A Disastrous Night for Boston’s Ace
In a challenging season for the Boston Red Sox, Monday’s series opener against the Minnesota Twins turned into a nightmare for starting pitcher Garrett Crochet. The team’s top rotation arm was removed from the game after just 1 2/3 innings, having surrendered 11 runs, 10 of which were earned.
Career-Low Performance
This outing marks the most difficult start in the professional career of the 26-year-old. Crochet, a two-time All-Star who finished as a finalist for the 2025 AL Cy Young award following a stellar 2.59 ERA season, struggled to find his rhythm. Throughout his appearance, he faced 18 batters, recording zero strikeouts, allowing nine hits, issuing three walks, and giving up two home runs before exiting the mound.
Breaking Down the Scoring
The trouble began early when shortstop Trevor Story committed an error while attempting to field an RBI single by Brooks Lee, which contributed to a 4-0 lead for Minnesota in the first inning. While that specific run was unearned, the remainder of the damage fell squarely on Crochet. The second inning proved particularly costly, as the Twins' lower order capitalized on his pitches. Victor Caratini and Ryan Kreidler both connected for home runs, with Kreidler’s blast reaching the upper deck.
Ultimately, the Minnesota Twins dominated the contest, securing a decisive 13-4 victory.
An Unprecedented Struggle
Monday’s performance stands in stark contrast to the rest of the season for Crochet, who entered the contest holding a 3.12 ERA. Historically, the pitcher has been incredibly consistent. According to records, the previous low point of his career occurred in April 2024 while he was with the Chicago White Sox, where he gave up seven earned runs in three innings. Before this week, Crochet had never allowed more than seven earned runs in any single game, a mark he had previously reached in September against the Cleveland Guardians.
Implications for the Red Sox
The Red Sox have faced a difficult start to their season, though they had shown flashes of improvement with a recent series win against the St. Louis Cardinals. This lopsided loss to the Twins creates a difficult path forward for the team, especially with a high-stakes series against the New York Yankees looming on the schedule next week.