Justin Masterson more than likely will spend the next few weeks on the disabled list. Needless to say, that’s not a list he’d prefer to be on.
“I’m not real happy about it,” the Boston Red Sox right-hander told reporters before Wednesday’s 2-0 win over the Oakland A’s, via the Boston Herald. “I’m mad. Like I said (Tuesday), I hold true — just the fact that I felt like we could make the adjustment and get back out there and really be fine. It didn’t happen. It comes a time with this team when we’re starting to pick it up, but it’s one of those where if we’re doing great, I probably get a little more leeway. The last two starts have been different than the first five. I can’t deny that fact. By all means, as I told (manager John Farrell), I’m not real happy about the decision.”
Masterson’s recent performance, however, left Farrell with little choice. He was dreadful in consecutive starts, allowing 10 runs, 13 hits, three home runs and six walks in just 6 2/3 innings, and after Wade Miley’s strong start Wednesday, Masterson’s 6.37 now is the worst among Red Sox starters.
Farrell told reporters Wednesday that Masterson would not make his next scheduled start Sunday in Seattle and likely would be moved to the DL despite admitting that the training staff was unable to find any specific injury that might be hampering the pitcher.
Some additional reaction from Wednesday’s victory, which clinched Boston’s first series win in the month of May:
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— Mookie Betts had a rough afternoon both at the plate and in center field. He went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and was slow getting to a Marcus Semien fly ball in the third inning, resulting in a triple for the A’s shortstop. It was the second ball Betts misplayed in the series — both of which coincidentally led to Semien three-baggers.
— Rusney Castillo suffered a mild ankle sprain while sliding into second base during a game at Triple-A Pawtucket. The 27-year-old outfield prospect was removed from the game, but Farrell confirmed to reporters in Oakland that the move simply was a precaution.
— A’s outfielder Coco Crisp finally recorded his first hit of the season, snapping an 0-for-26 slump (0-for-39 dating back to last fall). The Red Sox alum jokingly took a bow after his fifth-inning single. Crisp also played a fantastic left field throughout the series, laying out for two more highlight-reel catches Wednesday.
— Jumping back to Tuesday’s game for a moment, the 110 pitches Steven Wright threw in relief were the most by a reliever in a single game since at least 1988, according to the team’s game notes. The previous Red Sox high was 106, set by the immortal Vaughn Eshelman on July 25, 1996.
Farrell before Wednesday’s game called Wright a “strong candidate” to start Sunday in Masterson’s spot.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
