The Red Sox (spring training) offense is starting to roll, with 28 runs over the last two days.
Andrew Benintendi with a huge day
We shouldn’t overreact to spring training performances. It’s something we all know, and yet days like today it becomes difficult. One could make the argument that Benintendi will be the most exciting player to watch this season given all of the hype gathering around his talent right now. There’s even more reason to be excited after Friday’s game. The “rookie” came to the plate four times in this one and got hits in every at bat. Not only were they hits, but one was a home run and the other two were doubles. The doubles were off Julio Teheran and the homer was off Arodys Vizcaino, too, so it’s not like he was simply taking advantage of Quad-A arms. It’s the second straight game with a home run for Benintendi. There’s always risk for disappointment for players with such little experience, but for now the outfielder is looking like the real deal.
Rick Porcello makes his spring debut
As we await the latest news on David Price, we can take solace in the fact that Rick Porcello and Chris Sale are still healthy. The former took the mound on Friday for his first Grapefruit League outing, and he looked good. Throwing three innings, last year’s Cy Young winner didn’t allow a run or a walk, instead giving up one double and one single while striking out four Braves. If the Red Sox rotation is to pitch to a full potential, Porcello will need to keep most of the gains he made in 2016. One start into his spring training, it’s looking good.
Good day for the rest of the pitchers, too
There weren’t any other big names throwing for Boston after Porcello, but some key depth pieces took the mound and looked mostly good. Brian Johnson pitched the fifth and sixth innings and didn’t allow a run. However, he did allow two singles and walked two batters, so it wasn’t a perfect outing. Still, it’s a step in the right direction. A couple of left-handed depth pieces, Robby Scott and Edgar Olmos, each threw scoreless innings with the latter striking out a batter. Marcus Walden pitched a scoreless ninth. The one blemish on the pitching staff belonged to Kyle Martin, who allowed a solo home run to Emilio Bonifacio.
Who cares about this game, though. DAVID PRICE ISN’T GETTING SURGERY.