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Alex Cora explains changes to Red Sox lineup
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- Alex Cora explains changes to Red Sox lineup
BOSTON — Returning home for the start of a seven-game homestand, the Red Sox have a different look to their lineup Friday.
While Roman Anthony remains in his customary leadoff spot, Willson Contreras has been elevated to the No. 2 hole, followed by Wilyer Abreu third and Trevor Story in the cleanup position.
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The Red Sox enter Friday ranked 22nd in runs scored among the 30 MLB teams, 23rd in OPS and 29th in homers, en route to a 7-11 record in their first 18 games.
“Just put them all together and keep rolling,” said Cora. “It just feels right. Roman, Willson, Wilyer and then Trevor, who’s been amazing with men in scoring position, he’s hitting like .320. So, why not?
“Then obviously from there, there’s a lot of athleticism, something we haven’t been able to use because of the scores or not getting on base. Hopefully, we can put pressure on them after Trevor.”
Following a brutally slow start , Story is 8-for-16 with three extra-base hits in his last four games and is third in the American League with 17 RBI.
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“It started with a walk (in St. Louis ) and then with a bloop single to right field,” said Cora of Story’s turnaround. “That’s the reality of it. You talk about using the whole field and he did. He had the four-hit game in St. Louis, the double to right-center in the last one in Minnesota . That’s what he did last year. He did it with men on a lot. If he keeps doing that, he’s going to be OK.”
Cora has Connor Wong catching, with usual No. 1 catcher Carlos Narvaez on the bench. Narvaez is hitless in his last eight at-bats and is batting just .195 for the season with 14 strikeouts in 41 at-bats.
“He’s struggling,” acknowledged Cora of Narvaez. “He struggled in Minnesota making contact and Connor is playing well so he plays tonight. (Narvaez is having) a lot of swing-and-miss. I think at the end of last season, we saw that. I think right now there’s lot of thinking going on. He’s a great defender behind the plate, one of the best in the big leagues. Offensively, (we) just (need him to) contribute. That’s what he needs to do and that’s what he did last year and we expect the same thing the rest of the season.”
To date, the Red Sox have faced just two lefty starters, but that will soon change as they’re expected to face top lefthanders Tarik Skubal , Framber Valdez and Max Fried . Cora said he’ll use that as an opportunity to get some additional playing time for righty bats like Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Andruw Monasterio.
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