Red Sox Journal: Vazquez gets first MLB start at second

BOSTON — During his five major league seasons, Christian Vazquez has caught in 291 regular-season games, served as designated hitter in six and played third base in four. He also filled in at first base for six innings during the 18-inning Game 3 of the World Series last fall.

But he had never played second base in the majors until Monday in an 8-1 loss to the Orioles at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox needed a second baseman because Dustin [...]

BOSTON — During his five major league seasons, Christian Vazquez has caught in 291 regular-season games, served as designated hitter in six and played third base in four. He also filled in at first base for six innings during the 18-inning Game 3 of the World Series last fall.

But he had never played second base in the majors until Monday in an 8-1 loss to the Orioles at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox needed a second baseman because Dustin Pedroia served as the DH as the team brings him along slowly while he recovers from a knee injury, Brock Holt is sidelined with a scratched cornea and manager Alex Cora said he wanted to stay away from playing Eduardo Nunez at second, but he didn’t really explain why. Nunez may have caught the illness that has sidelined center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr.

So Vazquez played second base for the first time since 2010 when he successfully handled all three chances he had over 4 2/3 innings for Class A Greenville.

“Ground balls, I’m going to block it,” Vazquez said before the game. “I’ve got a cup. Don’t worry.”

Before games, Vazquez takes grounders at first, second and third and turns double plays to improve his footwork as a catcher. It’s something he picked up from Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina.

“We’re comfortable with him,” Cora said before the game. “His baseball IQ is good, too. It wouldn’t surprise me if he turns a few double plays and he throws behind the runner or something like that. He’s very excited.”

Vazquez made Cora look good by fielding Dwight Smith’s grounder and throwing to second to begin a double play to end the first inning.

“He was smooth, man,” shortstop Xander Bogaerts said. “Obviously, behind the dish he’s pretty smooth so I didn’t think we would have a problem with him back there.”

In the second inning, Vazquez made a nice play in catching a throw by center fielder Mookie Betts and diving to tag out Renato Nunez trying for a double. Rio Ruiz scored from second on the play.

In the fifth, Vazquez ranged to his right to backhand a grounder and threw out Cedric Mullins at first.

“It was fun, something different,” Vazquez said.

Should Pedroia worry about Vazquez taking his second base job permanently?

“No, he’s the MVP,” Vazquez said.

Pedroia, the 2008 AL MVP, was originally scheduled to start at second base, but he switched to designated hitter a couple of hours before the game. After undergoing left knee surgery in October of 2017, Pedroia played in only three games last season and he rejoined the team last week after playing three rehab games with Greenville.

“We have to take care of him,” Cora said. “We have a program, we have to be disciplined. We were pushing him to play second, but then it doesn’t make sense. If something happens today with him and then it’s on us. The only thing we can do honestly is DH him and keep him off his feet as much as possible, not push him so hard. It’s a tough start, it’s tough conditions.”

Pedroia went 0-for-4 to drop his batting average to .105 (2-for-19).

Blake Swihart played two innings at second base for the Sox last year and Steve Pearce played 15 games there in 2016 for Tampa Bay and Baltimore, but Cora wanted to give Vazquez a break from behind the plate after he caught the previous three games. So Swihart caught and Pearce played left field and he made a sliding catch in the sixth to save at least one run.

Bradley is sick and left fielder Andrew Benintendi didn’t play either after leaving Sunday’s game after fouling a ball off his right foot. Cora said they’re both feeling better, but he’s not sure if they’ll be ready to play Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.

Honoring Robinson

All players wore No. 42 on their jerseys to honor Jackie Robinson on the 72nd anniversary of his first game with the Brooklyn Dodgers when he became the first African American to play Major League Baseball.

Sale in New York

Hoping an extra day of rest will improve his performance, Chris Sale (0-3, 9.00) will start at Yankee Stadium at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday against New York’s James Paxton (1-2, 6.00) when the Sox open a two-game series. ... Reliever Marcus Walden was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket after Monday's game. No corresponding move was immediately announced.