Betts makes return to Fenway Park as Dodgers open series vs. Red Sox
Familiar faces will return to Boston when the Los Angeles Dodgers start a three-game sequence in opposition to the Red Sox on Friday evening.
The Dodgers final visited Boston in 2019 when a July weekend sequence marked the one different assembly between the groups for the reason that 2018 World Series.
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Highlighting the Dodgers’ returnees is star outfielder Mookie Betts, the 2018 American League MVP who has by no means performed in Boston as a customer. He was traded to Los Angeles together with pitcher David Price in February 2020. The Red Sox received again three gamers, two are nonetheless regulars for them, outfielder Alex Verdugo and catcher Connor Wong.
“This will be my first time going back since 2019. I’m really nervous,” Betts stated on his Bleacher Report podcast this week. “It’s more just that I haven’t been back in so long. It’s where I grew up, and I don’t know what to expect. … I think it will be fun.”
Betts enters the weekend scorching scorching after going 5-for-5 within the completion of a suspended recreation in Cleveland on Thursday after which 2-for-3 within the sequence finale that adopted. The Dodgers received 6-1 and 9-3, respectively.
Right-hander Ryan Brasier and utility man Enrique Hernandez are two different former Red Sox gamers who’re on the Dodgers’ energetic roster. Hernandez was simply acquired from Boston on July 25.
“I’m sure Fenway is going to show up for (Betts),” Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale stated.
The Dodgers will give the ball to 36-year-old Lance Lynn (9-9, 5.60 ERA) on Friday. Lynn is 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA in 4 begins (25 innings) since becoming a member of the Dodgers from the Chicago White Sox in a July 28 commerce.
The right-hander, who has allowed a complete of 1 earned run over his previous three outings, scattered 4 hits throughout seven shutout innings in a no-decision on Aug. 17 in opposition to the Milwaukee Brewers. The eventual 1-0 win capped the Dodgers’ 11-game successful streak.
“I think this is kind of what we imagined at the beginning of the season with what our staff is and what it has been since I’ve been here,” Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes stated. “Lance fills up hitters during the game. He’s been doing it for a long time.”
The Red Sox return house after dominating in a 17-1 win at Houston on Thursday, splitting a four-game sequence whereas incomes their fifth victory in seven video games.
The latest run has lifted Boston inside 3 1/2 video games of a playoff spot.
“A lot of people thought this season was over three days ago,” Red Sox supervisor Alex Cora stated, “but that’s not the case.”
Wilyer Abreu, Wong and Verdugo every had 4 hits, together with a house run. For Abreu, it was the primary lengthy ball of his main league profession. He made his debut on Tuesday after socking 22 homers in 86 video games for Triple-A Worcester this season.
“There’s a reason he’s here,” Cora stated. “(Worcester manager) Chad Tracy was very happy with the way he had been playing. He’s a good runner. He’s a good defender. He’s a good hitter.”
Boston right-hander Kutter Crawford (6-6, 3.66 ERA) is slated to make his first profession look in opposition to the Dodgers.
Crawford pitched 5 1/3 no-hit innings earlier than permitting a house run to the Yankees’ Aaron Judge in his newest begin, on Saturday at New York. He wound up yielding simply the one run and one hit whereas strolling two and fanning 5 in six innings en path to an 8-1 win.
