{"id":89773,"date":"2025-09-08T08:49:36","date_gmt":"2025-09-08T08:49:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=89773"},"modified":"2025-09-08T08:49:36","modified_gmt":"2025-09-08T08:49:36","slug":"breaking-news-surprise-red-sox-hero-channels-pure-spring-training-mindset-delivers-clutch-pinch-hit-spark-in-extra-innings-comeback","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=89773","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING NEWS: Surprise Red Sox hero channels pure spring-training mindset \u2014 delivers clutch pinch-hit spark in extra-innings comeback!"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<nav aria-label=\"articleLabel\">\n<ol id=\"articleLabel__list\"><\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div aria-live=\"polite\">\n<article id=\"arc-ZMETKZXV5JF35J5S4MNNXTO4F4\" data-type=\"article\">\n<div>\n<figure>\n<div>\n<div><picture><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masslive.com\/resizer\/v2\/JPY4NYZO35GG3MHV4LYYFQKQBQ.jpg?auth=09aaa87e7f328995ed8a4a0c9830d741f9a29af01c564f2c8fb1dabed8cf1111&amp;width=1280&amp;quality=90\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.masslive.com\/resizer\/v2\/JPY4NYZO35GG3MHV4LYYFQKQBQ.jpg?auth=09aaa87e7f328995ed8a4a0c9830d741f9a29af01c564f2c8fb1dabed8cf1111&amp;width=500&amp;quality=90 500w, https:\/\/www.masslive.com\/resizer\/v2\/JPY4NYZO35GG3MHV4LYYFQKQBQ.jpg?auth=09aaa87e7f328995ed8a4a0c9830d741f9a29af01c564f2c8fb1dabed8cf1111&amp;width=800&amp;quality=90 800w, https:\/\/www.masslive.com\/resizer\/v2\/JPY4NYZO35GG3MHV4LYYFQKQBQ.jpg?auth=09aaa87e7f328995ed8a4a0c9830d741f9a29af01c564f2c8fb1dabed8cf1111&amp;width=1280&amp;quality=90 1280w\" alt=\"How surprise Red Sox hero used \u2018spring training\u2019 mentality to provide key hit in comeback win\" \/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption>Nick Sogard was the pinch-hit hero for the Red Sox in a dramatic win Sunday. (Photo by Norm Hall\/Getty Images)Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p id=\"RY7T4EXIFZE4BFCWQCUCTESA7E\">PHOENIX \u2014 Entering Sunday\u2019s series finale in Arizona, Nick Sogard had made just seven major league plate appearances in the last two-plus months. He was a curious choice, then, for a key pinch-hit plate appearance in the ninth inning of a close game.<\/p>\n<p id=\"V6ZS6JKGIRH3ZNMW6Y3A2AOY24\">But with Boston\u2019s roster limited and Alex Cora looking for a good matchup against Diamondbacks righty Jordan Rashi, it was Sogard who was called upon. Appearing as a pinch-hitter for just the third time as a big leaguer, the 27-year-old utility man stepped to the plate in place of Connor Wong with two men on and two outs in a 4-4 game. He answered the call by roping a Rashi splitter into the left field gap for a two-run double that gave the Red Sox the lead for good in a 7-4 win.<\/p>\n<p id=\"LELR7LKYHZE75DL2IKH2ESPBTQ\">With Roman Anthony (oblique) and Wilyer Abreu (calf) both on the injured list, Cora has limited options at his disposal. On Sunday, his bench consisted of the rather inexperienced and uninspiring quintet of Sogard, Romy Gonzalez, Nate Eaton, Ali S\u00e1nchez and starting catcher Carlos Narv\u00e1ez, who was off with Wong catching Brayan Bello.<\/p>\n<p id=\"O2LD73FXHJA4DJZQPI4FGBV62Y\">That bench group delivered in the ninth, with Gonzalez\u2019s one-out single and an Eaton walk setting the table. By the time the No. 9 spot came around, Sogard was the clear answer in Cora\u2019s mind.<\/p>\n<p id=\"KBDUG4HIENBQFIULFNTSA6P7ZU\">\u201cHe\u2019s gonna put the ball in play. He\u2019s a good hitter,\u201d said Cora. \u201cWe felt like that was the right matchup there. Took two pitches, didn\u2019t panic and shot the ball the other way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"XOSSCK2OUFAO3MW6R7XUGG6EFI\">Sogard has been a Worcester staple over the last three seasons but has been limited with his contributions in the big leagues, where he has played just 51 games. After a cameo down the stretch in 2024, Sogard didn\u2019t make the Opening Day roster this year and struggled (.608 OPS) in a 14-game May cameo while Boston was looking for first base fill-in options after Triston Casas\u2019 season-ending knee injury. Since then, Sogard has been a cameo member of the roster. He came up for three games in late June when Marcelo Mayer was on the bereavement list, then returned for a couple games at the end of August when Nathaniel Lowe hit the paternity list. He wasn\u2019t initially a September call-up when rosters expanded to 28 but rejoined the Red Sox under unfortunate circumstances when Anthony went down in the middle of last week. Before Sunday, he had just five extra-base hits \u2014 and four RBIs \u2014 in the big leagues all season.<\/p>\n<p id=\"SIM565GM3RG6FNEERNIW2QUXSQ\">That mattered little in front of a pro-Red Sox crowd at Chase Field.<\/p>\n<p id=\"AHQZE3EWSRETRLPSMNDSHO6WAU\">\u201cIt\u2019s definitely different going from playing every day to this role, but with more time, I\u2019ll continue to get more comfortable with it,\u201d Sogard said. \u201cI almost treat it like a big league spring training game. You go in, in the middle of the game, and you\u2019ve just got to execute.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"SX3GN6FBNFC3VIBKH2CUVDTL6E\">Injuries and roster attrition have forced the Red Sox to test their depth in the final weeks of the season. In its effort to avoid a sweep Sunday, Boston started David Hamilton at second base and Rob Refsnyder in right field, used every bench player except S\u00e1nchez and even turned to September call-up Zack Kelly to pitch the seventh inning of a one-run game. While there are games to be won, October tryouts are playing out in real time.<\/p>\n<p id=\"WPEM3YRFGBFN3A57GHHLI2HT6E\">\u201cEverybody\u2019s engaged,\u201d said Cora. \u201cWe\u2019re gonna grind. We\u2019ve been hurt, we\u2019ve been banged up throughout the season, and we\u2019ve been able to put ourselves in this situation.<\/p>\n<p id=\"FEAQF72NSBCS7J4USAKWSZOYJU\">\u201cWe talked to the guys a few weeks ago. Just be ready.<\/p>\n<p id=\"SUOSX4HICFD2HA5JYGBCYZMWQU\">Sunday\u2019s victory over a surging D-Backs team didn\u2019t clinch a postseason spot for the Red Sox or provide some sort of monumental step as they look to return to the postseason for the first time in four years. But after three sleepy defeats in the wake of Anthony\u2019s injury, it felt important. The Red Sox head to Sacramento five games clear of the in\/out line in the wild card race with 18 games to go.<\/p>\n<p id=\"ZAR6K6TZERB6NI6HTDR3WTTA5E\">Expect more surprising heroes to pop up over those final 18 games.<\/p>\n<p id=\"SLBEIJCOF5BRHE3GREMUMNYR6I\">\u201cWe\u2019re going to continue to use everybody, maximize the roster and try to win as many games as possible to make it to October,\u201d said Cora.<\/p>\n<section data-gaid=\":Rrgaq6:\">\n<ul data-testid=\"list\">\n<li>Red Sox have \u2018a lot of different\u2019 rotation scenarios in play, including another MLB debut<\/li>\n<li>Aroldis Chapman\u2019s \u2018special\u2019 run continues with rare 4-strikeout inning in Red Sox win<\/li>\n<li>WooSox scratch Connelly Early on Sunday, keep him available for potential call-up<\/li>\n<li>Red Sox reactions: Unlikely hero powers comeback win as Boston avoids sweep in desert<\/li>\n<li>Red Sox lineup: Masataka Yoshida leading off again, but Alex Cora makes changes elsewhere<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p>If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and\/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How did Nick Sogard approach his pinch-hit plate appearance in the ninth inning Sunday? By using a spring training mentality.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":89776,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-89773","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>BREAKING NEWS: Surprise Red Sox hero channels pure spring-training mindset \u2014 delivers clutch pinch-hit spark in extra-innings comeback! - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=89773\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"BREAKING NEWS: Surprise Red Sox hero channels pure spring-training mindset \u2014 delivers clutch pinch-hit spark in extra-innings comeback! - NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"How did Nick Sogard approach his pinch-hit plate appearance in the ninth inning Sunday? 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