The Crimson Sox aren’t ready to chase wins from behind with aggressive bullpen use. That’s the fact of the state of affairs. Once they have a lead, they should use the bullpen to safe these wins. We noticed what occurs when Aroldis Chapman isn’t accessible on Sunday, and it wasn’t fairly. In fact, that was as a result of again of the bullpen not with the ability to lock down the win a day prior, however the sentiment stays — you possibly can’t use high-leverage relievers each night time, otherwise you’ll lose the video games you’re presupposed to win.
On Monday, that actuality killed the Crimson Sox’s probabilities of successful. They couldn’t get to Orioles starter Trevor Might, and solely started scoring late within the sport. Though Dustin Might pitched seven innings of two-run baseball, Jovani Moran and Jordan Hicks couldn’t hold the Orioles off the board to present the Crimson Sox an opportunity to get again into it. Ideally, these lower-leverage relievers hold you in it, however they weren’t in a position to do it tonight.
Hicks is particularly irritating as a result of he ought to be good, contemplating the commerce he was part of. Moran, much less so, however you’d like him to have the ability to get by way of an inning with out imploding. Once more, although, you possibly can’t throw Garrett Whitlock and Greg Weissert each night time, so you must dwell with it and transfer on to play tomorrow. Hats off to Rogers on pitching an incredible sport. Again on the horse tomorrow.
P.S. I used to be strolling dwelling from the sport within the backside of the ninth. I don’t usually try this, and was very nervous they have been going to come back from behind and make me seem like an ass.
Dustin Might was good tonight. He fought by way of a number of site visitors, however gave you six innings of two-run baseball towards a lefty-heavy lineup. His sweeper was his major pitch to lefties and solely held a 60% strike fee, so I’m unsure how repeatable that is, however his potential to work out of jams was spectacular. He additionally went backdoor with the sinker to righties often, one thing I hoped to see extra of when he was acquired. I’m nonetheless not bought on Might, however he gave them an opportunity to win, and that’s all you possibly can actually ask for.
He additionally introduced again his changeup, a pitch he hasn’t used since 2023. He threw 4 by my depend, all to Colton Cowser. It seemed first rate, too. Extra on that from me at a later date.
Story was the one one within the lineup who actually noticed Rogers nicely. He had a 12-pitch at-bat that resulted in a single, and an RBI double later within the sport. The remainder of the lineup couldn’t get the job achieved, sadly.
He mowed down Blue Jays for six innings. The division isn’t precisely high of thoughts, nevertheless it’s good when division rivals lose to irrelevant opponents. Hopefully, the Crimson Sox dodge Skenes when Pittsburgh involves city subsequent weekend.
Moran was requested to face the highest of the Orioles lineup within the seventh inning and couldn’t get the job achieved. A lead-off stroll and some hard-hit balls later, and the Orioles’ lead had doubled. Sadly for Moran, he has an possibility remaining and may discover himself on the Mass Pike heading West to Worcester within the subsequent day or so.
After the Crimson Sox lower the result in three, Hicks was put within the sport to face the highest of the lineup within the ninth. He additionally gave it up, growing the Orioles’ lead again to 5. He’s on a significant league contract and is making actual cash, so he received’t be going wherever.
Ceddanne Rafaela, Carlos Narvaez, and Abraham Toro have been a mixed 0-10.
