Chris Young powers Boston Red Sox to 9-4 win

The Red Sox survived some sloppy defense and shaky pitching to pound out 12 hits in a 9-4 win over the New York Mets.

Boston Red Sox pitching lived on the edge with nine walks, a pair of wild pitches and some sloppy team defense in a 9-4 win over the New York Mets. Boston’s staff was backed up by 12 hits including a go-ahead three-run home run by Chris Young.

The Red Sox drifted off to the Florida home of the New York Mets – Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie. David Price and Koji Uehara remained home to pitch on the back fields  against selected awe struck minor leaguers. The threat of a potential rain out coupled with a cross-state trip resulted in a change of pitching plans and Heath Hembree got the start.

More from BoSox Injection

• Red Sox Nation deserves far more from Fenway Sports Group
• Bizarre trade deadline comes back to haunt Red Sox after Nathan Eovaldi departure
• Red Sox’ Moneyball-style offseason continues with Corey Kluber contract
• Rich Hill’s Red Sox departure puts him within striking distance of unique MLB record
• Red Sox offseason takes another nasty hit with Nathan Eovaldi departure

Hembree is certainly on the cusp of securing a position on the Red Sox staff and managed a clear first inning as did Mets starter Noah Syndergaard (9-7, 3.24 – 2015 stats) – the 23-year-old hard throwing (k/9 10.0) right-hander who has often been mentioned to be on the Red Sox (and everyone else’s) wish list.

Cut Down

The Red Sox started a small uprising in the top of the second after a Travis Shaw and Young strikeouts. David Murphy banged out a single and Ryan Hanigan followed with another hit to deep right that showed the value of a well-executed relay from right fielder Curtis Granderson to Neil Walker to catcher Travis d’Arnaud and an out at home. Hanigan received credit for a double.

The Red Sox got “shifty” in the last of the third. Noe Ramirez replaced Hembree and after two quick out Yoenis Cespedes singled and on a 3-1 toss Lucas Duda took ball four for the fourth free pass of the game by Red Sox pitching. On a 0-2 pitch, Walker grounded to Xander Bogaerts – playing second in the shift – and a quick flip to first eliminated any run potential.

Red Sox Score

With one out in the fourth Bogaerts raked a double to left and set it up for Shaw who did not disappoint with a run-scoring sinking slash to left. Shaw – not a noted speedster – then swiped second base. Syndergaard the took care of pitching business by striking out Young and Murphy.

Can Anyone Here Play This Game?

Ramirez was quickly pulled by manager John Farrell after a one-out hit by d’Arnaud and a walk to Juan Lagares. Carlos Marmol – once a very respectable closer – came in and promptly tossed a wild pitch to move the runners along. Marmol then went sidearm to Matt Reynolds and to quote Harry Doyle from “Major League” was “just a bit outside” and a run was in. The Red Sox then had wild pitches out of their system and it was time for sloppy play. Reynolds took off for second with Granderson up and thusly Lagares bolted for home and scored easily on a bounced toss by Bogaerts. A double steal and another run. A deflected ball to Pedroia by Marmol saw Petey launch one somewhere downtown for a run and an error. 3-1 Mets lead after the defensive folly.

The Red Sox made some sacrificial noise in the top of the fifth. Hanigan and Rusney Castillo singled and Sam Travis crushed a ball to right for a sac fly. Brock Holt brought in Hanigan with another sac fly and at the half way point it was 3-2 for the Mets.

Red Sox Do A Three Spot

Syndergaard (5 IP, 6 H 2 R, ER, 5 K) was replaced by veteran left-hander Jerry Blevins who was a delight for the Red Sox order. A Bogaerts walk, Shaw single and up came Young for a three-run home run and a bolt into the lead at 5-3.

The next highlight for the Red Sox was Chandler Shepherd who became the first Red Sox pitcher of the day not to issue a walk. In six innings the Mets had been on the receiving end of nine walks before Shepherd stopped the string.

Insurance Time

The eighth inning saw veteran Antonio Bastardo take the hill for the Mets and promptly catch the Red Sox walk disease and issue passes to Josh Rutledge and Forrestt Allday. Sandy Leon whacked a single to center for a run and after Alejandro De Aza did a Pele imitation and another run hustled around on the nifty DeAza boot.

The ninth inning had some vets and kids doing some damage. Jantzen Witte walked and long time minor leaguer Chris Marrero – cousin of Deven Marrero – doubled. Both quickly scored on a sharp double to right by Aneury Tavarez. Boston now had a 9-4 lead and that would be the game.

Next: Red Sox fantasy baseball targets

Game Notes

* The Mets and Red Sox both used the DH in an NL game.

* Marco Hernandez was optioned to Pawtucket.

* Hernandez leads the Red Sox in spring training doubles (6).

* Right-handed pitchers Sean O’Sullivan and Kyle Martin were assigned to minor league camp.

* Game time temperature was 80 degrees. Boston forecast was for snow.

* Joe Kelly now has two wins this spring and has a team-low 1.38 ERA.

* Back at Ft. Meyers Price tossed five innings facing 23 batters. Price had eight K’s.

* HP umpire Ramon DeJesus had a postage stamp size strike zone.

* Pedroia has not driven in a run this spring.

* Red Sox catchers had four hits.

Hembree (2 IP, 3 BB) kept the Mets off the board and lowered his spring ERA to 5.63. This was not a classic start as the Red Sox were in a mode to roll out several pitches for a taste. Hembree’s performance may have earned him another spring chance to make the 25 man roster despite three walks in two innings.

Ramirez (1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 BB) had Marmol essentially tack on two on those runs with wild pitches. Marmol (1.2 IP, H, R, 3 BB, 2 K) was brought out for another inning and settled down a bit, but two wild pitches?

(IP, BB, K) went one inning. Shepherd (IP, H, K) didn’t walk anyone.

(IP, H, R, K) gave up a lead off double. Mets were 1-13 in RISP so a hit along the way could have changed this.

Shaw (2-3, R, RBI) continued to hit. Pedroia went 0-4. Hot bat of

went 0-3, but had a major league out to RF. Hanigan went 3-3. RISP: 4-12.

Nice play at third and in the third by Shaw on an in-between grounder. Duda fell victim to an outstanding deflect play thanks to

demonstrating his quickness. Very nice take charge play by

in center on a low fly ball. Play of the day was Marrero who made a five star stop and tossed the ball to his cousin – Chris – playing first. Still that mess in the early going could have cost the game.