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Rising Padres, Red Sox Looking for More in Interleague Series
Two teams playing better baseball recently will meet on Friday when the San Diego Padres visit the Boston Red Sox for the start of a three-game series.
Recent Success
San Diego Padres
The Padres have won three games in a row, finishing a 6-1 homestand with an 8-5 victory over Washington on Wednesday. San Diego’s second baseman Jake Cronenworth called it the best stretch of games the team has played all season. “We came out punching every game,” pitcher Dylan Cease said. “Even if we got down, the offense came back. Two really great series.”
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Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox have also been hot, winning three of their last four games and eight of their last ten before their Wednesday game against Toronto was postponed due to rain. Boston has been aggressive on the base paths, ranking second in the American League with 78 stolen bases.
Aggressiveness at the Trade Deadline
Boston’s manager Alex Cora expressed a desire for the team to be aggressive at the trade deadline, a change from their approach in 2022 and 2023. “Honestly, we didn’t get better,” Cora said about previous deadlines. “We just stayed the same, and the teams around us got better. … It’s not that your team was a bad team, but the other ones around you got better.”
Standing in the AL East
The Red Sox are gazing toward Baltimore and the New York Yankees in the American Association East, yet both division rivals are battling. ” Cora said, “Hey, let’s get greedy.” There’s groups in front of us that aren’t playing great baseball. … We should not agree to the third trump card, how about we go higher and see where the season takes us.”
Key members and Exhibitions
San Diego’s Triumph Over Washington
Catcher Kyle Higashioka and beginning pitcher Dylan Stop were the stars of San Diego’s triumph over Washington on Wednesday. In seven scoreless innings, Higashioka hit two home runs, including a grand slam, and Cease struck out nine. After winning three of four games against Milwaukee, this victory gave the Padres a three-game lead over the Nationals.
Injury Issues
The Padres have been managing wounds. Since fracturing his shoulder while diving for a ball on May 20, the former Red Sox shortstop has been sidelined. Bogaerts is venturing out to Boston and desires to return toward the beginning of July. A stress reaction in the right femur bone will keep outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. out until after the All-Star break.
“We will sort it out,” Padres supervisor Mike Shildt said. ” I talk about it quite frequently: Winners solve problems. We’ve been able to do it for the most part throughout the year. We’ve faced challenges. You will have affliction in this game. … Nobody will feel frustrated about us. You must move forward, play the games.”
Friday’s Pitching Matchup
Scratch Pivetta versus Randy Vasquez
Friday’s pitching matchup highlights two right-handers: Boston’s Scratch Pivetta (4-4, 4.06 Period) and San Diego’s Randy Vasquez (2-4, 5.10 Time). In five appearances (three starts), Pivetta has struggled against the Padres, going 0-3 with a 5.57 ERA. When Vasquez was playing for the Yankees last year, he faced Boston once and allowed two runs on three hits in three and a half innings.
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Looking Ahead Both teams are making progress and are eager to win more games. The Padres are hoping to expand on their new accomplishment notwithstanding wounds, while the Red Sox mean to move higher in the standings and be dynamic at the exchange cutoff time. This interleague series vows to be a thrilling matchup as the two groups look to keep up with their energy and further develop their season finisher possibilities.
