Tim Anderson was ejected, Dylan Cease walked five batters in five innings, Joe Kelly gave up two runs in the ninth and Eloy Jimenez was absent after landing on the injured list before the game.
What else could go wrong? Not much else did. In fact, the good outweighed all Jimenez’ injury, including a pair of two-out hits and three RBI from Jimenez’ replacement at designated hitter, Gavin Sheets, in a 7-3 Sox victory.
The Sox did not miss Anderson, tossed for the eighth time in his career, as Hanser Alberto, his replacement on the field, rapped an RBI single in a two-run fifth against righty Logan Webb for a 4-1 Sox lead. Andrew Benintendi, Yoan Moncada and Sheets had two hits and Luis Robert had three including a double.
Cease (2-0, 1.59 ERA), following a masterful start with no walks on Opening Day, was unable to pitch past the fifth inning because of a 99-pitch workload. He struck out eight, however, and allowed one hit, shaking off the effects of a head cold that affected his sleep the night before.
“With caffeine, you can get through something like that,” said Cease said, who loaded up on coffee and Red Bulls.
Calling his own pitches again, Cease pinned the walks on “poor execution and not making adjustments.”
Anderson’s ejection
Anderson was tossed for the eighth time in his career for something he shouted from the dugout after Robert was called on strikes by umpire D.J. Reyburn.
Before Robert struck out — on two pitches that appeared to be outside — Anderson wasn’t granted time from Reyburn with two strikes, and Webb threw a pitch for a called strike before Anderson was set. Anderson thought Webb was quick-pitching him during the at-bat and was shouting at Webb, who yelled back.
“You have to be alert at a certain time and he said he wasn’t alert,” Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “He was OK with the strikeout but emotions are emotions. That’s what makes him good, man. That passion that he brings. I have no problems with it at all.”
“I don’t necessarily think he should have gotten tossed,” Webb said. “He was talking to me, he wasn’t talking to the umpires, but I’m not going to listen to that s—t for a bunch of pitches. It is what it is, I said what I said, that’s about it.”
Elvis Andrus moved from second base to play shortstop and Alberto entered the game at second base.
Tim Anderson was thrown out of the game after arguing with the umpire for not granting him time
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 5, 2023
(via @NBCSGiants)pic.twitter.com/2ziILZcVbH
Kopech in review
After Michael Kopech gave up five home runs to the Giants Monday, Kopech and the coaching staff suggested tipping pitches might have been a factor.
“We talked about it,” Grifol said. “We’ve looked at it, we’ve had our people look at it, our team look at it. I’ll keep that in-house but there’s going to be some adjustments made for sure.”
