How surprise Red Sox hero used ‘spring training’ mentality to provide key hit in comeback win
Nick Sogard was the pinch-hit hero for the Red Sox in a dramatic win Sunday. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)Getty Images
Entering Sunday’s series finale in Arizona, Nick Sogard had made just seven major league plate appearances in the last two-plus months. He was a curious choice, then, for a key pinch-hit plate appearance in the ninth inning of a close game.
But with Boston’s roster limited and Alex Cora looking for a good matchup against Diamondbacks righty Jordan Rashi, it was Sogard who was called upon. Appearing as a pinch-hitter for just the third time as a big leaguer, the 27-year-old utility man stepped to the plate in place of Connor Wong with two men on and two outs in a 4-4 game. He answered the call by roping a Rashi splitter into the left field gap for a two-run double that gave the Red Sox the lead for good in a 7-4 win.
With Roman Anthony (oblique) and Wilyer Abreu (calf) both on the injured list, Cora has limited options at his disposal. On Sunday, his bench consisted of the rather inexperienced and uninspiring quintet of Sogard, Romy Gonzalez, Nate Eaton, Ali Sánchez and starting catcher Carlos Narváez, who was off with Wong catching Brayan Bello.
That bench group delivered in the ninth, with Gonzalez’s one-out single and an Eaton walk setting the table. By the time the No. 9 spot came around, Sogard was the clear answer in Cora’s mind.
“He’s gonna put the ball in play. He’s a good hitter,” said Cora. “We felt like that was the right matchup there. Took two pitches, didn’t panic and shot the ball the other way.”
Sogard has been a Worcester staple over the last three seasons but has been limited with his contributions in the big leagues, where he has played just 51 games. After a cameo down the stretch in 2024, Sogard didn’t make the Opening Day roster this year and struggled (.608 OPS) in a 14-game May cameo while Boston was looking for first base fill-in options after Triston Casas’ season-ending knee injury. Since then, Sogard has been a cameo member of the roster. He came up for three games in late June when Marcelo Mayer was on the bereavement list, then returned for a couple games at the end of August when Nathaniel Lowe hit the paternity list. He wasn’t initially a September call-up when rosters expanded to 28 but rejoined the Red Sox under unfortunate circumstances when Anthony went down in the middle of last week. Before Sunday, he had just five extra-base hits — and four RBIs — in the big leagues all season.
That mattered little in front of a pro-Red Sox crowd at Chase Field.
“It’s definitely different going from playing every day to this role, but with more time, I’ll continue to get more comfortable with it,” Sogard said. “I almost treat it like a big league spring training game. You go in, in the middle of the game, and you’ve just got to execute.”
Injuries and roster attrition have forced the Red Sox to test their depth in the final weeks of the season. In its effort to avoid a sweep Sunday, Boston started David Hamilton at second base and Rob Refsnyder in right field, used every bench player except Sánchez and even turned to September call-up Zack Kelly to pitch the seventh inning of a one-run game. While there are games to be won, October tryouts are playing out in real time.
“Everybody’s engaged,” said Cora. “We’re gonna grind. We’ve been hurt, we’ve been banged up throughout the season, and we’ve been able to put ourselves in this situation.
“We talked to the guys a few weeks ago. Just be ready.
Sunday’s victory over a surging D-Backs team didn’t clinch a postseason spot for the Red Sox or provide some sort of monumental step as they look to return to the postseason for the first time in four years. But after three sleepy defeats in the wake of Anthony’s injury, it felt important. The Red Sox head to Sacramento five games clear of the in/out line in the wild card race with 18 games to go.
Expect more surprising heroes to pop up over those final 18 games.
“We’re going to continue to use everybody, maximize the roster and try to win as many games as possible to make it to October,” said Cora.
Yankees’ Aaron Judge still impacted by injury during second game back in outfield
Aaron Judge was back in right field for the second time in three days against the Blue Jays and he was tested early as he deals with the effects of the flexor strain in his right elbow.
The results were mixed, at best, with Judge’s normally strong arm clearly impacted by the injury.
But while the Blue Jays were able to run on Judge again, he helped them seal a huge 4-3 win with a diving catch of George Springer’s sinking line drive to end the top of the fourth and save a run, since Nathan Lukes was on second base in a one-run game.
Still, teams will no doubt follow Toronto’s lead and continue to test Judge’s arm.
Aaron Judge reacts after making a diving catch during the Yankees’ Sept. 7 win over the Blue Jays.
In the top of the second Ernie Clement doubled into the right field corner.
Judge raced over and made a fairly strong throw to second that nearly got the shortstop.
Still, the throw was tracked at just 70 mph.
Prior to the injury, Judge’s throws from the outfield averaged 90 mph this season.
Aaron Judge catches a fly ball during the Yankees’ Sept. 7 win over the Blue Jays.
With runners on second and third and one out later in the inning, Nathan Lukes hit a fly ball to medium right field and Judge threw to Jazz Chisholm Jr., serving as a cutoff man, rather than firing home.
Clement scored without a throw.
The ball continued to find Judge in right, as Springer opened the third with a double to right, after going in awkwardly standing up.
This time, Judge’s throw was clocked at just 62 mph.
Aaron Boone said he thought Judge’s throws were “good” and would continue to talk with Judge and Giancarlo Stanton about how often they feel comfortable playing the outfield.
And the manager added he didn’t consider replacing Judge late in the game with José Caballero.
Aaron Judge makes a throw during the Yankees’ win over the Blue Jays on Sept. 7.
A spot would have made sense when Judge walked to open the bottom of the eighth, holding a one-run lead, with the speedy Caballero available to steal a base and then go to right.
Paul Goldschmidt was out of the lineup for a second straight game as he deals with a bone bruise in his right knee, Boone said before the game.
Despite the injury, Goldschmidt entered the game as a defensive replacement for Ben Rice at first base.
Prior to the game, Boone said the first baseman was expected to be “a normal player” after saying Saturday he would have only used him in an emergency.
Boone called the injury “pretty manageable.”
“It bothers him some days more than others,” Boone said of Goldschmidt, who has dealt with the effects of the low-grade right knee sprain he suffered on Aug. 12.
Goldschmidt avoided the IL, but the injury kept him out of the lineup for three games.
CC Sabathia was honored in a pregame ceremony Sunday for his July Baseball Hall of Fame induction.
The lefty threw out the ceremonial first pitch, which he bounced to Luis Gil.
Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. stole bases Sunday, giving the Yankees 52 over their past 41 games, the most in the majors over that stretch.
They’ve already stolen more bases this season (116) than in any year since 2011, when they finished with 147.
