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Boston Red Sox: No magic at Fenway as Jays go on home run barrage

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

Jun 12, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Fans in section 9 of the Green Monster seats watch as a two-run home run hit by Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (not pictured) hits off the section sign during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 12, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Fans in section 9 of the Green Monster seats watch as a two-run home run hit by Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (not pictured) hits off the section sign during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Boston Red Sox starting pitching is starting to become a concern as Nick Pivetta is the latest starter to get roughed up in a 7-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park.

What has been overshadowed the last couple of games do to Red Sox dramatic comebacks is the fact that the starters have not been consistent.  That is becoming a concern because the offense won’t be able to bail them out every time, especially against a team like the Blue Jays.

On a day like Saturday, in which Toronto starter Steven Matz held the Red Sox batters in check, that starting pitching the team received earlier would’ve been nice, especially from Pivetta who gave up three homers on the day.

Boston Red Sox starters wearing down?

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In watching Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Cavan Biggio go on a home run barrage at Fenway, it was evident early that there would be no magic for the Red Sox this time around as the 8.36 ERA by starting pitching over the last eight games is becoming more the trend than just a bad stretch as described by Alex Cora following the poor outing by Pivetta.

"“It’s part of the season,” the Red Sox manager said, via MLB.com.  “We were unable to hold them today, but overall if you think about it, it’s been a bad stretch.  But I still have confidence, the same way when I came in this year going into Spring Training.  I believe in these guys and these guys are going to give us quality innings, keep us in games and we’re going to do our thing offensively.”"

In part, Cora is right.  This could very well be just a bad stretch.  But, continuously falling behind in games could quickly turn into more than a bad stretch if the Red Sox lineup runs into good pitching, which they did on Saturday.

Whether its fatigue or simply running into tough lineups like the Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays over the past few games, the next week or so will tell the story.  If the starters bounce back, then it was just a bad stretch.  If the struggles continue, the pressure will be on Chaim Bloom to find help elsewhere.

And no, they can’t afford to wait for the return of Chris Sale.

Boston Red Sox pitching ran into a beast at the plate in Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Wouldn’t it be nice if the Red Sox had a first baseman like Vladimir Guerrero Jr.?

In the first two games at Fenway Park, this man has put on a show with two blasts over over 430 feet.  One came Friday night, and this shot came Saturday afternoon as part of the home run barrage off Pivetta.

As a rising star in the MLB, Guerrero Jr. has been a tough out in this series.  He has gone 4-for-6 in the first two games of the series, with the two homers and 4 RBI.  He has also drawn two walks.  Sometimes when a power hitter is in that kind of a zone, all you can do is tip your hat and Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez did just that in talking about Guerrero Jr.

"“He’s hitting the ball like a balloon, I think,” Vazquez told the media, as transcribed by NESN.  “He looks good at home plate, swinging (at) strikes.  What can we do?  Turn the page and keep trying to get him out.”"

Good luck with that.

Kike Hernandez doing okay after scary moment

Speaking of luck, Boston Red Sox infielder Kike Hernandez is grateful he decided to go with a batting helmet with an extended ear flap.

That equipment choice saved Hernandez from serious injury Saturday afternoon as he got hit by a 95.8 mph fastball on the left side of his helmet.  The pitch by Blue Jays reliever Anthony Castro could’ve resulted in an even more scary moment had Hernandez not been wearing the extended ear flap.

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Luckily, he did and if Blue Jays pitching was actually throwing at him, then lucky for them he had protection as well.

The good news is Kike Hernandez will be okay as he played the remainder of the game.  It will be interesting to see if Boston Red Sox pitching retaliates in any way.

In all honestly, they should be more focused on that 8.36 ERA over the last eight games.

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