It might be a while before Justin Masterson starts another game for the Boston Red Sox.
The right-hander turned in his worst outing in a season of lackluster ones Tuesday night, lasting just 2 1/3 innings in a 9-2 loss to the Oakland A’s at O.co Coliseum.
“It wasn’t fun tonight, I’ll say that much,” Masterson told reporters after taking his second loss in as many starts. “It wasn’t fun.”
The A’s teed off on Masterson, touching him for two home runs, a triple, a double and two singles as they built a 7-0 lead before the end of the third inning. The first six of those runs were charged to Masterson; the seventh to Steven Wright, who handled mop-up duty for the final 5 2/3 innings.
Perhaps Masterson’s worst pitch of the night was the second one he threw to former Red Sox outfielder Josh Reddick in the third inning. The belt-high, 88-mph, four-seam fastball was a hitter’s dream, and Reddick took full advantage, launching it into the seats beyond the right field wall.
It was a clear indication something is awry with Masterson, who just two years ago was pitching in an All-Star Game. This season, he owns a 6.37 ERA through seven starts and has pitched into the seventh inning just twice.
“Clearly, he’s not right,” Farrell told reporters, via The Boston Globe. “Whether that’s physical, whether that’s delivery-wise, the ball’s not coming out of his hand as he’s shown for the better part of this year. We’ve got to gather some information overnight. We’ve got to check on him when he comes in in the morning, go through a full workup and get a better assessment of where things are.”
Masterson’s struggles could be what finally forces Farrell to change up Boston’s starting rotation, which has been among the worst in Major League Baseball this season. Tuesday’s result raised the collective ERA of Red Sox starters to 5.63 — just three percentage points lower than the staff of the last-place Colorado Rockies.
If Farrell does choose to sit Masterson for his next scheduled start Sunday in Seattle, Wright would be a top candidate to replace him. The knuckleballer handled his business Tuesday despite his less-than-stellar stat line (5 2/3 innings, six hits, three runs, three walks), going the distance to help give Boston’s bullpen a rest.
Wright also has a history of success against the Mariners, allowing zero runs on five hits in 8 2/3 innings over two outings.
Right-hander Brian Johnson and lefty Eduardo Rodriguez, both of whom currently are at Triple-A, also could receive consideration.
Some additional notes from Tuesday’s action in Oakland:
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— Reddick went 4-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored against his former team. Fellow Red Sox alum Coco Crisp, meanwhile, walked and scored but went 0-for-4 in the win. Crisp, who began the season on the disabled list, has yet to record a hit in 25 at-bats.
— Red Sox left fielder Hanley Ramirez failed to reach base in his three plate appearances and is just 1-for-15 since returning from the shoulder injury he suffered last Monday at Fenway Park.
— Recently demoted first baseman/outfielder Allen Craig went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI on Tuesday in his debut for Triple-A Pawtucket. The PawSox came away with a 2-1 win over the Indianapolis Indians thanks to a walk-off RBI single by outfield prospect Rusney Castillo, whom many Red Sox fans hope to see back in the big leagues before long.
Thumbnail photo via Ed Szczepanski/USA TODAY Sports Images
