed by any pitcher since Jake Peavy gave up seven such hits in April of 2016. “I think Michael set the tempo,” manager Alex Cora said. “J.D. got a hit, And then Xander, he was hunting a pitch in the zone. It just kept rolling. And it was cool to see them add on and give Garrett [Richards] a margin for error. We were able to do a lot of things today.” Richards had his way with the A’s lineup, allowing five hits with four strikeouts over six scoreless innings. It marked the third time in his last four outings Richards has given the Sox at least six innings. He went seven innings in his other two outings. “We’ve done a lot of work the last month and we feel like we’re in a good place right now for me to repeat my delivery,” Richards said. “Tonight I wish I would have been able to eliminate some of the walks. It probably cost me a couple of innings. But that’s part of baseball. There’s always stuff you can work on.” In the sixth, with his club leading, 7-0, Richards walked Jed Lowrie to load the bases. It brought up A’s slugger, Matt Chapman, who grounded into a double play to end the threat. Garrett Whitlock took over for Richards in the seventh and picked up his first save of the season after allowing one run on three hits over three innings of relief. The Red Sox (23-16) next host the Angels and Mike Trout for a three-game set beginning Friday. After a brief halt to an offense that has been the best in baseball through the quarter of this season, the Red Sox hitters regained their stride. One that was rooted in conviction. “It was electric,” Chavis said. Red Sox reliever Hirokazu Sawamura aiming to elevate his game, zone delivery Julian McWilliams The Red Sox have stressed the importance of pitching up in the zone to Hirokazu Sawamura. In his one- inning appearance in a 6-2 win against the Orioles May 7, Sawamura yielded his fourth homer of the year. “Fastball is down in the zone,” manager Alex Cora said afterward. “That’s something that we have talked about.” Sawamura heeded Cora’s words, intimating Thursday afternoon the importance of pounding the top of the zone with his fastball, and getting the fastball above the hitters’ swing paths. It’s part of the adjustment Sawamura said he’s learned to make since arriving from Japan. “The hitters here, I think they’re good at scooping the low strike, the low fastball,” Sawamura said before the Sox’ 8-1 win vs. the A’s at Fenway Park. “That’s the pitch I’ve given the home run off. They have long reach.” Sawamura made an adjustment in Tuesday’s outing, striking out four A’s hitters over two innings of no-hit work. Sawamura could give the Red Sox’ struggling bullpen a big boost in high-leverage situations, provided he can can build on Tuesday’s outing during which he worked a season-high two innings, recording a career- high four strikeouts. “If I’m asked to pitch in high-leverage situations or tough situations, as a pitcher that’s an honor,” Sawamura said. “I’m really honored to be able to pitch in those situations and I can make that sort of my motivation to go out there if [Cora] gives me the ball in a tough situation.” Hernández, Arroyo close Kiké Hernández (right hamstring strain) likely will go on a rehab assignment Saturday or Sunday, per Cora. Christian Arroyo (left hand contusion) hit for the first time Thursday. “It seems like both of them are trending in the right direction” Cora said. Especially Enrique. And that’s good news for us.” Hernández will DH on Saturday then play center on Sunday. The team will make a decision on what to do with Arroyo based on how he feels coming out of batting practice. “We just have to wait and see,” Cora said. “But it seems like he’s feeling a lot better. The fact that he’s going to hit outside is a positive for us.” Casas on a tear Triston Casas had an evening at the plate for the Double A Portland Sea Dogs in a 14-3 demolition of the host Hartford Yard Goats on Wednesday. The Red Sox top prospect and No. 1 pick (26th overall) in the 2018 MLB amateur draft went 4 for 6 with two homers, one double and six RBIs. Casas also scored three times. In Thursday’s 6-5 win at Hartford, Casas was 2 for 4 with a 3-run homer. Casas is hitting .313/.371/.625 slugging with three homers in his first eight games. “He’s a good hitter,” Cora said of Casas. “He hasn’t played much baseball since he signed, but it’s good to see him putting good swings [on the ball]. He knows the game. He knows his swing. He knows what to do with his swing. “And here’s a guy whose future is bright the way we see it. He’s a very important piece of this organization.” Sea Dogs to fill ‘em up The Portland Sea Dogs announced they will go back to full capacity at Hadlock Field beginning in June. This falls in compliance with Maine’s updated COVID-19 protocol guidance for outdoor facilities. Maine’s governor, Janet Mills, announced recently 70 percent of the state’s population age 18 and older received at least their first COVID-19 vaccination. Masks won’t be required when fans are outside watching the game, but facial coverings will be mandated upon entry into the stadium. Masks also need to be worn when fans walk in public areas through the concourse or while in the bathroom. “We have carefully followed the expert guidance of the state throughout the entire pandemic and feel confident with today’s announcement that we will be able to safely host fans in our traditional seating arrangement,” said Geoff Iacuessa, the Sea Dogs president and general manager. Letting Nick Pivetta be himself is paying off big for Red Sox Alex Speier How on earth did Nick Pivetta transform from an outcast from Philly into an indispensable rotation contributor for the Red Sox in what feels like the blink of an eye? The question looms large given Pivetta’s role in the Red Sox’ strong start to the 2021 season.