Triston Casas was having a quiet day at the plate — until the 10th inning.
After going hitless in three at-bats with a walk, the Red Sox first baseman launched an 85 MPH changeup off the Green Monster to plate ghost runner Alex Bregman from third and secure the 4-3 walk-off win for Boston on Saturday over the Chicago White Sox.
Casas has struggled to begin the season with just three RBI in the first 21 games. Making contact to drive in the winning run on Saturday might turn things around for Casas.
“Every hit counts. I’m grateful for every single one,” Casas told reporters, as seen on NESN’s postgame coverage. “Hopefully, they come in bunches, but in timely spots is the most important thing. Hopefully, they come with runners in scoring position on base.
“Getting the rally started with nobody on is huge, too. So, just finding ways to pass the baton, have a good at-bat, and make that bat for the next guy behind me easier. Just keep the lineup rolling, and if I’m on the bottom of the lineup, turn it over because the top of the lineup is doing their job.”
Red Sox manager Alex Cora knows how cerebral and intentional Casas can be about his swing when he’s at the plate. Cora never wavered that the 25-year-old would eventually get going.
“He has been actually swinging the bat well, more aggressive with more conviction,” Cora said on NESN’s postgame coverage. “He took a walk today, and that is important. In that situation, just put the ball in play. He has that (the Green Monster) that way. He did a good job staying with the pitch and got the W.”
Here are more notes from Saturday’s Red Sox-White Sox game:
— Cora referred to Garrett Crochet’s outing as “erratic,” with some two-strike hits to extend innings. Crochet threw 65.6% of his pitches for strikes (63-of-96), striking out seven across six scoreless innings of work.
“I feel like I’m getting away with murder,” Crochet told reporters, as seen on NESN’s postgame coverage. “It’s only a matter of time before I get caught. I feel like the way that I’m throwing the ball isn’t up to my par. It’s only a matter of time before I get burned, and I’d rather just avoid that at all costs.”
— Rafael Devers opened the scoring for Boston with his second home run of the season to give the Red Sox a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning. He finished the night going 1-for-4 from the plate with three RBI and a walk.
— The Red Sox extended their winning streak to four straight games, and five of their last six, and improved to 6-3 at Fenway Park.
— The Red Sox continue their four-game series with the White Sox at Fenway Park on Sunday afternoon, with NESN’s coverage beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET.