rn By Lance ReynoldsrnrnThe Y-D Red Sox endured a stretch at the plate that they hope is a thing of the past – just a small bump in the road of their 44 game season. After being shutout 4-0 in three straight defeats and not scoring a single run in a stretch of 32 innings last week, the Red Sox offense was in desperate need for solutions to their struggles.rnrn?rnrnDuring Monday?s 4-0 win over the Brewster Whitecaps at Red Wilson Field, lead-off hitter Nico Hoerner and cleanup hitter Alfonso Rivas showed that they can be counted on as reliable sources of run-production.rnrn?rnrnUnlike waiting 32 innings to score a run, all it took was one batter for Y-D to plate across their first run.rnrn?rnrnHoerner, who hit a first pitch lead-off home run in Saturday?s loss to Chatham, did it once again. The second baseman drilled a first pitch fastball over the centerfield fence, and unlike Saturday, it was all the offense the Red Sox would need.rnrn?rnrn?First pitch of the game is traditionally a good pitch to hit,? Hoerner said. ?Pick wants us to be ready to hit when we get a good pitch early on in the count, so I?m just trying to do that.rnrn?rnrn?I?m not going to hit a home run on the first pitch very often, but I?ll definitely take it.?rnrn?rnrnHoerner?s home run stretches his hitting streak to five games. Batting out of the lead-off spot or second-spot of the Y-D lineup for the majority of the season, Hoerner has been a constant source of offense, as he is batting .299 to go along with belting four homers.rnrn?rnrn?At the top of the order, you?re not always going to hit for power,? Hoerner said. ?But, hopefully give the guys behind you a chance to drive you in and do things on the bases.?rnrn?rnrnIn the third inning, Rivas blasted his second home run of the season over the centerfield – nearly identical to Hoerner?s shot – to extend the Red Sox lead to 3-0.rnrn?rnrn?I was just trying to see the ball all the way through,? Rivas said. ?I got a fastball to hit and put a good swing on it.?rnrn?rnrnRivas scuffled early on, but he has come on strong over the past week – seeing his batting average rise while collecting two home runs and five other base hits.rnrn?rnrn?I?ve just been trying to keep it simple, and I feel that at the beginning I was trying to do a little too much to make something happen,? Rivas said. ?Now, I?m just letting my abilities work.?rnrn?rnrnY-D (13-10-1) continues their four-game homestand Tuesday when they host the Orleans Firebirds at Red Wilson Field with a 5:00 pm first pitch.rnrnrnrnrnrnrnrn?rn
