BOSTON — The Yermin Mercedes experience added another dimension Monday when the 5-11, 245-pound designated hitter pitched the seventh inning of a 11-4 White Sox loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
A catcher who pitched some in independent ball in the Dominican, Mercedes touched 87 mph and managed to keep Red Sox damage to one run on three hits and two walks thanks to a liner to shortstop Tim Anderson that turned into a double play.
Manager Tony La Russa, trying to save his bullpen trailing by six runs, approached Mercedes — the first AL Player of the Week and the team’s leader in home runs with four — about pitching only minutes before. It was his first appearance in a major league game on defense.
“Yeah, I’m feeling good for that,” Mercedes told La Russa. “If you need me, I’ll be there.”
Mendick, pitching for the first time since he pitched one or two times in high school, fared better with a scoreless inning. He hit Marwin Gonzalez and allowed one hit but struck out Franchy Cordero on a “60 mph-ish four-seam fastball grip that I was flicking there for a strike.” He saved the ball for his man cave, he said.
Mendick finished the inning with a “40 mph slow air cutter” to Kike Hernandez, who grounded into a forceout to Anderson.
“With two outs in the seventh [La Russa] said, ‘You’ll pitch the eighth,’ ’’ Mendick said. “And I was like, ‘OK.’ It was a cool experience.’’
Moncada’s revenge
With three games bunched in a 24-hour period, La Russa rested players in the doubleheader Sunday and Monday morning. Moncada sat out Monday.
Moncada, off to a slow start with a .200/.318/.273 hitting line, had a good series defensively, and he reached base three times and drove in two runs against the team signed him for a $31.5 million bonus in 2015 before trading him and Michael Kopech to the White Sox in the Chris Sale trade in 2016.
“I am always motivated to play but there is extra motivation to come here to [Fenway Park] to show them they made a mistake trading you,” Moncada said through translator Billy Russo. “I’m happy Kopech had his moment yesterday to prove and show them they made a mistake trading us.”
Moncada said he is still searching for his optimum comfort level and rhythm at the plate, trying to find the right balance of accepting walks and being aggressive that worked for him in 2019.
“I’m getting closer and closer,” he said.
Moncada batted fourth every game until La Russa moved him to third, trading places with Jose Abreu, during the Boston series.
Rodon named AL Pitcher of Week
Left-hander Carlos Rodon, who makes his first start Tuesday night after throwing his no-hitter against the same Indians team in Chicago on Wednesday, was named American League Pitcher of the Week, his first such honor.
After throwing 114 pitches in the no-hitter, Rodon is getting an extra day of rest and will be matched up again vs. Zach Plesac, who was knocked out in the first inning.
Rodon hasn’t allowed a run in two starts and owns a 2.50 ERA in 16 career starts against the Indians.
Silver linings
Tim Anderson was 3-for-4, raising his average to .364 and Adam Eaton had two hits and drove in three runs at the top of the Sox lineup.
*Luis Robert, batting third with Moncada getting a day off, had an RBI double. Robert is 9-for-23 (.391) over his last six games.
*Nick Madrigal had his first career triple and is 8-for-18 in his last five games.
*MVP Jose Abreu, meanwhile, was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, his average falling to .188.
