ARLINGTON, Texas — Ryan Brasier has given up a lot of hard contact so far this season and it continued Sunday.
He allowed back-to-back homers of a combined 827 feet to Adolis García and Kole Calhoun during the sixth inning. A tie game quickly turned into a 5-1 lead for the Rangers.
The Red Sox lost 7-1 to Texas here at Globe Life Field.
Brasier ranks in the one percentile among major league pitchers in hard hit percentage, per Baseball Savant. The average exit velocity against him is in the two percentile.
“The fastball is down in the zone,” manager Alex Cora said about Brasier. “And that one, we have to do a better job managing the situation. We have the lefty ready for the next guy (Calhoun). So we’ve got to keep the ball in the ballpark, expand the zone.”
Cora pointed out that Brasier threw a first-pitch slider to García, then left a fastball over the middle of the plate for the home run.
“He crushed that pitch,” Cora said.
Cora stressed the Red Sox can’t give García a pitch like that to hit in that situation.
“Recognize the situation. Maybe on me not going to the mound or something because we had the lefty ready for Calhoun (a left-handed hitter),” Cora said. “So in that situation, it’s swing-and-miss or walk with two outs. And we take the next matchup and see what happens.”
Brasier showed better velocity with his fastball Sunday, averaging 95.3 mph. But the pitch still got hit hard because he wasn’t elevating it.
“It’s been getting hit around a little bit,” Brasier said. “I’m not used to not having it. That’s what I pitch with. That’s what I live and die by. Hopefully I can continue to do that but come with different results.”
Pérez dominates the Sox
Former Red Sox Martín Pérez, who Boston demoted to the bullpen during last year, earned the win for Texas. He gave up just one run, five hits and two walks while striking out seven in 6 innings.
“He will pitch to the edges until he can’t,” Cora said. “I think 2-0 counts, first pitch, 3-1s, we tried to do too much in certain points. And then he got on a roll and the changeup started playing. He had that backdoor cutter. It’s actually a better pitch than last year. That’s big. Last year it kind of played like a slider. Now it’s a true cutter. Short. And he was able to dot it on the outside part of the plate.”
Martinez extends hitting streak to 16 games
J.D. Martinez extended his hitting streak to 16 games and his on-base streak to 32 games dating back to last season.
“Now that he’s taking his walks, he’s becoming more dangerous,” Cora said. “He’s a guy that since day one when we got him, it just changed the whole complexion of the lineup.”
Cora pointed out how Martinez always is working.
“It’s nonstop,” Cora said. “Even the other day, the off day by the pool, he’s there, he’s watching video and talking to his group about swings and all that. Actually, Foxy and Carlos bought him a drink.”
Major league field coordinator Andy Fox and third base coach Carlos Febles chipped in.
“A rum and Coke,” Cora said before Sunday’s game. “He was so excited about it. But he’s just nonstop. He doesn’t detach his mind from the process.”
Bradley has 7 defensive runs saved
Jackie Bradley Jr. leads all major league right fielders with 7 defensive runs saved despite platooning.
“It’s something we envisioned,” Cora said. “I think Kiké (Hernández) is having a good year, too, in center field. We noticed it right away with Rich (Hill) especially, there’s a lot of mis-hit baseballs to right field. ... The presence and the first step and anticipation. And obviously I think the arm is playing more. He’s been doing OK against righties. We’ll keep platooning. But so far, it’s been a pleasure to watch.”
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