Garrett

Crochet

The Red Sox seemed to have this one concluded early with a seven-run first inning and Crochet on the mound, but the Reds made things interesting by rallying for five runs off the likely All-Star. It’s just the third time this season that Crochet has allowed more than two earned runs. Getting some better run support, he finishes his month of June 4-0 with a 2.68 ERA. He was 4-4 with a 2.04 ERA through 12 previous starts. He’s likely to make his next start Sunday against the Nationals.

Crochet was outstanding on Tuesday, holding the Angels scoreless over seven frames. He scattered three hits and thee walks, striking out ten batters on 14 whiffs for his fourth double-digit strikeout effort of the season. He would have to settle for a no-decision after the Angels tied the game in the eighth. The 26-year-old left-hander will take a 2.06 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and a 135/31 K/BB ratio across 109 1/3 innings into a start against the Reds in Boston on Monday.

The only run came after Jarren Duran lost a ball in the sun for a double. Crochet went without a walk for the second time this season and improved to 3-0 with a 2.63 ERA and a 36/4 K/BB in 27 1/3 innings this month. He’ll try to keep it going against the Angels next Tuesday.

Well, sometimes in baseball all you can do is tip your cap. Crochet was just two outs away from both the first shutout and complete game of his career before Aaron Judge put a 3-2 fastball out and over the Green Monster onto the streets of Boston. That shouldn’t take away from this masterful start though. He only allowed one Yankee to reach scoring position before that blast and overpowered them with fastballs and cutters at the top of the zone. He’s ascended to undoubted ace status and can be trusted as one of the five or so best pitchers in baseball moving forward. His next start is scheduled to come against the Mariners on the road.

Crochet gave up three runs in the second, two of which came on an Austin Wells homer that would have left only three ballparks. The other two came in the fourth. Crochet faced the minimum after that, with the only batter reaching against him doing so on catcher interference. That runner was erased on a double play. Crochet is expected face the Yankees again next time out, probably on on Friday.

Marcell Ozuna’s first-inning homer proved to be the only run of the game for the Braves. Crochet got 23 whiffs and allowed just three hard-hit balls while lowering his ERA to 1.98. He’s allowed one or no earned runs in eight of his 13 starts. Crochet will face the Yankees next time out.

As if facing Crochet isn’t tough enough, hitters had to deal with shadows between the plate and the mound for the first several innings today. Crochet matched his season high in strikeouts, but he wound up taking a loss anyway. Because of the futility of the Red Sox offense, Crochet is 1-2 with a 2.03 ERA this month. He’s 4-4 with a 2.04 ERA overall. Crochet’s turn in the rotation isn’t due up again until next Monday, when the Angels arrive in Boston, but perhaps the Red Sox could move him up to face the Braves on Sunday.

Crochet battled through a cold night at Fenway Park without his best stuff to still limit the Mets to just one run. He did manage to wriggle out of plenty of jams though as the Mets shortcomings with runners in scoring position continued. Still, he was up over 40 pitches through two innings and couldn’t give his normal length. He’s lined up for a two-start week coming up next against the Brewers and Braves.

The runs came on back-to-back homers from Matt Olson and Sean Murphy in the second. Crochet was terrific afterwards, and he finished the game with eight strikeouts and no walks. The loss left him 4-3 with a 2.00 ERA after 10 starts. Through 10 starts last season, he was 4-4 in spite of a 4.18 ERA for the lowly White Sox.

Crochet had some of his best stuff tonight, particularly when it came to his cutter; he averaged 92.5 mph with the pitch, up from 90.3 mph on average this season. He wound up getting 18 missed swings, and all but one of the seven hits he allowed was a single. Crochet is now 4-2 with a 1.93 ERA. He’ll face the Braves next, and he’ll probably be matched up with Chris Sale, which should be fun.