Boston Red Sox Mound Notes: Chris Sale on the verge of a breakthrough
After five starts, Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale is still searching for his first win of the season, but things are looking up for the usually dominant lefty.
Another Chris Sale start, another loss for the Boston Red Sox. This time around, however, the ace pitched well enough to win and showed series signs of progress in turning around what he has labeled an embarrassing start to the 2019 MLB season.
Coming off a three-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays, the Red Sox needed to continue their momentum into the home series with the Detroit Tigers. That didn’t happen as the team lost both games of the day-night double header.
Let’s start with the 7-4 loss in Game 1.
More from Chowder and Champions
- 3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox
- 10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster Deadline
- MLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return
- 3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 Season
- Red Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win
Chris Sale, still searching for answers and a first win, allowed just two runs and two walks in five innings pitched. Still not where he wants to be as an ace, but the lanky lefty did show signs of power by striking out 10 batters in the game and dipping his ERA from 8.50 to 7.43 in the process. He left the game with the score tied 2-2 and eventually the bullpen imploded in the Game 1 loss.
Certainly not as bad as he has been on the mound, but in giving his team a chance to win the game, Sale said after the game that things are starting to progress for him on the mound, which means the dominant version of the Red Sox ace is primed to finally make a debut.
"“Stuff is starting to get there, but I need to extend these outings a little bit,” Sale said, as transcribed by MLB.com. “It would just be nice to go out there and fill up seven or eight innings or finish a game for these guys and give them a day off or give a few of them a day off. It seems like every time I’m out there, I’m just leaning on these guys and that’s just a tough spot to put them in.”"
With his velocity reaching the mid-90s and a slider that looked electric at times, it appears Chris Sale is on the brink of a breakthrough. Now 9-15 on the season, the Boston Red Sox need that breakthrough to happen sooner rather than later, especially with Nathan Eovaldi on the injured list.
Darwinzon Hernandez impressive in debut
While bullpen pitching was the issue in the first game, the Boston Red Sox offense was the problem in the second game of the double header.
In the 4-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers, the offense barely showed up, but there was a bright spot out of the bullpen by the name of Darwinzon Hernandez.
Related Story. Chris Sale deal proving to be a mistake. light
Called up for the game, the Red Sox top pitching prospect showed he may just belong with the big club. He pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief while striking out four batters.
He did allow just one walk in the outing, which came to a fellow Venezuelan and a player he looks up to. With one out in the sixth inning, Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera stepped to the plate. That’s when the emotion overtook the young pitching prospect.
"“I got emotional,” Hernandez said in facing Cabrera. “I’m a fan of his, but at the same time, I wanted to get the job done.”"
Allowing the walk to Cabrera was the only negative on the night for Darwinzon Hernandez who impressed Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who said following the game that it was fun to see a player like Hernandez show his stuff on the mound.
Rodriguez looks to stop the bleeding
Eduardo Rodriguez will hope to use his past success against the Detroit Tigers to get the team back on the winning tract as he will be the Game 3 starter on Wednesday.
Next. Boston Red Sox Rumors: Time to take a flyer on Dallas Keuchel. dark
Rodriguez will enter the start with a 1-2 record and 7.20 ERA. He is coming off a start against the Tampa Bay Rays in which he allowed four runs over 5 1/3 innings pitched. Overall, he is pitching better, but the Boston Red Sox really need him to morph into a more consistent starter to go along with the talent he does possess.
With Nathan Eovaldi on the shelf for a while, Eduardo Rodriguez really has a chance to stabilize himself as a frontline pitcher for the Red Sox. If it doesn’t happen now, it may never happen for the young lefty.