Red Sox chip away against Logan Webb, Giants in shutout win; Garrett Cooper injured, Vaughn Grissom (was) set to debut

Rob Refsnyder and Jarren Duran were spark plugs for the early offense, with the former recording a couple of RBI base knocks in the first and third innings and the latter driving in a run with a single in the second and scoring Boston’s run in the fourth on Wilyer Abreu’ s triple. 

“We stayed very humble tonight,” said Alex Cora. “There we no chases, we hit the ball the other way, not too many swings and misses. That’s probably what I envisioned of our offense when the season started. We’ll take the homers, but I think the at-bats are gonna get better with the guys that (we’re) adding.” 

The starting pitching was solid, as usual. Cooper Criswell turned in a second straight solid outing after tossing five scoreless frames in Cleveland last Wednesday, turning in another five scoreless while allowing two hits and a walk and striking out four. 

“It’s a credit to the catchers, pitching coach, the whole staff just buying into what (Andrew) Bailey is putting together for us, just going out there and trusting in the game plan and executing the best we can,” Criswell said. 

The shutout performance — Boston’s major league-leading sixth of the season — dropped the team ERA to a league-leading 2.59 across 271 1/3 innings and the starters’ ERA to a league-best 2.00 in 152 2/3 frames. 

“We expect to be consistent,” Cora said. “I don’t know about the numbers. I know that every single night, I feel comfortable where we’re gonna be pitching-wise.” 

Unfortunately, it was a less than memorable day for Boston’s other Cooper… 

Garrett Cooper injured in debut

Sigh… I guess we just can’t have nice things anymore.

Franchise savior Garrett Cooper made his Red Sox debut on Tuesday night, only to have it cut short after taking a pitch to the wrist during his second at-bat in the fifth and exiting the game. He was diagnosed with a right wrist contusion, but did not require any imaging according to Cora.

“He’s doing OK, just sore,” Cora said of Cooper. “We’ll see where he’s at (Wednesday).”

He of a thousand chances, Bobby Dalbec, took over as the pinch runner at first, and he even found his way on base (via hit by pitch) and swiped second base in his lone plate appearance in the seventh. 

Cooper went down looking in his first at-bat in the second inning before coming up again in the seven-hole an inning later and striking out swinging. 

Before the game, Cooper said he believes his swing translates well to Fenway Park and he's always had an affinity for playing in Boston.

"I've always felt like I've hit well here. I don't know the career stats here, but you know I made my debut here in '17 with the Yankees. It's funny to be on this side now," said Cooper. "I've always loved coming here. Boston's one of my favorite cities. My wife grew up in New Jersey, so we're close to her family. I've always felt like I've played well here when I've come here."

(Those career numbers at Fenway that Cooper was referencing... he's slashed .241/.313/.414 with a home run and three RBIs in eight career games. In his big league debut on July 14, 2017, he went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts.)

Fortunately, Cora indicated he doesn’t believe Cooper will have to wait long before getting back at it — even though he acknowledged it looked pretty bad at the time. 

“We dodged a bullet there,” Cora said.

Perhaps the Sox won’t need to give C.J. Cron and Brandon Belt a call after all… 

Vaughn Grissom (was) set to debut 

Boston almost had two notable debuts on the diamond Tuesday with second baseman of the future Vaughn Grissom set to play his first game as a Red Sox since being traded to Boston from Atlanta for Chris Sale last December. 

After completing his rehab assignment in Worcester, Grissom was on track to be in the lineup when Boston open its series against San Francisco.

The flu bug had other plans, preventing Grissom being activated for the first time this season. 

Grissom looked good in his rehab stint with the WooSox, hitting .333 (10 for 30). The 23-year-old capped the assignment with a 4-for-4 day with a pair of RBIs, a walk and a run scored this past Sunday. 

Not only does Grissom’s return come at a good time for these ever-depleting Red Sox, but he seems primed to hit the ground running and help right a way for a team that’s finally found its rhythm after winning seven of 10 to complete a 17-13 opening month of the season.

“We’re playing good baseball,” said Cora. “It’s one month out of the season. We’ve still got a long ways, but we’ve just got to keep continuing doing the things that we’re preaching — we’re playing better defense, we’re running the bases better, the offense is gonna be better, the pitching is gonna be consistent. Win the series (on Wednesday), hopefully, and then continue to roll.”