BOSTON — The Yankees got their first look this week at the Red Sox without David Ortiz, and after giving up just one run in two games, they had to like what they saw.
Ortiz’s former teammates, however, did not.
Boston’s offense has been punchless in 2017 without the retired slugger, and shortstop Xander Bogaerts was asked why the bats haven’t been as productive this season.
“What’s the difference? I mean, David [Ortiz] isn’t here,” Bogaerts said following the Yankees’ 3-0 win Thursday night at Fenway Park, the fourth loss in five games for the Red Sox. “He was definitely a huge part of our team for the years I was here. We definitely miss him.”
It’s shown in various ways. Entering Friday, only the Royals have scored fewer runs among American League teams. The Red Sox also have hit just 11 home runs, which ranks last in the majors — and is as many as Brewers sensation Eric Thames has hit by himself.
The results, though, shouldn’t be as bad as they are. The Red Sox lineup is ranked 10th in the AL in OPS. They just can’t score.
Numbers aside, there’s a distinct void without Ortiz, whether it’s in the later innings of a tight game on Wednesday, as Aroldis Chapman fought his way through an ugly ninth that Ortiz no doubt would have altered or on Thursday, when Masahiro Tanaka mowed down the Red Sox with hardly a hiccup.
“We’ve got to do it without him,’’ Bogaerts said. “We’re trying. We’re trying to put up good at-bats and get guys on base. Having that ‘34’ in the lineup was something opposing pitchers were definitely afraid of.”
That bat is now gone, and the likes of Bogaerts, Dustin Pedroia and Hanley Ramirez have gotten off to slow starts and failed to pick up the slack.
“We miss him, but we’re going to get runs,” Bogaerts said. “We’re going to score. We’re not going to get shut out or get one run every game. Our offense probably needs one game — 12 runs, 15 runs – like the Washington Nationals [had this week]. … Hopefully we can do the same as that. We’ll break loose.”