Red Sox Utility Man Plays Big Role In Playoff Opener

When the New York Yankees removed starter Max Fried from the game, the Boston Red Sox knew they had an opportunity to strike. Fried kept Boston’s bats quiet for 6 1/3 innings and exited the game after throwing 102 pitches without allowing a run.

Luke Weaver took over for Fried with Ceddanne Rafaela at the plate. Rafaela worked an 11-pitch walk, bringing Nick Sogard to the plate. The switch-hitter was in the lineup because he’s hit lefties well, but Red Sox manager Alex Cora left him in with a righty on the mound.

Sogard saw three pitches and hit the third up the middle for what looked like a base hit. Aaron Judge fielded the ball and threw it in softly to second base, allowing Sogard to stretch the single into a double.

“They kinda took a little bit to pick it up. I don’t know if there was a miscommunication or what,” Sogard said. “Backhand, going away from the base, I’m going to challenge the arm, and it worked out.”

On the next pitch, he scored the go-ahead run when Masataka Yoshida singled up the middle. That proved to be all the Red Sox needed as they went on to win, 3-1.

Earlier in the game, Sogard singled on a line drive to left field. Rob Refsnyder hit a deep fly ball to center field, and Sogard managed to tag up and take second base. Despite it being his first playoff game, the utility man didn’t allow the moment to get to him.

“Not a lot of us have [playoff] experience, but just trying to slow it down. Rafaela was pretty cool to be with for a lot of this because he kept saying ‘I feel nothing, I feel nothing,’ so, trying to just treat it like another road series in New York and win the series,” Sogard said.

With Carlos Rodon on the mound on Wednesday for the Yankees, Sogard will likely get the start again at second base.