Red Sox without best hitter for one more game Friday as doubleheader starts with rookie on mound

[ASFN Admin]

You must be registered for see images attach

BOSTON — As the Red Sox begin a long day of baseball Friday, they’ll do so without their best hitter in the lineup for one more game.

First baseman Willson Contreras will serve the fifth and final game of his suspension in Game 1 of a day-night doubleheader between the Red Sox and Rays on Friday at Fenway Park. The All-Star will be in the lineup for Game 2. But as he completes his punishment for his role in a June 30 brawl with Cade Cavalli and the Nationals, the Red Sox will play Romy Gonzalez at first base.


Facing righty Griffin Jax, the Sox will hit third baseman Caleb Durbin cleanup and designated hitter Masataka Yoshida fifth, right before Gonzalez. Tsung-Che Cheng is the shortstop and Carlos Narváez is catching rookie Jake Bennett. Bennett, who has a 1.39 ERA over his last five starts, has faced the Rays twice this year and has allowed eight earned runs in 10 ⅓ innings. Overall, he leads MLB’s qualified rookies with a 2.64 ERA and 0.68 WHIP.

The Red Sox entered this week’s All-Star break on a nine-game winning streak after going undefeated in their three-city trip to Anaheim, Chicago and New York. They’re back at Fenway for the first time in more than two weeks after going 5-2 in their last homestand to improve to 17-27 at home this season. The unofficial second half begins with Boston’s first doubleheader of the season Friday; Game 1 is a makeup of a May 9 rainout.

First pitch is at 1:35 p.m. ET.

BOSTON RED SOX (46-48) vs. TAMPA BAY RAYS (56-38) · FENWAY PARK · BOSTON, MA · GAME 95

FIRST PITCH: 1:35 p.m. ET


TV CHANNEL: NESN

RADIO: WEEI 93.7 FM

PITCHING PROBABLES: LHP Jake Bennett (4-3, 2.64 ERA) vs. RHP Griffin Jax (5-6, 3.47 ERA)

RED SOX LINEUP:

1. Anthony Seigler 2B
2. Ceddanne Rafaela CF
3. Wilyer Abreu RF
4. Caleb Durbin 3B
5. Masataka Yoshida DH
6. Romy Gonzalez 1B
7. Jarren Duran LF
8. Carlos Narváez C
9. Tsung-Che Cheng SS

RAYS LINEUP:

1. Yandy Díaz DH
2. Jonathan Aranda 1B
3. Junior Caminero 3B
4. Ryan Vilade RF
5. Jonny DeLuca CF
6. Chandler Simpson LF
7. Ben Williamson 2B
8. Taylor Walls SS
9. Nick Fortes C

More Red Sox coverage​

• Red Sox reactions: Boston bludgeons Rays for 10th straight win; Masataka Yoshida has big day
• Red Sox sign first-round pick, three other high-upside draftees to nine-figure bonuses
• Chad Tracy gives Red Sox injury updates, including good news on two key lefty starters
• Red Sox roster: Lefty reliever appointed Boston’s 27th man for doubleheader
• Red Sox trade deadline approach, Craig Breslow’s job security, Rafael Devers’ return among top second half storylines

Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Continue reading...