Sizzling Red Sox Offense Getting Surprising Boost From Unlikely Heroes
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After scuffling at the plate for two months, the Boston Red Sox are finally hitting. Over their last seven games, they're averaging 5.4 runs and 10.4 hits per game.
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Surprisingly, much of that offense has come from unexpected sources, including Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Mickey Gasper and Nick Sogard.
Sogard has gone 9-for-30 (.300) in nine games since his promotion from Triple-A, helping replace the injured Trevor Story. Gasper is 14-for-43 (.326) in 15 games since getting called up from Worcester, while Kiner-Falefa has gone 7-for-16 (.438) in his past six games while filling in for Caleb Durbin more frequently.
That trio of veterans has given the Red Sox professional, quality at-bats, providing a much-needed spark for an offense that's been among the worst in baseball this year.
“They take good at-bats,” interim manager Chad Tracy told Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic (subscription required). “You can see when they’re in there and when you’re watching, they know what a strike is, they know what a ball is, they’ll go deep in the count, they get into hitters’ counts, they’ll use the off-side of the field. That sparks things when people see that.”
Jarren Duran has caught fire as well, igniting Boston's offense at the top of the lineup. The Red Sox are still waiting for a few other players to get going, but their bench bats have been huge lately, making a big impact as they push for more playing time and try to help the team dig out of its early-season hole.
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