Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet stumbled out of the gate in the final month of the regular season, giving up seven runs over six innings in a rough outing against Cleveland at Fenway Park on Sept. 2.
Since then, however, the 26-year-old lefty has bounced back with back-to-back wins. Most recently, he dominated the Yankees on Sunday at Fenway, striking out 12 over six innings in a 6-4 Red Sox victory. He allowed three runs on five hits while generating 23 swings and misses from New York hitters.
That performance followed another stellar outing in Sacramento, where Crochet struck out 10 over seven shutout innings in a win over the Athletics.
“Especially as we’re nearing the end here, I don’t want to have any regret on my mind here in a couple weeks,” Crochet said. “Just trying to do everything I can to put us in a good spot. If that means giving it a little extra gas — although I didn’t feel like I had to give it extra; it was a packed house tonight. We already talked about it being a must-win game. So just doing everything I could.”
Garrett Crochet brought the heat in his latest outing, firing 30 four-seam fastballs that averaged 97.8 mph—well above his season average of 96.3 mph—and topped out at 99.5 mph, according to Baseball Savant. He generated eight swings and misses with the pitch, continuing to overpower hitters when it mattered most.
On Sunday, Crochet played the role of stopper, snapping Boston’s three-game skid and preventing a Yankees sweep at Fenway Park. It’s a role he’s excelled in all season.
The Red Sox have won 15 of the last 18 games Crochet has started, with the left-hander going 12-1 and posting a 3.02 ERA over that stretch—consistently delivering when the team has needed a boost.
“I think you could argue we need every game,” Crochet said. “That’s kind of been the general mentality as we’ve gotten into the last month of the season. Really, from April on, every game counts. So there’s always a sense of urgency.”
If the season ended today, the Red Sox (82-68) and Yankees (83-66) would meet in the wild-card round of the postseason. It would be at Yankee Stadium with New York one and a half games ahead in the standings right now.
“It’d be cool because it means that we’re in the postseason,” Crochet said. “I think that that’s the main focus right now. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing. I think that we’re just doing everything possible to make sure we’re playing our best baseball as we get down the stretch.”
The Red Sox scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 6-0 lead. Crochet knew it was important to hold New York scoreless in the top of the second inning.
“It was huge,” Crochet said. “Shutdown inning to follow, I felt like I was putting a lot of emphasis on that in my mind. Just doing the best that I can to help out the team, that’s all. But when the offense comes out surging like that, it definitely feels good.”
A subplot throughout this season has been Crochet vs. Aaron Judge. Crochet struck out Judge swinging in the first and third innings. But Judge won the fifth-inning matchup with a 112.7 mph, 400-foot homer to right-center field.
“He’s looking down the barrel of another MVP,” Crochet said. “I don’t think it’s been a secret since he entered the league that he’s one of the best players, if not the best. So it’s always an intense at-bat and one that I feel like I’ve risen to the challenge for. Just trying to keep him in the park is tough, but just doing the best I can.”
Judge and Crochet have faced each other 15 times. Crochet has won the battle 12 times, including striking out Judge 11 times. But two of Judge’s three hits against Crochet have been home runs.
“Anytime that you’re facing one of the best is very enjoyable,” Crochet said. “It means a little bit more, and I feel like getting him out just juices the dugout a little bit.”
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