Eduardo Rodriguez’s rough 2016 campaign has been put on hold.
The Boston Red Sox optioned the 23-year-old left-hander to Triple-A Pawtucket on Monday night, shortly after he suffered through the worst outing of his career in a 13-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.
Rodriguez allowed a career-high nine runs on 11 hits in just 2 2/3 innings of work, surrendering five of those runs in the first inning while giving up two home runs. He now owns an 8.59 ERA through six starts.
Rodriguez’s sophomore season got off to an ominous start when a dislocated knee forced him to miss nearly all of spring training. He didn’t make his season debut until May 31, when he allowed two runs over six innings in a win over the Baltimore Orioles.
Yet it’s been all downhill from there for the Venezuela native. Rodriguez has struggled with command, walking 20 batters in six starts, and also has given up nine home runs already this season.
“There’s been a number of things that have been required that take work, that take repetition,” manager John Farrell said of Rodriguez, as seen on NESN’s “Extra Innings Live.” “We settle on one, and there’s another thing, another target of work that continues to crop up. It’s not the fact that Eddie’s not working on things. It’s a matter of being able to take his work in the bullpen in between the lines in game situations.”
The Red Sox didn’t announce a corresponding move for Rodriguez, and with an off-day coming Thursday, the team can skip his spot in the starting rotation if necessary.
Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images
