BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox, trying to pull off another last-to-first thing and gun for their fourth World Series title in 13 years, hit the All-Star break off a four-game sweep of the last-place Tampa Bay Rays, thus ending a 7-2 homestand.
And, despite a spate of injuries, they were two games out of first place in the American League.
“I think this homestand is what we needed,” Boston manager John Farrell said after David Price closed the “first half” and David Ortiz hit another home run in a 4-0 victory over the Rays. “Coming off a tough month of June, we gain a little momentum as we go into the break. We’re back swinging the bat at a pretty good clip. We’re getting even contributions up and down the lineup.
“To finish up a strong homestand into the break, as I mention, the momentum that it creates. We’ve still got some work to do, but I like the momentum that we’re creating right now.”
The “tough month of June” Farrell was talking about was a 10-16 month that had the buzzards circling over the manager’s head.
But facing a July that called for 17 home games, the feeling was a move could be made — and club president Dave Dombrowski got busy in the final days for the depth, adding Aaron Hill Brad Ziegler and Michael Martinez.
With Clay Buchholz again exiled to the bullpen and Eduardo Rodriguez in the minors — he will start against the Yankees in New York in the first game after the break — there’s a need for a starting pitcher. The Red Sox have the money and prospects it will take and you can put some money down on Dombrowski getting it done.
“I love the way our guys have remained a close knit group,” said Farrell, whose team is 49-38 and hasn’t lost more than three games in a row. “We’ve responded to some challenges that have been thrown our way, whether it’s been performance inconsistencies to injuries to trying to stabilize the back half of the rotation. But yet, we look up, we’re 11 (games) over. We’re in a decent spot right now as far as the standings go, but a lot of important baseball left ahead.”
Asked about his job security, Farrell, who may well have been fired last August had he not gotten sick, said, “I don’t pay a whole lot of attention to it. Honestly, my focus is always going to be remaining inside our walls with the guys in our clubhouse, their needs, what our staff presents to prepare them each and every day. I think anything that might be said outside of Fenway can only be a potential distraction, and I just love the way our guys continue to go about their work.”