Garrett Crochet Aims To Halt Yankees’ Attack In Introduction To Rivalry

The Boston Red Sox will turn to ace Garrett Crochet on Saturday night, hoping the left-hander can reset the tone of the series after the club’s rough showing Friday in New York.

Manager Alex Cora did not mince words before last night’s game at Yankee Stadium, calling his club’s recent stretch “not great.” Boston has dropped nine of its last 12 games. The bullpen carried a heavy load again on Friday.

“It is hard to play this way,” Cora told the media, as transcribed by Reuters. “The bullpen is taxed. We have to get better.”

Crochet (5-4, 1.98 ERA) gives Boston a chance to bounce back. He has recorded 101 strikeouts this season and is coming off two sharp performances — 11 strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings in a tight loss to Milwaukee on May 26, and 12 more across seven innings in a 3-1 win over Atlanta.

“When he is on the mound, we feel like we are going to win every time,” Red Sox infielder Trevor Story told reporters. “We finally backed him up with some offense.”

Saturday will be Crochet’s first start against New York. He has previously faced the Yankees three times in relief, racking up six strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings while with the Chicago White Sox.

New York aims for its ninth series win in 10 tries. The Yankees racked up 14 hits Friday, with Jazz Chisholm Jr. collecting four RBI — including a three-run home run.

Aaron Judge added three hits of his own and is batting .397 during the Yankees’ latest surge, in which they’ve won 20 of 27 games.

Ryan Yarbrough (3-0, 2.83 ERA) takes the hill for the Yankees. The veteran lefty leans on location and an 88-mph cutter, a big difference from Crochet’s mid-90s velocity. Yarbrough has looked sharp since joining the rotation, allowing two runs or fewer in five straight starts.

But Yarbrough has been roughed up by the Red Sox historically. He comes in with a 7.09 ERA in 20 career appearances against Boston, including nine starts.