Patience in the first inning set the tone for the Sox’ runaway victory Monday.
Leading off the game, Miguel Vargas singled to end an eight-pitch at-bat — a big difference from the ninth inning Sunday, when he swung at a 91.8 mph cutter, resulting in a pop-up that failed to advance runners on first and second base.
After a wild pitch by Twins starter Chris Paddack, Vargas advanced to second. Luis Robert Jr., behind 0-2 in the count, didn’t swing at any of Paddack’s four pitches scattered outside the zone and walked before first baseman Andrew Vaughn — who had been struggling at the plate until a double in the ninth inning Sunday — cleared the bases with a three-run homer to left.
The homer got the attention and sent the Sox on their way to a dominating win. But the patient at-bats made it possible.
“Great job by those guys, and really from the first at-bat with Vargas really grinding that at-bat,” Sox manager Will Venable said. “Obviously [it] ended up in a base hit and set the tone for us.”
Vasil debut
Despite frigid temperatures at Rate Field, reliever Mike Vasil said he didn’t feel a thing as he ran to the mound to make his major-league debut after four seasons in the minors. And that was with the adrenaline even higher than expected. When Vasil entered, the Sox still had a no-hitter going, thanks to six scoreless innings from Martin Perez.
Vasil said he took a couple of deep breaths and tried to focus. He threw two scoreless innings, allowing two hits but capping the outing with his first major-league strikeout with a two-seam fastball up in the zone.
“To throw that [pitch], to not baby it and then get the swing and miss on the fastball up, it’s those little things that really matter,” he said. “So to see it actually work, and for the first big-league strikeout, is pretty cool.”
The Sox claimed Vasil, 25, off waivers from the Rays on March 23.
When the lead ballooned to nine in the fourth inning Monday, he sat in the bullpen hoping to get his opportunity.
“Once the phone rang and they told me to get going, I was like, ‘All right, here we go,’ ” he said.
Other notes
Venable said outfielder Mike Tauchman is progressing well in his recovery from a strained hamstring. The team announced that he and lefty Tyler Gilbert are scheduled to start rehab at Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday.
“We want to be, one, responsible with his health and make sure that he builds up volume on his legs and can get through it and recover the right way,” Venable said. “And at the same time, get at-bats to be prepared. We’re going to be flexible with that, though, so it might be three to four days.”
† The Sox traded left-hander Jake Eder to the Angels for cash considerations after designating him for assignment last week. Eder had a 4.50 ERA at Double-A Birmingham.