How Garrett Crochet Dominated A’s In Series Opener

The Boston Red Sox started their final West Coast series of the season on Monday against the Athletics in Sacramento. With the rotation in flux, they needed a strong start from Garrett Crochet to help the bullpen through the end of the road trip.

They got exactly that. The Red Sox ace went seven innings without allowing a run, surrendering three hits and striking out ten without allowing a walk. It was a night of pure domination from the lefty.

Crochet was in control from start to finish. He jumped ahead of 16 of 24 hitters 0-1, while two others hit into first-pitch outs. Early in counts, he landed his cutter on the glove side and sinker on the arm side to get ahead. Later, he utilized his four-seam and sweeper to put them away.

His four-seam fastball was as good as it’s been all season. There was a slight change in approach with the pitch as well. Instead of trying to jam righties, he kept the pitch up away from them. The shift paid dividends. His heater generated eight whiffs on 29 offerings, an absurd 27.5% swinging strike rate.

His sweeper was almost as impressive as his fastball. He kept the breaking ball down in the zone, away from where it can be impacted effectively, and got four outs on weak contact with the pitch. He also had six whiffs with it.

And just when hitters thought they had seen everything Crochet had, he broke out a changeup late in the game. He only threw three changeups, but two went for strikes, one of which was a strikeout. It’s not a pitch that Crochet needs to be successful, but it’s an additional weapon that only makes him more lethal when it’s working.

The Red Sox took the series opener, 7-0. Dustin May will get the ball for game two of the series. Since the Red Sox acquired May, he’s thrown six innings in just two of his six appearances. The bullpen will be well rested, though, thanks to Crochet’s outing. Only Zack Kelly and Chris Murphy appeared in relief, giving the rest of the pen a day off.