It’s silly to take wins and losses seriously in spring training in any year, leastwise one in which yesterday’s second inning was called with one out and the Sox giving up runs without end, per the new rules that you can just end an inning when stuff gets bad to keep everything moving forward. These are pure exhibitions. But today’s will be an exhibition on television.
I enjoyed listening to the game yesterday and I love baseball on the radio but oh sister this is what I need. Today, when the Red Sox host the Braves (1:05 p.m.), it will be on NESN. Can you feel the excitement? I can, and yesterday’s game has only stoked it. Not only did several big young bats go yard, several big young bats played, which might be a neat feature in this second-weirdest of springs (last year having won the belt, permanently). There’s no longer much time to waste in working these guys in. Every inning has the chance not to see someone new, but someone good. At least now that we can see them.
Garrett Richards makes his first appearance in a Sox uniform, leading a team that will field smilin’ J.D. Martinez for the first time this spring, and Marwin Gonzalez for the first time ever. Yesterday’s bopping boyz Bobby Dalbec and Michael Chavis are also back to start, but that’s about it for the notables. But on the other side Ronald Acuña Jr., who rules, will lead off the game, so don’t miss first pitch.
Braves Lineup
1. Ronald Acuña Jr., CF
2. Ozzie Albies, 2B
3. Jake Lamb, 1B
4. Johan Camargo, SS
5. Philip Ervin, LF
6. William Contreras, C
7. Cristian Pache, CF
8. Ehire Adrianza, 3B
9. Braden Shewmake, DH
SP: Huascar Ynoa, RHP
Red Sox
1. Christian Arroyo, SS
2. Marwin Gonzalez, 2B
3. J.D. Martinez, DH
4. Bobby Dalbec, 3B
5. Michael Chavis, 1B
6. Yairo Muñoz, DH
7. César Puello, RF
8. Jeisson Rosario, CF
9. Jett Bandy, C
SP: Garrett Richards, RHP