Martinez cleared for return from COVID-19 IL

The Red Sox got some good news roughly an hour before Sunday’s game, when red-hot slugger J.D. Martinez was cleared from protocol and was able to re-join the roster and starting lineup after spending one day on the COVID-19 related injured list.

They got even better news during the game, as Martinez notched a three-homer performance in the Red Sox’s 14-9 sweep-clinching win over the Orioles. Each home run was a solo shot, part of the designated hitter’s 4-for-6 day at the plate with 4 RBIs.

Martinez woke up Saturday morning with symptoms consistent with a cold, but the Red Sox followed protocols, which necessitated his absence from the lineup in the game that night. Boston was able to rally without their hottest hitter to pull out a 6-4 win in 10 innings.

The DH tested negative for COVID-19 multiple times over the weekend, and was promptly put back on the roster.

Michael Chavis, who was recalled on Saturday to take Martinez’s spot on the roster, and scored the go-ahead run as a pinch runner, was optioned back to the alternate site.

Martinez is off to a historic start for the Red Sox, becoming the first player in club history to have at least one extra-base hit in the first seven games of the season. He became just the fifth player in MLB history to accomplish that feat.

Dealing with COVID protocols continues to be part of daily life for not just the Red Sox, but all of MLB.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora revealed Sunday that he got his first dose of the vaccine shortly before the club left Spring Training.

No Boston players have been vaccinated yet, but Cora expects that to change during the upcoming homestand, and is confident the club will get to the 85% vaccination rate that will allow them to ease protocols, per a recent ruling by MLB.

Clubs were informed on March 29 that MLB and the MLBPA have agreed to relax certain health and safety protocols contained in the 2021 Operations Manual for fully vaccinated Tier 1 Individuals and for clubs where 85% of their Tier 1 Individuals are fully vaccinated. As part of that memo, players and staff were again strongly encouraged to receive one of the approved COVID-19 vaccines when eligible.

“The way it’s going, I do believe we will,” said Cora. “But you never know, people might change their minds. There are some coaches that have it already. There’s some of them that got the first one down there [in Florida], but no players have been vaccinated. We’re working on that and talking about it, and hopefully by the time we get home we can get this ball rolling and get some of them vaccinated.”

Franchy staying ready
Until he gets a chance to prove he can hit lefties, Franchy Cordero will do his best to be a weapon off the bench in the games he doesn’t start.

The outfielder did a nice job of that on Saturday night, notching a key pinch-hit single with one out in the top of the ninth that put runners at the corners and set up the game-tying rally.

With limited experience as a pinch hitter in his career, Cordero has held his own, going 5-for-17. Two of those hits have come for the Red Sox this season. The way Cora likes to mix and match, Cordero could get plenty of chances in that role as the season develops.

“I’m always ready, so I’m always watching film and just trying to stay ready during the game as well,” said Cordero, “so whenever the moment comes and I’ve got to get up there to bat, I’m extremely comfortable in doing so.”

Cordero has just one plate appearance against lefties this season, and he came through with an RBI single. Could that lead to more opportunities?

“Yeah, obviously that’s something I’m continuing to work on, hitting against left-handers,” Cordero said. “That’s something that I know I need to improve on, but that’s what I’m putting in the work for, in order for when those situations come, to be able to contribute to that way as well.”

Richards incorporating the curve
Boston’s comeback win on Saturday night would not have been possible without the improvement of Garrett Richards, who, after giving up back-to-back homers in the first inning, went unscored on through the rest of his five-inning performance.

It was a big step forward for the lanky righty, who recorded just six outs in his first start for the Sox.

Richards thinks that increasing the use of his curveball in his second start was the key to his turnaround.

“Just [threw] it more to be honest with you,” said Richards. “I’ve been pretty fastball-slider heavy most of my career. I feel like the last couple of years I started getting more into the curveball. It was a pitch that was just my third pitch that I hadn’t really developed a whole lot. But over the last couple years, I’ve figured out a delivery and a mindset to help me throw that pitch for a strike more often. And it’s a weapon. And I need to use it. [Saturday] vs. the first start, I wanted to throw more curveballs. So I did.”