The Boston Red Sox’s rotation might have just added a new member.
Eduardo Rodriguez made his major league debut Thursday and completely shut down the Texas Rangers as the Red Sox cruised to a 5-1 win at Globe Life Park in Arlington.
Rodriguez’s effort helped snap a three-game losing streak — stopper, anyone? — and perhaps could provide a spark to a Red Sox team that desperately needs positive developments right now.
GAME IN A WORD
Dazzling.
Rodriguez wasted no time in showing why he’s such a highly regarded prospect in the Red Sox organization and across Major League Baseball by working into the eighth inning in his first start.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Rodriguez took the mound.
No, seriously. Rodriguez breezed through 7 2/3 frames against a red-hot Rangers lineup. The 22-year-old left-hander never once looked overwhelmed and worked at an impressive clip.
The Red Sox hammered a nail into the Rangers’ coffin in the eighth inning by scoring three runs.
ON THE BUMP
— Rodriguez definitely gave the Red Sox something to think about.
The presumption entering Rodriguez’s major league debut was that it’d be a spot-start and that his permanent big league arrival would come at some point down the road. Rodriguez pitched like someone who has no plans to return to Triple-A Pawtucket, though.
Rodriguez surrendered just three hits over 7 2/3 shutout innings. He struck out seven, walked two and threw 105 pitches (68 strikes).
Rodriguez showcased everything that makes him arguably the Red Sox’s most intriguing pitching prospect. He flashed an above-average slider, a good changeup and a fastball touching 95-96 mph while working at a brisk pace.
Rodriguez was in total control throughout his debut.
— Tommy Layne allowed a run over an inning of work. He escaped the eighth inning unscathed after Rodriguez put a couple of men aboard.
— Koji Uehara recorded the game’s final out.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Hanley Ramirez drove the ball to left-center field with authority. Twice.
This would have been a common occurrence in April, but it marks a gigantic leap forward in May given how poorly Ramirez has swung the bat this month. Ramirez doubled in the fourth inning and homered in the sixth inning.
Ramirez’s home run ended an 85-at-bat homerless drought. His last homer came April 29.
— Dustin Pedroia is locked in atop the order.
Pedroia, who slugged two homers Wednesday, raised his average to .298 with three hits (all singles). He now has an eight-game hit streak, during which he’s batting .424 (14-for-33) with six RBIs.
— Mookie Betts opened the scoring with an RBI single in the fifth inning. Betts finished with three hits, including a triple in the ninth inning.
— Carlos Peguero went 0-for-2 with a strikeout, a groundout, a walk and a run scored in his Red Sox debut.
The 28-year-old outfielder, who was acquired Wednesday from the Rangers, pinch-hit for Xander Bogaerts in the fourth inning.
Bogaerts was hit on the left forearm by a pitch in the second inning. He initially stayed in the game but exited in the fourth with a left forearm contusion.
— Blake Swihart added some insurance in the eighth inning with a two-run single into right field. Rangers second baseman Adam Rosales short-armed a playable bouncer, but Swihart still is swinging the bat well of late.
Swihart collected two hits in the game. He owns a six-game hitting streak that has his average up to .219.
— Rusney Castillo went 1-for-4 for the fourth time in five major league games this season. He hit a roller past the mound in the eighth inning that resulted in Boston’s fifth run.
— Mike Napoli reached base three times with a single and two walks.
— The Red Sox grounded into five double plays.
TWEET OF THE GAME
This is a popular sentiment right about now.
[tweet https://twitter.com/DaveMorelli/status/604109326563827712 align=’center’]
UP NEXT
The Red Sox and Rangers will continue their four-game series Friday at 8:05 p.m. ET. Steven Wright is scheduled to face Yovani Gallardo.
Thumbnail photo via Tim Heitman/USA TODAY Sports Images
