Red Sox Journal: Cora considering lineup changes for Game 3

NEW YORK — The Red Sox offense has managed just four runs in its last 16 innings, but that doesn’t mean manager Alex Cora is about to usher in sweeping lineup changes.

Boston enjoyed an off day in the city on Sunday, with only a select few players reporting to Yankee Stadium to go through optional workouts on their own or receive treatment. Cora was considering his roster prior to Monday night’s Game 3 in the American League Division Series, but he made no hard [...]

NEW YORK — The Red Sox offense has managed just four runs in its last 16 innings, but that doesn’t mean manager Alex Cora is about to usher in sweeping lineup changes.

Boston enjoyed an off day in the city on Sunday, with only a select few players reporting to Yankee Stadium to go through optional workouts on their own or receive treatment. Cora was considering his roster prior to Monday night’s Game 3 in the American League Division Series, but he made no hard and fast guarantees during his afternoon meeting with the media about shuffling personnel.

“We know we have to swing the bat better,” Cora said. “I think (Saturday) we were too aggressive outside the zone, and we don’t do that too often. Credit to (Yankees starter Masahiro) Tanaka.”

The Red Sox managed just five hits in a 6-2 defeat in Game 2, a stark contrast to the three home runs cracked by New York’s sluggers. Gary Sanchez blasted a titanic three-run shot in the top of the seventh to seal the victory and Boston surrendered the home-field advantage. The Red Sox have played their final game of 2018 at Fenway Park if they can’t produce at least a split in two games here.

“Tough loss yesterday,” said shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who drove a solo home run to center field in the fourth. “It’s a good day to relax. We have an important game tomorrow.”

Will Bogaerts be surrounded by the same cast in the infield? Mitch Moreland (right hamstring) left Saturday’s game late and was still being evaluated by Boston’s medical staff the following afternoon. Eduardo Nunez, Ian Kinsler and Sandy Leon are all under pressure to keep their spots due to a mix of underperformance and capable players sitting behind them.

“I’ll go to experience from the World Series last year,” said Cora, who helped Houston win a championship as its bench coach. “That’s something I learned — be patient. It’s such a small sample size and people get caught up.”

Nunez is 0-for-7 in two games and has been shaky defensively at third base, negating his perceived advantage in the field over Rafael Devers. Kinsler has struck out a team-high five times in eight at-bats, making his only offensive contribution thanks to an RBI double late in Game 2. Leon’s 5-for-79 finish to the regular season has carried into the playoffs, as the catcher is hitless in five at-bats.

“We felt good with that lineup (on Saturday),” Cora said. “Tomorrow is (Luis) Severino. We’ll take a look at the numbers and we’ll go from there.”

Severino, New York’s Game 3 starter, won’t make changes any easier for Cora based on those numbers. Devers (0-for-12, five strikeouts), Brock Holt (1-for-15, six strikeouts) and the combination of Christian Vazquez and Blake Swihart (2-for-10, four strikeouts) don’t exactly dominate against the right-hander. Steve Pearce (2-for-7, double, home run) is at least a serviceable alternative to Moreland.

“The postseason is good pitching and timely hits,” Bogaerts said. “All of that is important, but if you can try to find a way to score first and keep our same approach that we’ve had the whole season, we should be fine.”

Standing his ground

Boston relief pitcher Ryan Brasier could be one of the prime villains over two nights here thanks to his showdown with Sanchez on Saturday.

The right-hander was ahead in the count while facing Sanchez in the fifth inning of Game 2. Sanchez’s request for a timeout was granted by plate umpire Dan Bellino, but Brasier was on the rubber and ready to deliver his next pitch. He was captured by television cameras ordering Sanchez back into the batter’s box in no uncertain terms and finished the at-bat by blowing Sanchez away with a fastball upstairs.

“Heat of the moment thing, adrenaline was going, the crowd was up and I was ready to go,” Brasier said. “That’s it. It was one of those things where it was a big moment and I was ready to throw the pitch.”

Brasier struck out the side while appearing for the second straight night. He retired just one of the three batters he faced on Friday, a 5-4 Red Sox win in Game 1.

No excuses

It was Eduardo Rodriguez who served up Sanchez’s 479-foot bomb to Lansdowne Street, but something he did earlier in the inning also drew criticism.

Aaron Judge chopped a grounder to the right side and Rodriguez was slow off the mound to cover first base. Boston’s infield was shifted to the left side expecting Judge to pull and Moreland was left alone to field the ball going to his right. Moreland’s flip toward Rodriguez was far too late, and Judge was safe. He eventually scored on the Sanchez homer.

“I guess (Rodriguez) told you guys he slipped or something like that,” Cora said. “I’m like, ‘Man, if you don’t break right away, just be accountable. That’s all we ask.’ And he’s like, ‘Yeah, my fault. I just didn’t break.’

“That’s it. I get it. Next time just bust your [butt] to first base. That’s all you’ve got to do.”

— bkoch@providencejournal.com

On Twitter: @BillKoch25