BOSTON — Owners of a four-game winning streak, the Red Sox will go for a weekend sweep of the Houston Astros Sunday at Fenway, with an unusual 11:30 a.m. start time.
The lineup features a few changes from Saturday. Romy Gonzalez, who hit leadoff in the win and contributed a homer and a double, has been moved to the fourth spot in the order.
The Sox want Gonzalez in the lineup against almost every lefty (Framber Valdez will pitch for Houston) and for good reason — entering Sunday’s action, Gonzalez had the third-highest slugging percentage against lefties this season, behind only Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh.
“It’s a good at-bat. He hits the ball hard,” said Alex Cora. “He works hard. I think (Rob Refsnyder) has been amazing for him, helping him to prepare (to play irregularly). I don’t think this is a hot stretch; this is who he is and we’re very glad he’s with us.”
Elsewhere, the Sox have Connor Wong in the lineup behind the plate. Alex Cora has repeatedly said that the Sox want to get Wong going offensively and the at-bats have been better of late.
“A lot better,” said Cora of Wong. “I think now his movement is a lot shorter than earlier in the season and he’s been able to get the bat head to the ball. He’ll play today and most likely he’ll play tomorrow. It’s important for his confidence and his at-bats. It’s a hard job to get four at-bats a week and perform. But we’re very pleased with the progress offensively.”
BOSTON RED SOX (61-51) vs HOUSTON ASTROS (62-49) · FENWAY PARK · BOSTON, MA · GAME 113
FIRST PITCH: 11:35 a.m. ET
TV CHANNEL: Roku
RADIO: WEEI 93.7 FM
PITCHING PROBABLES: RHP Lucas Giolito (7-2, 3.80 ERA) vs. LHP Framber Valdez (11-4, 2.62 ERA)
RED SOX LINEUP:
1) DH Rob Refsnyder
2) 3B Alex Bregman
3) LF Roman Anthony
4) 2B Romy Gonzalez
5) SS Trevor Story
6) CF Ceddanne Rafaela
7) 1B Abraham Toro
8) RF Wilyer Abreu
9) C Connor Wong
ASTROS LINEUP:
1) SS Jeremy Pena
2) DH Jose Altuve
3) RF Jesus Sanchez
4) 3B Carlos Correa
5) 1B Christian Walker
6) C Yainer Diaz
7) CF Taylor Trammell
8) LF Mauricio Dubon
9) 2B Ramon Urias
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