BOSTON — The month is early and we may still be talking about a “June swoon,” but if you look at the make-up of this Boston Red Sox roster, the odds are ever in their favor.
Another double-digit in the hits column, this time with 11.
I know what R-word you’re waiting to hear.
And, yes, the Red Sox are relentless.
But let’s add something to the vocabulary:
Resilient.
The Red Sox were in position Saturday to do something they have yet to do this season – lose four straight games. But the Red Sox snapped a three-game losing streak with their 6-4 win over Toronto and Marcus Stroman.
I know another team that never lost more than three straight: the 2013 World Series champion Red Sox.
That gang was filled with veterans.
This 2016 group? Not so much. But these kids have been groomed to despise losing.
“You don’t want that turning in the wrong direction,” said third baseman Travis Shaw, playing in his first full season in the majors.
“We’ve done a pretty good job of putting stops to those tiny skids and being able to turn the page. Today was another example of that.”
Shaw was an example of that. He came into Saturday, 0 for his last 10. In his previous 64 at-bats, he was batting .188.
Worse, in Shaw’s mind, he was playing poorly elsewhere, making an error and a base-running mistake in Friday night’s loss.
“It was pretty bad,” Shaw said. “I did nothing beneficial to help the team.
“There was a determination to make sure today was a rebound day. I don’t want to say my focus is not always high, but the focus level (Saturday) was probably the highest it’s ever been for me.”
Boston Manager John Farrell said Shaw’s been struggling as pitchers make adjustments on him, busting him inside with fastballs and getting him out with outside pitches.
On Saturday, the determined Shaw led off the second inning against Stroman.
“He tries to work you in and then steal some strikes with his breaking ball stuff,” Shaw said.
Stroman delivered a 1-1 outside change-up, and Shaw sent it to the Green Monster for a double. He eventually scored on Blake Swihart’s single.
In the fifth inning, Shaw came up with Xander Bogaerts on third with two outs. The Blue Jays had just closed to 4-3. The Red Sox could use a run. Shaw fell behind 0-1 and then swatted a back-door slider, also off the Monster, scoring Bogaerts.
“Each time they put a point on the board, we answered back,” Farrell said. “That continues to be a characteristic of this team.”
And they don’t lose a lot. Like the 2013 team.
“I’ll sign up for that right now,” Farrell said.
Farrell complimented starter Steven Wright and applauded his beleaguered bullpen’s shutdown performance.
But he also knows what has Boston winning consistently – while avoiding the big skids.
“It boils down to getting contributions up and down the lineup; instead of relying on the middle of the order, or the top of the order,” Farrell said. “We’re getting contributions throughout.
“When you can take the approach we are – that they don’t have to be the hero within a given inning. Play your part. Pass the baton as we get through the lineup. That’s allowed us to score as many runs as we have.”
Leadoff hitter Mookie Betts began the day 0 for 2. He came up in the fourth with Jackie Bradley Jr. on second. He took a called first strike on a curveball and then Stroman fired in an outside fastball. Betts slapped it into right field to score Bradley.
In the sixth, Betts got a fastball to pull and sent it to left field for a RBI double.
Dustin Pedroia batted second and went 1 for 3.
Bogaerts had his hitting streak stopped at 26 games Friday. He began Saturday with a strikeout. His next three at-bats: double, single, single. He scored two runs.
The ever-youthful one, David Ortiz, had a two-run single.
Hanley Ramirez went 0 for 4 and is struggling. But one guy scuffling in this lineup is not going to slow it down.
The Red Sox ended their losing streak and are 33-23.
Look back three years ago. Know what that Boston team was through 56 games? Right, 33-23.
This team is younger. But, like 2013, they feed off each other, and don’t like to lose.
Resilient.
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