NEW YORK — How does Red Sox manager Alex Cora decide between playing David Hamilton or Enmanuel Valdez at second base vs. a left-handed starter?
Both Hamilton and Valdez are left-handed hitters. Cora went with Valdez over Hamilton at second base Friday vs. Yankees left handed starter Nestor Cortes Jr. Cora had right-handed hitter Ceddanne Rafaela play shortstop (instead of center field).
Valdez made a costly error that extended the fourth inning Friday. What should have been an inning-ending double play in a scoreless game resulted in a three-run inning for New York. Hamilton, meanwhile, is a superior defender.
Cora has both in the lineup Saturday here at Yankee Stadium. Valdez is at second and Hamilton is at shortstop with Rafaela back in center field.
The manager called the decision between Valdez and Hamilton “a challenge.”
“It’s more about the fastball of the opposition,” Cora said. “They have their strengths and weaknesses. You guys can look into it. One (Hamilton) can get the four-seamer. The other (Valdez) can get the east-west fastballs. So we’ll go from there against lefties.”
Hamilton is better hitting velocity. Cortes’ fastball averages only 91.9 mph and he mixes in a large number of cutters, sweepers and changeups. So that’s why Valdez, who hits offspeed pitches better than he does fastballs, played vs. Cortes on Friday.
“Yesterday we felt like Valdey was the matchup for Cortes,” Cora said. “It might change in the upcoming days when we face another lefty knowing that (first baseman) Dom (Smith) is hitting lefties. But that’s the biggest challenge lineup-wise now.”
How much does defense factor in?
“It’s important,” Cora said. “And obviously what Hammy can do running the bases — you saw it yesterday right away (pinch running). He put pressure on the opposition. But we’re not going to give up on Valdey because he has struggled defensively. Valdey was one of the best hitters in baseball in June. He can impact the baseball. Hammy was great, too. Kind of slowed down a little bit. We had to take him out a few weeks ago because of the oblique. I’m not saying that’s a factor right now. I think his swing is OK. But just taking care of everybody. The good thing is that we have a lefty off the bench whenever needed. They both can do a good job.”
Valdez enjoyed a strong June, going 18-for-62 (.290) with a .380 on-base percentage, .597 slugging percentage, .977 OPS, four homers, seven doubles and 14 RBIs.