Triston Casas hits three HRs, Red Sox rout Twins in first game of doubleheader

This is going to go down as something of a lost year for Triston Casas, who missed four months due to a painful rib injury, but the second-year standout is certainly finishing on a high note.

Casas enjoyed a career afternoon in the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader, going 3 for 4 with three home runs and seven RBI to lead the Red Sox past the Minnesota Twins 8-1.

Afterwards, Casas said Sunday was the first time he’s ever hit three home runs in a game at any level.

“Not even in a video game,” he said.

Red Sox manager ejected in first inning of Sunday’s afternoon game

Beyond marking a first in his own baseball career, Casas is now the first Red Sox player to hit three homers in a game since Trevor Story on May 19, 2022. It also marked a sizable turnaround from his last game on Friday, when Casas went 0 for 5 with three strikeouts.

"I felt the most locked in I have all season," Casas said of his performance Sunday afternoon. "The swing felt effortless, I was having minimal thought. I wasn't going in with the intention to beat the ball to a spot, I was just reacting to wherever it was and keeping my posture and letting the bat go over the right part of the plate, and the results showed."

Casas broke the ice in the bottom of the first when Romy Gonzalez and Masataka Yoshida each singled to put two men on. The first baseman wasted no time when he came up, smoking the first pitch he saw 400 feet to the right field bleachers for a three-run shot to make it 3-0.

His next time up in the bottom of the third it was a similar story. This time it was Yoshida and Trevor Story who set the table with singles, and Casas went the other way for an opposite field bomb to the Green Monster to make it 6-0.

Minnesota got a run back in the fourth after Willi Castro scored on an error by Romy Gonzalez, but the Red Sox infielder quickly atoned for that miscue when he drove in Jarren Duran with an RBI single in the bottom of the frame.

Then, when Casas came up again to lead off the bottom of the fifth, he powered his third home run of the game just over the triangle in right center field.

Casas credited Rob Refsnyder for the assist on that one.

"Right before the third one I was next to Ref in the bathroom and he said you're going to do it again, and I was like 'shhh' don't say it," Casas said. "Then I did and he told me 'I told you,' so thanks Ref. I think he calmed me down. I told him I was nervous but he's like just go do the same thing you were doing last couple times."

When Casas stepped to the plate for his fourth and final at bat in the sixth, he received a standing ovation from the crowd, who anticipated the possibility of seeing him become the first player in franchise history to hit four homers in a game. That didn't happen, as Casas grounded out to first, but the Red Sox first baseman said it was a cool moment and he was grateful to have that opportunity.

Casas finished with 12 home runs in only 56 games, suggesting a 34-homer pace over a full season's worth of action. According to the Red Sox, he's also now hit 41 home runs through his first 215 games, tied with Nomar Garciaparra for third in franchise history behind only Tony Conigliaro (49) and Ted Williams (42).

Manager Alex Cora said Sunday afternoon was a perfect indicator of what Casas is capable of when he's locked in.

"Obviously missing time put him in a bad spot, the inconsistency of the at bats, but that's part of the process," Cora said. "When he goes the other way that's when you're like ok cool, it's not only pull side, he can do damage going the other way, he can stay on pitches, and he's a good hitter who dominates the strike zone."

"He really set the tone for us today," said starting pitcher Nick Pivetta. "It was really impressive to watch."

All told Boston enjoyed its best offensive showing since last Saturday against Gerrit Cole and the Yankees. The Red Sox tagged Twins starter Pablo Lopez for seven runs on nine hits and a walk over four innings, and overall they finished with 11 hits as a team, their most since Sept. 9 against Baltimore.

Meanwhile, Pivetta gave up one unearned run over five strong innings, allowing four hits and three walks with four strikeouts, and relievers Luis Garcia, Lucas Sims, Greg Weissert and Kenley Jansen combined for four scoreless innings of relief.

Game 2 of the doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 5:35 p.m.

Sox announce starters

The Red Sox announced their starting pitchers for this week's upcoming series in Toronto. Tanner Houck will start Monday's opener, Brayan Bello will start the second game on Tuesday and Richard Fitts will make his fourth big league start on Wednesday.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/8sGHifd