Red Sox make it 6 in a row: Kutter Crawford ‘back in the groove’ vs Twins

These Boston Red Sox are one streaky team.  Just when you get up on them, they lose a few in a row and look like one of the worse teams in the league.  When you are down on them and ready for them to bottom out, they go on a winning streak and look like world beaters.

In a 10-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins Tuesday night, the Sox continued delivering solid starting pitching and an eruption of offense that has them looking like a Wild Card contender again.  This time it was Kutter Crawford taking the mound and giving his club five solid innings to extend the team’s winning streak to six straight games.

With leadership in the clubhouse in question, the Red Sox as a team have come together over the last week highlighted by the sweep of the New York Yankees.  On Tuesday, Crawford continued the solid pitching five shutout innings.  In establishing his role as a long reliever, the 27-year-old righty stuck out five while giving up six hits.

Boston Red Sox starting rotation get a boost from Kutter Crawford

Impressively, Crawford didn’t get into trouble through those five innings while the Red Sox offense did their thing on the other side.  With a 7.11 ERA through five starts this season, it was good to see Crawford put together a solid start on the mound in another opportunity to start.

The man was in a groove, and it was oozing in confidence.

"“I’m confident in my ability [to start],” Crawford said following the game.  “I’ve just got to get back in the groove of things.  I did it for a good stretch last year and that helps build the confidence, so it’s just getting back to that, and getting back to using my mix like I should as a starter and just attacking the zone.  But year, I’m confident in my ability to be a starter and pitch every five days.”"

With the injuries to both Chris Sale and Tanner Houck, Crawford will be one of the pitchers counted on to step into the starting rotation and deliver performances that he did Tuesday night against the Twins.  Seeing him follow the solid performances of Garrett Whitlock, James Paxton and young stud Brayan Bello had to be a boost for the Red Sox as a team and also Crawford who says he wants to be a pitcher relied on in that rotation.

"“I want to be there badly [for the team] and I’m sure everybody else in the rotation and on the pitching staff wants to as well,” Crawford continued. “You know, we’re down a couple of guys, so some guys need to step up, and I’m sure there’s a number of guys on this pitching staff that will.”"

Tuesday night’s start made his case for more opportunities in that starting rotation.  He also received some nice support offensively.  Led by Christian Arroyo, the Red Sox offense continued to get it done at the plate with the 10 runs.

Just as streaky as the Boston Red Sox win-loss record in 2023, the offense can go a stretch of games struggling to score a run and explode on opposing pitching during stretches.  Right now, the team is in one of those stretches.

With the win streak reaching six straight games, let’s see how long this current streak lasts and whether it will lead to more consistency or will the team follow this up by streaking in the opposite direction.