Boston Red Sox: Garrett Richards pitching with attitude; 4-0 last five starts

The Boston Red Sox are refusing to yield their first-place status in the American League East.

After losing the opening game of the three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays 8-0, the Red Sox bats and the arm of Garrett Richards bounced back with a 7-3 victory Wednesday night at TD Ballpark to fend off the Jays from taking over first place.

How did they do it?

They did it by playing the kind of baseball that has had them in first place for the last 40 days.  Solid pitching supported by explosive offense.

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

After being shut down and shut out by Blue Jays pitching on Tuesday night, the Red Sox bats got off to a great start as the first five batters got hits in exploding to a 5-0 lead.  That was really all Richards needed to lead his team to victory on the mound.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Richards took command of the mound

The veteran starter pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing just two runs on seven hits and striking out five en route to his fourth victory of the season.  Much like his team, Richards turned around a lackluster start of the season into something that has been quite amazing over his last five starts in which he has gone 4-0 with a 2.27 ERA.

That $10 million contract is not looking so bad right now, is it?

It will look even better if he and the team keep it up and stay within that same mindset of taking one game at a time.

"“That’s part of our mindset as far as, ‘Win today.  Worry about today, and we’ll get to tomorrow [later],” Richards said following the game, via MLB.com.  “The guys are just really locked in individually and as a whole.  It’s really fun to be a part of, to be honest with you.  We could get blown out last night and show up today and everybody thinks we’re going to win by 10.  It’s a mindset.  It’s an attitude.  I think we’re in a good place right now.”"

First place is a great place to be, but it really is about the fun the team is having, the confidence they are showing and most importantly, the attitude Richards was talking about; that same attitude he’s been displaying since starting the season 0-2 with a 6.48 ERA.

As he quickly became the Boston media’s latest whipping boy, Garrett Richards said everything was going to be fine and he wasn’t lying.

Garrett Richards and “amazing” surprise in the Boston Red Sox lineup

While Eduardo Rodriguez, Nathan Eovaldi and Nick Pivetta have been the talk of the Boston Red Sox pitching rotation, Richards has quietly become a solid addition.

Not only is he getting it done on the mound, but he is also having fun every start which is quite the turnaround from his first two starts when his demeanor on the mound felt like he was on a quick path to being the next John Lackey or David Price in the eyes of fans and the media.

Winning does that though and keeping a dangerous Blue Jays lineup in check is even more evidence that Richards has gone from being a potential bust free agent signing to more of a value.  He may have also earned some confidence from his manager.

"“Overall a good game,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said following the game.  “Garrett was amazing.  It’s not easy to pitch here.  If I’m a pitcher and I see that first inning, yeah, I’m happy with the five funs, but you see the conditions and you’re like, ‘I’d better keep the ball down.’”"

On a Wednesday night down in Florida, Garrett Richards did just that.  Mixing attitude with that winning mindset, the Boston Red Sox have to be more than satisfied with a No. 4 starter pitching like an ace.