Red Sox to Test Small- Ball Style Against Brewers
Jarren Duran and the Boston Red Sox are looking to keep their hot streak alive as they start a three- game series against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.
Red Sox’s Recent Success
The Red Sox are coming off a successful road trip, winning four straight games, including a sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays. This comeback followed a tough home series against the Rays, where Boston lost three of four.
” We played well against them( the Rays) last week, we just did not win the games,” said Boston director Alex Cora.”. We did a lot of good things throughout the road trip. We put the ball in play, starting inSt. Louis. Infield hit, infield hit, and we score a bunch. In this business, everybody wants to hit the ball out of the ballpark. In certain moments, you have to put the ball in play.. We are going to keep sermonizing that.”
Duran extended his hitting streak to eight games with a 1- for- 5 performance in Wednesday’s 8- 5 victory over Tampa Bay. During this streak, he has shown his power with two home runs and two triples. Duran leads the team in base hits this season with 55.
Small- Ball Strategy
Boston displayed their speed with four stolen bases in a 5- 2 win on Tuesday and collected five singles in a critical five- run fifth inning during Wednesday’s win.
” They changed the rules for this type of baseball,” Cora said.” It’s not that we are gon na run crazy out there, but you need athletic guys to win and be competitive at this position. You are not going to hit the ball out of the ballpark all the time, but you can do the other stuff. You can play defense every day. And speed isn’t going to slump.”
Brewers ’ Struggles
Meanwhile, the Brewers have lost three of their last four games and were limited to four hits in a 1- 0 loss to the Miami Marlins on Wednesday. Marlins starter Jesus Luzardo stifled Milwaukee, allowing just three hits over eight innings.
” You give up one run in eight innings of pitching, you plan on winning the game,” Brewers director Pat Murphy said.”( Luzardo) was great. We did not get on him at all. He was all over us all night ahead in the count. Pitched great. We could not come up with the big hit at the big time, but again, credit their guy.”
Pitching Matchup
Friday’s pitching matchup will feature right- handers Bryse Wilson( 2- 1,2.79 ERA) for Milwaukee and Kutter Crawford( 2- 2,2.17 ERA) for Boston. Wilson has no record in three career appearances( one start) against Boston, while Crawford allowed one hit and struck out two in two innings of relief during his only career appearance against the Brewers in April 2023.
Looking Ahead
Boston will play 15 of its coming 22 games at home, providing a prime occasion to build on their recent success. With a focus on putting the ball in play and using their speed and athleticism, the Red Sox aim to continue their winning ways against the Brewers.