Boston Red Sox: Michael Wacha a ‘freaking special’ factor in Sox rotation
The Boston Red Sox have been one of the best teams in baseball over the last month or so and veteran starting pitcher Michael Wacha is one of the reasons why.
With the team coming out of the gates slow, Wacha has been one of those players who has kept the 2022 version of the Red Sox from drowning completely as the 30-year-old righty has found his old form as a surprise anchor in the team’s starting rotation.
In fact, Wacha has looked like the pitcher he was when he and former teammate Adam Wainwright led the St. Louis Cardinals to the 2013 World Series against the Boston Red Sox and he showed it Friday night at Fenway Park facing off against Wainwright and his old team.
Demonstrating his resurgence on the mound, the veteran pitcher shook off all emotions in facing off against his mentor and good friend in leading the Red Sox to a 6-5 victory over the Cardinals. In giving up just six hits and a run over 5/1/3 innings, Wacha has improved his overall record to 5-1 with an impressive 2.28 ERA.
Boston Red Sox pitcher Michael Wacha emotional in his faceoff against Adam Wainwright
While Wacha’s resurgence says more about his own commitment on the mound, the man he went up against deserves some credit for what the Red Sox pitcher has been so far this season. Letting all his emotion out after the game, Wacha gave credit to where credit is due.
"“I’ve told you all before that he was the guy that kind of took me underneath his wing and was a big-time mentor and had a huge influence on my game and my career,” Wacha said, via MLB.com. “Looking back now, getting to share a mound against him was pretty freaking special. It’s one of those memories that I’ll have forever.”"
Wacha’s teammates played their role in making the night special as Rafael Devers and Trevor Story each knocked in two runs each to help him secure the victory. In all, it was another strong performance out of the veteran who has been a gem for the team and a bargain for Red Sox president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom that is playing off.
With Nathan Eovaldi dealing with a bad back and Chris Sale still making his way back to the mound, the Red Sox now find themselves really depending on Wacha and Nick Pivetta to lead this staff and keep them in the mix for the Wild Card and perhaps even the division.
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Prior to the season, such a dependence on Wacha would’ve seemed like a disaster season. But, with the way he has been pitching in a Red Sox uniform, the team has struck gold and Wainwright is happy to see his old pal once again getting it done.
"“It’s great to see him thriving,” Wainwright said. “We know how talented he is and how great his stuff is and what a great person he is and what a great teammate he was. He’s earning this opportunity and running with it. I couldn’t be prouder of him.”"
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