Red Sox Win, Hernandez Hits First Career Homer
By Blake Yagman
The Red Sox continue to mash baseballs. Boston’s scorching offense continued Monday when the Sox crushed the second-place Orioles 7-2 in Baltimore.
Ultimately, the Orioles were pummeled into submission by a barrage of home runs. Each of the Sox’ homers came after the sixth inning; part of what makes Boston’s offense so devastating is the team’s ability to score late in games. The hot-hitting Jackie Bradley Jr. launched a dinger in the sixth, David Ortiz hit his 14th of the season during the top of the eighth inning.
As each of Ortiz’ home runs help him to climb higher in the all-time record books, Red Sox infielder Marco Hernandez made history of his own today. Hernandez, who started at 3B today, smacked his first career major league home run. Hernandez’ homer helped to seal the Red Sox win, capping a 4 run attack in the eighth.
Marco Hernandez, a 23-year-old native of the Dominican Republic, was acquired by the Sox in 2014. Hernandez was the ‘player to be named later’ sent by (former Sox GM) Theo Epstein and the Cubs in exchange for pitcher Felix Doubront. Doubront, now playing for Oakland, was later released by the Cubs and has bounced around the league since.
Hernandez’ homer was not the only bright spot of the afternoon. Aiding a much maligned starting rotation, Steven Wright pitched a complete game victory. Wright’s brilliant knuckleball fluttered through nine innings worth of bewildered Orioles. Wright surrendered only two runs on four hits, he also struck out seven.
Steven Wright’s continued dominance is the stabilizing force that has kept the Red Sox in first place. Boston’s de facto ace has established himself in a manner reminiscent to when knuckleballer R.A. Dickey won the Cy Young award with the New York Mets in 2012. Wright’s 2.45 ERA is the best amongst Red Sox starters thus far in 2016.
After the win, the Red Sox moved to add reinforcements to the team’s starting rotation. The Sox announced that relief pitcher Heath Hembree would be immediately optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket so that starter Eduardo Rodriguez could be activated from the Disabled List. Hembree has been solid for the Red Sox thus far this season, and will likely be called back up before the season concludes.
The addition of Eduardo Rodriguez is imperative to the Red Sox’ success this season. Rodriguez will make his first start of the year against the Orioles tomorrow; the 6’2″ southpaw was Boston’s best starting pitcher in 2015. E-Rod’s presence will boost the Sox’ pitching staff, becoming the team’s ‘third ace’ behind David Price and Steven Wright.
Keep it locked here at Chowder and Champions for continued coverage on the Boston Red Sox’ 2016 season.