BOSTON — Roman Anthony already sensed the worst-case scenario.
When he stumbled out of the batter’s box, laboring with his oblique strain suffered during the at-bat, he knew it felt worse than back pain he battled earlier in the season. Red Sox trainers saw it too, and Wednesday’s MRI only confirmed their suspicions. Anthony woke up feeling sore, and his mood worsened when he received a 4-6 week outlook for what he believed was a Grade 2 strain.
That could prove optimistic based on other Grade 2 cases that stretched longer.
“It sucks,” Anthony said. “I wish I could play. That’s all I really care about, so it sucks.”
“I’m gonna show up every day, do everything I can and trust our training staff, and trust the people around me and do everything I can to get out there as soon as I can.”
Anthony remained hopeful that he’ll play again this season, while Alex Cora stressed: Keep going. Pitching and defense alongside mixing-and-matching lineups already led them through the Triston Casas injury, Rafael Devers trade and additional turmoil into becoming an unlikely postseason lock. Yet another hit to their lineup depth while the team already searched for back-end rotation answers previewed a challenging final month for the Red Sox. As did falling behind 7-0 to the Guardians early in the series finale, Cleveland jumping all over Boston openers Brennan Bernardino, Jordan Hicks and Steven Matz for seven runs in the first two innings in the eventual loss.
Alex Bregman already prepared his message for the team the night before Anthony’s outlook became official. Don’t try to do too much, he told them. If everyone follows the game plan that got Boston where they are already, they’ll be fine, whether it’s situational hitting or fielding, he added. That plan fell apart quickly in the second inning on Wednesday, when Connor Wong committed catcher’s interference, allowing a hit and run after five straight Guardians hits to begin the frame. Jarren Duran dropped a ball in left field and the Sox fell out of the game before they could even reach planned bulk reliever Dustin May.
“We’ve seen it over the course of the last 10 years,” Bregman said when asked to elaborate by CLNS Media earlier in the afternoon. “It’s the same thing as the playoffs. When you’re playing postseason baseball, you don’t try and be the hero, you try to execute your game plan, and then you end up becoming the hero by coming through and doing those things. You have to focus on the task at hand, the next pitch, your game plan in an at-bat, or your game plan on the mound, or executing the fundamentals on defense and running the bases the right way. You gotta play good baseball and that’s the name of the game, especially this time of the year.”
Cora also sensed that the natural urgency September brings would carry the Sox through their latest loss, though Wilyer Abreu’s (calf) continued absence loomed even larger with Anthony out. Abreu’s without a timeline until he begins running. Boston promoted Nick Sogard into play the infield rather than outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia, while Kristian Campbell’s ascension doesn’t appear imminent.
Neither does Kyle Harrison’s despite the need for starting pitching. Harrison reportedly headed for Boston to take part in Wednesday’s bullpen game before turning back, possibly over an ankle injury that Cora would not comment on. Spot starter Cooper Criswell also remained down with elbow inflammation with no update. The Sox, despite their depth, looked like a team running thin on Wednesday. Cora, however, expressed confidence in Rob Refsnyder and Nate Eaton defending in right field with Masataka Yoshida playing more in left.
“Obviously, waiting for (Abreu) to get back, but we’ll move it around,” Cora said. “We’ll mix-and-match, just like we’ve been throughout the season. We’ll be ok … Nate is a good outfielder. Ref can do the job. This is where we’re at, so it really doesn’t matter. There’s no excuses, right? We just gotta keep continuing playing, and we will.”
Anthony’s rise from AAA marked a turning point in the Sox’ season. Boston went 32-35 to begin the season, trailing by 8.5 games in the division and 4.0 in the wild card. They won 46-of-73 (.630) since, and their 36-18 record since July began trails only the Brewers across MLB. Anthony hit .292/.396/.463 with eight home runs, 32 RBI and 40 walks to 84 strikeouts through his first 71 career games. The league named him AL rookie of the month for August on Wednesday.
Teammates have praised his poise, while Cora lauded his base-running and fielding improvement while he adapted to right field in place of Abreu. Bregman called Anthony one of the best hitters in baseball numerous times this season, and noted in New York last month that the team’s veterans have struggled to find something he’s not good at. He and Anthony became the team’s 1-2 punch with Duran now likely to take over the leadoff spot on most nights.
Life without Anthony immediately became difficult on Wednesday after two games and change where Boston exploded for 18 runs, 36 hits and secured a three-game win streak. The Sox managed only one run through the first seven innings while hitting .222. Boos rained down at Fenway after another ineffective Hicks appearance.
Now, they’ll try to hold on for as long as they can before whatever reinforcements they can find arrive.
“I told (Anthony) to envision ALCS first at-bat,” Cora said. “That’s what I told him. Put that goal in your mind and hopefully it happens.”
