It wasn't exactly how they drew it up, but evidently it worked.
Hours before the Red Sox claimed their walk-off, 11-inning, 8-4 win over the Rangers, the participants gathered together for a players-only meeting at Fenway Park Monday morning.
Not only did it evidently help lead to a much-needed victory, but the get-together also helped identify a good chunk of those viewed as the primary voices for this year's Red Sox.
That would Xander Bogaerts, J.D. Martinez and Chris Sale.
"Bogey and J.D. and Sale addressed the team this morning and it was just great to have those guys lead us and push us forward," said Red Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock on the Red Sox Radio Network Postgame Show. "Those are the guys that we look up too, especially as a rookie. Just to have them really lead us, really pushing us ... It's a great team and there is no place I would rather be."
Asked what message from the meeting truly hit home, Whitlock said, "This is our group. This is who we are. We know we have got each other's backs. We're going to take it one day at a time and win each day."
When the subject of the meeting was broached in postgame Zoom calls with the media, Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi, outfielder Alex Verdugo and manager Alex Cora offered a wide range of answers.
"I’m not sure who called it but yeah we had a meeting. We talked about it," Eovaldi said. "That stuff stays in the clubhouse but it helped us out. We were able to get some things off of our chest. And got the job done today."
"Energy. That’s the biggest thing. Obviously the players, we had a little player meeting," Verdugo sad. "We’re going to keep that in-house for the most part, but the biggest thing to come from it was just we want to play energized. That’s it. It doesn’t matter if something good is happening, bad is happening. It feels good to hear that. When you’re in the box and hear your guys cheering you on from the dugout, it makes a hitter lock in a little bit more.
"Some people think that’s what Little Leaguers do. Well, that’s what brings energy. That’s what gets you going. When I’m hitting and I hear guys cheering me on from my dugout, I take a foul ball and they’re like, ‘That a boy – you’re right on it!’ It fires you up. It definitely makes you want to get that next pitch that much more.
"Us as players just wanted to get together and talk. That’s all that really matters for us. We’re out there playing, giving it our all, for 162 games a year. We just, it felt like it was the right time. It felt like it was what the boys needed. Obviously coming out today and having the big win is huge."
"I'm a manager," Cora added. "I stay away from the clubhouse. That's my choice. You guys think I'm involved, I just stay away from it."
