That’s more like it. A day after Garrett Crochet put the Red Sox on his back, the offense finally came alive for the highest run total in a game this season. It started in the first inning when Alex Bregman drove in Rafael Devers with his first home run of the season. The second inning was the first inning over again, with Wilyer Abreu drawing a walk and Kristian Campbell homering him in. Later, with a two-run lead, Triston Casas blew the game open with his first home run of the year – a two-run shot.

Tanner Houck wasn’t super sharp today, only making it into the fifth inning before being lifted for Zack Kelly. It didn’t matter because the bullpen was lights out. Kelly put out the fire before it could get started, inducing a quick double play and another ground ball to end the fifth with no damage. Justin Wilson, Justin Slaten, and Garrett Whitlock combined for the final four innings, with the only run crossing the plate in the ninth inning. Of the relievers featured today, I didn’t think Garrett Whitlock was his sharpest self. He found himself in some three-ball counts but still managed to strike out three and create some really ugly swings. I’m not worried about Whitlock in the slightest.

Back home tomorrow for the home opener. We’ve won two in a row, if we win again tomorrow, it’s called a “winning streak”. It has happened before. Let’s go.

Three Studs

Alex Bregman (3-5, HR, 2 2B, 3 RBI)

How about Alex Bregman heating up right before the home opener? Three extra base hits today, including his first Red Sox home run, and an opposite field double in the top of the ninth inning to drive in an insurance run.

The Guys Whose First Names End with N and Last Names Start with C

That’s right; Kristian Campbell and Triston Casas each had a base hit and a home run today. Nice to see Campbell stay hot and Casas start to get hot. Dylan Carlson does not qualify for this category because he plays for Baltimore.

Garrett Crochet

Alright, the offense today maybe takes away from this a little bit, but we’re playing a totally different game today if it weren’t for Crochet last night. Chapman was the only reliever used last night, which may have played a part in Alex Cora giving Tanner Houck an early hook. Crochet’s impact on the pitching staff as a whole really can’t be overstated.

Two Duds

Trevor Story (0-4, 2 K)

An 0 for day for Story. Onwards.

Tanner Houck (4+ IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K)

I’ve had both of the recaps for Tanner Houck’s start thus far, and I haven’t been impressed with him yet. The level of execution he had at the beginning of 2024 just isn’t there right now. Today, he went super heavy with sweepers and splitters, and I’m not sure that’s the path forward. He was able to land a ton of sweepers backdoor for called strikes against lefties. It works when hitters aren’t looking for it, but if he leans so heavily on the sweeper, hitters will start to hunt them.

Scorecards