Red Sox Strut: Third baseman Rafael Devers, LHP Chris Sale
By Sean Penney
Position Player Candidates
Mookie Betts carried the Red Sox to an eighth-inning comeback on Sunday in Cincinnati. His three-run double tied the game and he would end up scoring the winning run with some aggressive baserunning that allowed him to score from second base on an infield single. Betts finished the week going 6-for-22 (.273) with three doubles, a triple, a home run and a team-high nine RBI.
Brock Holt is starting to see more regular playing time with Dustin Pedroia‘s ailing knee preventing him from playing every day. He went 3-for-9 (.333) last week with a double and three RBI, showing signs he may be finally finding a rhythm at the plate. Holt is in danger of losing playing time again with Eduardo Nunez on the verge of a return. If the Red Sox ease Nunez back in by using him as the DH for a few games then it opens more opportunities for the versatile Holt to remain in the lineup.
Not even a long road trip can cool off the bat of Christian Vazquez. Much has been made about his drastic home/road splits this season but the young catcher remained a threat in the lineup through the team’s recent nine-game trip. Vazquez went 8-for-25 (.320) over his last eight games on the road, including three multi-hit games.
Hanley Ramirez returned from a brief bout with biceps soreness to collect three hits, including a pair of doubles, and three RBI in a win over Baltimore. It would end up being his only start of the week as the Red Sox moved on to a National League park that deprived their lineup of the DH. Ramirez was limited to pinch-hit duty, failing to reach base in both opportunities against the Reds.