WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — As the Red Sox go for a sweep over the Athletics on Wednesday afternoon in Sacramento, they’ll give a struggling everyday player a chance to unplug.
Ceddanne Rafaela has started Boston’s last 19 games and 30 of the last 31, but he’s on the bench against the A’s and starter Mason Barnett. Boston is starting Nate Eaton in center field and Nick Sogard in right field with Jarren Duran in his usual place in left. David Hamilton is starting at second base with Romy Gonzalez dealing with a minor knee injury that caused him to leave Tuesday’s win. Connor Wong is catching lefty Payton Tolle.
Rafaela, who was one of Boston’s best offensive players in June and early July, has experienced prolonged struggles at the plate. Since the All-Star break (48 games), he’s hitting .188 with two homers, 12 RBIs, 38 strikeouts and a .512 OPS. In his last 22 games dating back to August 17, the elite defender is hitting .163 (13-for-80) with 19 strikeouts and three walks. He is 3-for-29 with nine strikeouts in September.
Alex Cora switched up the top of his order a little bit, moving Nathaniel Lowe to the No. 3 spot ahead of cleanup hitter Trevor Story. Masataka Yoshida is back in the lineup as the designated hitter and is hitting fifth.
Cora said Tolle is expected to pitch one time through the order as he goes on regular (four days) rest for the first time. He threw 77 pitches in three tough innings Friday night in Arizona. Boston expects call-up Kyle Harrison to play a big role in relief Wednesday; righty Zack Kelly could also be asked to cover multiple innings in the middle of the game.
The Red Sox can clinch a winning record with a win Wednesday. It would be their fourth in a row.
First pitch is at 3:35 p.m. ET.
BOSTON RED SOX (81-65) @ ATHLETICS (66-80) · SUTTER HEALTH PARK · WEST SACRAMENTO, CA · GAME 147
FIRST PITCH: 3:35 p.m. ET
TV CHANNEL: NESN
RADIO: WEEI 93.7 FM
PITCHING PROBABLES: LHP Payton Tolle (0-1, 7.56 ERA) vs. RHP Mason Barnett (1-1, 9.00 ERA)
RED SOX LINEUP:
1) LF Jarren Duran
2) 3B Alex Bregman
3) 1B Nathaniel Lowe
4) SS Trevor Story
5) DH Masataka Yoshida
6) RF Nick Sogard
7) 2B David Hamilton
8) CF Nate Eaton
9) C Connor Wong
ATHLETICS LINEUP:
1) SS Jacob Wilson
2) DH Shea Langeliers
3) RF Brent Rooker
4) CF Colby Thomas
5) 3B Darell Hernaiz
6) 1B Nick Kurtz
7) 2B Zack Gelof
8) C Willie MacIver
9) LF JJ Bleday
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