With Lucas Giolito set to endure elbow surgical procedure on Tuesday, there’s an extra spot up for grabs within the Red Sox beginning rotation, and Cooper Criswell is making a stable case for it.
Crisswell, 27, added a formidable outing to his ongoing audition, pitching 3 ⅔ shutout innings in Monday’s 1-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at JetBlue Park. In his fourth preseason outing (second begin), the right-hander held the visiting lineup to 2 hits, struck out 4, and didn’t subject a stroll. It was a promising rebound after his earlier begin, through which the Minnesota Twins tagged him for 3 earned runs on three hits in 2 ⅔ innings.
After his begin, the righty joined the NESN broadcast to debate the adjustments he’s made this 12 months. “Just trying to throw better pitches 0-2, 1-2,” he defined, “and then on top of that, I think just going back to the cutter, gonna make my bread and butter that much better.”
Joe Jacques, Chase Shugart, Cam Booser, Jorge Benitez, and Lucas Luetge pitched the remainder of the sport. Benitez issued the Pirates’ lone stroll of the competition, but in addition struck out three batters in his eighth-inning efficiency.
It was additionally a well-pitched recreation for the opposite aspect; every crew managed simply 5 hits. Pirates starter Bailey Falter had an ideal recreation going by means of 3 ⅓ innings earlier than Jamie Westbrook knocked a double off the Green Monster. Falter exited after Wilyer Abreu adopted along with his eighth stroll of the preseason.
Though Abreu isn’t displaying off a lot of his energy potential but, he’s bringing spectacular plate self-discipline to the desk. The rookie outfielder has solely collected 4 hits, together with a triple and a house run in 13 video games, however he entered the day with seven walks, tied for third-most within the Majors.
The Red Sox went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring place, leaving 4 males on base, together with Marcelo Mayer. The group’s high shortstop prospect struggled defensively, however hit an opposite-field double excessive off the Monster within the backside of the seventh. The lone run got here moments later, when Nick Sogard floor out to first, driving in infielder Joe Dunand.
Monday was additionally CJ Cron’s spring coaching debut after signing a minor-league take care of the group final week. (He went 0-for-2.)
“Not nerve-wrecking, obviously a little bit of cobwebs,” Cron instructed the printed after being subbed out of the sport.
The 34-year-old first baseman, who’d been teammates with Trevor Story on the ’21 Colorado Rockies, averaged 23 house runs per 12 months between 2018-22, however struggled in restricted enjoying time between the Rockies and Angels. He’s competing with Bobby Dalbec, amongst others, for one among two infield bench spots.
“I’m on a little minor-league pact here,” Cron added. “Coming here, (making the roster) was obviously my main objective and something I’m going to try my best to accomplish.”
The Red Sox enhance to 11-6-1 in preseason play. Brayan Bello, Tanner Houck, and Brennan Bernardino are scheduled to pitch in Tuesday’s recreation towards the St. Louis Cardinals.
Source: www.bostonherald.com