OAKLAND, Calif. — Last May, Hector Velazquez made his major league debut here at the Coliseum. It wasn’t the first impression he wanted to make.
David Price was still working his way back from his elbow injury, so the Red Sox called on the rookie Velazquez, who was signed from the Mexican League, to temporarily jump into the rotation. But the righty’s nerves got the best of him. He gave up back-to-back homers in the first inning, three total, as the Sox lost 8-3.
It wasn’t certain after that when Velazquez would get another opportunity. He did earn two more starts last season, and five relief appearances, but he also relished the chance to improve on his performance by the Bay.
On Friday night, he did. It wasn’t in a starting role, but his contribution was still critical to the Red Sox’ 7-3 win over the A’s. After Drew Pomeranz lasted just 32⁄3 innings in his season debut, Velazquez took up middle-relief duty. In what was a tight game, the right-hander delivered three scoreless innings, and he ultimately earned the victory, his third this season.
“I honestly was really wanting to get back here,” Velazquez said through a translator. “I had it in my mind, I called it into existence, and I knew I had what it took to pitch well here, and like we say in Mexico, I was ready to get my revenge, and thankfully God gave me the opportunity.”
The memory of that ill-fated debut a year ago was apparent when he returned to the same mound on Friday night. But Velazquez was determined to leave it in the past.
“It’s funny because I looked up at one point on the scoreboard and they showed the ERA of him here, and I remember Dana (LeVangie) talking about his outing last year playing here, and he struggled,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, you know? What am I doing?’
“But he was outstanding.”
It was a sign of the developing trust Cora has in his new bullpen weapon. Velazquez has started twice this season but with the rotation now back at full health with the return of Pomeranz, Velazquez will likely see the bulk of his opportunities in relief. And he’s more than OK with that.
“Like I’ve said in the past, I’m up for whatever role that the manager puts me,” Velazquez said through a translator. “Basically it’s just adjusting my mentality to whenever the situation arises, to be able to focus and bear down and pitch well.”
With the ability to pitch several innings, Velazquez could evolve into a middle-relief weapon for Cora, like he did on a few occasions last season. The manager said he feels Velazquez can give them nine, 12 and even 15 outs, and compared his capabilities to Brad Peacock, who was crucial in multiple roles for Houston last season.
“It’s very important for us, for our game plan,” Cora said. “It’s not that he’s out there and up 8-0 or down 8-0. He’s in the game, a tied game, and we do feel he can go once through the lineup, maybe twice, because he’s capable. He can mix it up, he’s a change of pace from the starter. He enjoys that role, too. He’s happy to be in the big leagues. He comes from Mexico and he has an opportunity to pitch here.
“He understands where he’s at right now and we’re very comfortable.”
X closes in
Xander Bogaerts could be back with the Red Sox as soon as next weekend. The shortstop, who is recovering from an ankle injury, will play Tuesday or Wednesday in Pawtucket, Cora said.
From there, Cora is hopeful the team can activate him when it returns home to face the Rays.
Before Friday’s game here, Bogaerts looked good taking grounders and running the bases. The Sox play in Toronto starting Tuesday, but Cora said they’re not holding him out because of the turf there.
“Talking to him, he feels good running,” Cora said. “Defensively is the thing that worries him. Changing direction, going full blast in or turning double plays. … It’s not the turf, I think it’s more how he feels.”
Bogaerts was the team’s best hitter before he went down. He was batting .368 with a pair of homers and nine RBI through nine games when he injured his left ankle sliding into the dugout trying to keep a ball in play. As he makes his return, Cora said Bogaerts isn’t worried about his offense.
“He needs the repetitions, more defensively than offensively,” Cora said. “For me, it was music to my ears. For him to care about his defense, that’s awesome. Good for him.”
Wright setback
Steven Wright’s status is up in the air after he left his rehab start in Pawtucket on Friday with lower back stiffness.
“He didn’t feel right the whole outing,” Cora said. “Most likely, we’ll keep him there for now in Pawtucket but hopefully he gets better and can make the next one. But if not, probably we’ll see him Friday (when Red Sox return home). If he doesn’t get any better, we’ll see him Friday at home and go from there.” …
Cora said reliever Tyler Thornburg, who is rehabbing from surgery to treat thoracic outlet syndrome, could throw live BP when the Sox are home next weekend. …
Chris Sale will start in Thursday’s series finale at Toronto, and Drew Pomeranz is slated to pitch Friday at home for the series opener against the Rays.
