BOSTON -- After struggling to score runs the previous two days while J.D. Martinez was out with back spasms, the Red Sox welcomed their star slugger back to the lineup for Monday's opener of a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics.
The Red Sox accumulated just three runs in the two games Martinez missed -- both losses to the Rays.
Martinez was in the lineup at DH, batting third, and went 1-for-4 with 2 RBIs in Boston's 9-4 win over the A's.
While Boston usually puts the lineup out roughly four hours before first pitch, the club waited an extra 90 minutes or so on Monday so Martinez could test his back in the cage and in additional pregame work. All systems were go.
There might be times this season when the Sox can cover Martinez when he misses a game or two. But the offense has been there only in glimpses, not for sustained stretches.
Martinez has easily been Boston's most potent hitter through the club's difficult first month of the season, putting up a line of .337/.414/.515 with four homers and 15 RBIs.
New setback for Holt
Red Sox super-utility player Brock Holt had finally recovered from the scratched cornea in his right eye and started a Minor League rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday night. But now there is another issue with his return to health.
Holt was scratched from Pawtucket's lineup on Sunday after experiencing discomfort in his right shoulder, and the Red Sox announced on Monday he has officially been returned from his rehab assignment due to right shoulder inflammation. He remains on the injured list and is on his way back to Boston, where the Red Sox will examine him on Tuesday.
“He was playing catch,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “He did everything here, he was fine, just regular soreness, like in Spring Training and something he went through last year. But yesterday he tried to play catch and it was a different feeling. He’ll see the doctor tomorrow morning and see where he’s at.”
Devers needs to tighten up defense
In 2018, Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers led the Majors with 24 errors. The hope was that his performance on defense this season would be a lot cleaner than last. Thus far, that has not come to pass.
Devers entered Monday’s game with eight errors, trailing Tim Beckham by three for the Major League lead. He made a costly error on Sunday that led to two unearned runs against Chris Sale in Boston’s eventual 5-2 loss.
“There are certain moves that he makes before he makes a play that we’ve been trying to clean up,” said Cora. “It’s just a matter of inconsistency. He makes a great play and then the play yesterday was a routine play and he misses it, so if we had our way it’d be the other way around. Just make the routine ones and the hits are hits.
“Like I said, footwork. His throws are a lot better, the carry of the ball is a lot better than last year, [he is] actually moving better than last year. We talk to him and feel he’s in a good place. We don’t feel he’s putting pressure on himself. We’ll keep talking to him about positioning. How deep, how close and all that. He keeps working and we keep preaching the principles. We’ve got some good coaches that were good defensive players, Ramon [Vazquez] and Carlos [Febles], so they have a pretty good idea of him. It’s a just a matter of being inconsistent.”
Cora will soon reveal White House plans
Cora has yet to say if he will join the Red Sox for the team’s optional trip to the White House on May 9 -- the day after the team completes a three-game series in Baltimore. The visit is the customary White House celebration for the World Series-winning team.
Several Red Sox players have chosen not to go, including Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., David Price, Devers and Christian Vazquez. But many will attend, including Chris Sale, Martinez, Rick Porcello, Nathan Eovaldi and Mitch Moreland.
Red Sox ownership has made it clear from the start that the trip is considered optional.
“I’ll let you guys know when I decide,” said Cora. “You guys don’t have to worry about that one -- I’ll let you guys know.”