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Boston Red Sox: Bottom of Sox lineup is starting to erupt

By Connor Floyd

BOSTON, MA - MAY 15: Bobby Dalbec #29 of the Boston Red Sox hits an RBI double during the fourth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on May 15, 2021 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MAY 15: Bobby Dalbec #29 of the Boston Red Sox hits an RBI double during the fourth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on May 15, 2021 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /
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Don’t look now, but the bottom of the Boston Red Sox lineup is starting to wake up.

After an abysmal first month, where the Red Sox 6-9 hitters were tied for second to last in wRC+ in the entire league, things are starting to look up.

Hunter Renfroe has completely turned it around in May, hitting .304 with a team second-best four home runs and 11 RBI. He’s delivered in big moments this month, with a homer against the Orioles to increase the Sox lead to 4-2 that ultimately secured the win, and a two-run blast off of Griffin Canning to get things started in a back-and-forth game against the Los Angeles Angels of Friday night.

Renfroe won’t be able to maintain that batting average, as he’s never had a full season over .250, but if he can continue to provide some pop from the bottom of the lineup, he’ll take some pressure off of the top of the order.

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Another guy that has turned it on is Bobby Dalbec. The first baseman has gone through some extremely unlucky growing pains this season, but those may be behind him now.

Has Boston Red Sox rookie Bobby Dalbec broken out of his slump?

Dalbec has a .768 OPS in May, compared to a .619 OPS in April. He has been extremely hot in the last three games, reaching base six times in 11 plate appearances with four extra base hits – two doubles and two homers. His 12 RBI in May is second on the team behind Xander Bogaerts.

Dalbec has had a few big moments of his own lately, including a go-ahead two run shot over the Green Monster on Friday night against the Angels. If this is Dalbec’s 2021 arrival party, it’s been a long time coming, and the Sox will be happy to host it. Having that kind of production from the 9 hitter would be a dream come true.

Marwin Gonzalez, or the jack-of-all-trades as I like to call him, has also upped his game. He has a .260 batting average and a .682 OPS in May compared to a .186 average and .589 OPS in the first month. Gonzalez’s true value comes from plus-defense at nearly every position other than pitcher and catcher.

However, the Red Sox will certainly need to see a continued upward trend with the bat or Gonzalez is at the risk of becoming a guy who starts on better players’ rest days.

Finally, we have Franchy Cordero. Cordero has been more deserving of a one-way ticket to Worcester than a spot in the starting lineup, but even he had a productive game yesterday afternoon in the second game of the Angels series.

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The outfielder went 2-4 with two doubles and two RBI – which could be a bigger indictment of the Angels pitching staff than Cordero’s offensive abilities, but I digress.

Cordero has without a doubt been an offensive black hole in the Red Sox lineup, but if he could have a performance like Saturday afternoon’s once or twice a week, he might keep Jarren Duran in Worcester a little longer.

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