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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla – A mystery hangs over Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers, who appears to be hampered to some extent by his right arm on his swings.
Manager Alex Cora was on the defensive end when it came to answering an open-ended question about whether something was going on with Devers’ arm following Thursday’s loss to the Rays in the ALDS opener. Devers has dropped his bat or released his right hand from the bat in a slightly different way after hits since the Red Sox won the Wild Card Game.
“A few days ago, everyone was saying he prepared the pitcher every time he dropped the bat – today because he didn’t touch, he’s injured? Cora said. “You know, I mean after 162 [games], things happen and you get treatment and you get by, you know? Not everyone is 100% right now, and he’s posting. Like I said a few days ago, you know, he was dropping the bat the same way, and nobody said anything.
One of the reasons Cora and any member of the Red Sox would be reluctant to provide details of what is wrong with Devers is that it would fuel, to some extent, the Rays’ plan for how they would attack him the rest of. series. Devers didn’t stop to speak to reporters as he made his way to the team bus after the Game 1 loss, but he was wearing the same or similar compression sleeve he wore during the match on his right arm.
Less mysterious but more concerning for the Red Sox’s chances against the Rays is that in addition to having Devers under 100 percent – and JD Martinez too – the entire Red Sox offense has shown. again Thursday night that there was a very real problem with not being able to hit young rookies very well lately.
Collecting no points and just five hits, all in singles, against 24-year-old Division Series Game 1 starter Shane McClanahan in the 5-0 loss, the Red Sox must now turn their attention to a rookie. even younger, 22 years old. Shane Baz, Friday night in Game 2.
They’ve never faced Baz, but the trendline towards the end of the season isn’t going in the right direction. In the last six games of their season, the Red Sox have faced this collection of rookies: Joan Adon, Josiah Gray, Josh Rogers, Alexander Wells, Zac Lowther and Bruce Zimmerman.
The names may not prompt immediate recognition, but they have caused an icy feel on the Red Sox offense. The starting half-dozen limited the Red Sox hitters to just 10 runs in 37 of innings and had a 2.41 ERA.
With the Red Sox doing most of their “damage” in the sixth inning, a glimpse of their production over the first five innings of their last seven games – not counting the AL Wild Card game against known Yankees veteran Gerritt Cole, but including McClanahan – shows starters holding the Red Sox to a 1.32 ERA.
In the ALDS opener Thursday, in addition to not scoring, the Red Sox had nine hits and went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position.
“We had traffic there and we just didn’t take advantage,” Cora said. “There were some good batting in the middle of the game, ‘grind’ batting. Others were a bit empty, but I think overall we did a good job hitting the lines and staying in the middle of the field.
Alex Speier of Globe staff contributed to this report.
Michael Silverman can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @MikeSilvermanBB.
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