August 12, 2024; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox Mickey Gasper (77) makes his first at-bat in the tenth inning against the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park . Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports After capping a busy day of roster moves with a series-opening victory, the Boston Red Sox will continue their winning ways on Tuesday against the visiting Texas Rangers.
Rob Refsnyder hit a home run to help the Red Sox beat Texas 5-4 in 10 innings on Monday. A walk by Mickey Gaspar in his major league debut set up the game-winning RBI.
Gasper, a 28-year-old New Hampshire native, advanced from Class 3A Worcester earlier in the day along with pitchers Bailey Horn and Chase Shugart.
“Hats off to the team that gave me this opportunity … to be a part of (the victory). I’m speechless,” the catcher/infielder said. “A lot of hard work and a lot of belief (got me here).”
Outfielder Jalen Duran was suspended two games without pay by the club and MLB after Gasper made a homophobic slur toward a fan on Sunday, clearing a roster spot for Gasper.
However, Gaspar won the promotion. His contributions were key to Boston’s ability to stem a four-game losing streak.
Since being promoted to Worcester from Double-A Portland on June 4, he’s hit a whopping .401 with a 1.017 OPS in 40 games.
“It gets to a point where he’s just going to do it over and over again,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “A month, a month and a half, two months. And then you’re like, ‘Hit the ball.’ Great hands. ‘” So we’ve obviously gotten to the point where we feel like he makes sense for the lineup.
Boston hopes the momentum can continue Tuesday behind Kurt Crawford (7-9, 4.11 ERA). The right-hander allowed at least five runs in four consecutive starts, but his only win during that stretch came against the Rangers on Aug. 2 in Arlington, Texas. In 5 1/3 innings, five runs, four of the six hits he allowed were home runs, although the Red Sox ended up winning 11-6.
In his most recent start in Kansas City on Wednesday, Crawford was charged with six runs in 3 2/3 innings.
In four career games (three starts) against the Rangers, Crawford is 1-0 with a 5.19 ERA.
Texas will counter with right-hander Jose Urena (3-7, 3.74), whom Crawford struck out in the team’s series opener earlier this month. In that game, the Red Sox allowed seven runs on eight hits over four-plus innings, giving him an 0-2 record and a 5.56 ERA in four career starts against Boston. Score.
Urena also suffered a loss in his most recent game, pitching four innings of two-run ball on Wednesday against the Houston Astros.
With rookies Gerson Garabito and Walter Pennington, the last two of Texas’ seven pitchers to take the field in the final innings of Monday’s game, the Rangers may need Ouray A good start for Nana.
“Well, we’ve extended our arms,” Texans manager Bruce Bochy said.
With the loss, the Rangers are nine games below .500, their worst of the season, and are 1-5 in their past six games.
Even Corey Seager’s sixth homer in 10 games, tying the score at 3-3 in the seventh inning, wasn’t enough. The team’s lineup has also been adjusted, with Marcus Semien leading the way and Adolis Garcia on base.
“[We’re]just getting the old band back together and back in their usual roles,” Boch said before the episode began. “Let’s see if we can make things work.”
Semien was 1-for-5 with an RBI on Monday and Garcia was also 1-for-5.
–Scene-level media
