BOSTON — Jarren Duran sat twice over the weekend as the Red Sox faced back-to-back tough lefties in Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez. On Monday, Duran is once again on the bench despite the Yankees starting the right-handed Luis Gil.
With Roman Anthony (left field) and Masataka Yoshida (designated hitter) both starting against Gil, Duran is the odd man out for the first meeting between Boston and New York this season. Elsewhere, the Red Sox lineup is as expected with second baseman Marcelo Mayer, third baseman Caleb Durbin and catcher Carlos Narváez starting. Willson Contreras is again hitting second behind the leadoff man, Anthony, while Yoshida is hitting third.
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In the eyes of manager Alex Cora, who has rotated through his five outfield/DH types so far this season, the decision was about getting Yoshida — who is hitting .440 (11-for-25) with three doubles and five RBIs since April 5 — in the lineup.
“Masa’s swinging the bat well. He’s taking his walks and he’s putting good at-bats. It was his turn to play.”
Duran went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in Monday’s win and Cora chose to pinch-hit light-hitting utility man Isiah Kiner-Falefa for him (to attempt to bunt) in the seventh inning. Duran’s average is down to .164 and he has a 28.4% strikeout rate so far this season.
“He’s chasing pitches,” Cora said. “Early on, he was taking his walks. Now, he’s chasing. We’ve got to make sure we swing at the right ones.”
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The Red Sox, who split a four-game series against Detroit, won Monday. They are 9-13 so far this season and trail the first-place Yankees by four games. Boston made an expected roster move before the game, placing starter Sonny Gray on the injured list with a right hamstring strain and recalling lefty Tyler Samaniego from Triple-A Worcester.
First pitch is set for 6:45 p.m. ET and the game will air on NESN+ — not NESN — because of Game 2 of the Bruins-Sabres playoff series. Connelly Early will start for the Red Sox.
NEW YORK YANKEES (13-9) vs. BOSTON RED SOX (9-13) · FENWAY PARK · BOSTON, MA · GAME 23
FIRST PITCH: 6:45 p.m. ET
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TV CHANNEL: NESN+, TBS
RADIO: WEEI 93.7 FM
PITCHING PROBABLES: RHP Luis Gil (0-1, 7.00 ERA) vs. LHP Connelly Early (1-0, 2.29 ERA)
RED SOX LINEUP:
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Roman Anthony LF
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Willson Contreras 1B
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Masataka Yoshida DH
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Marcelo Mayer 2B
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Caleb Durbin 3B
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Carlos Narváez C
YANKEES LINEUP:
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