Four Red Sox relievers combined to allow just one hit in 4 scoreless innings Sunday. Boston won 3-2 over the Nationals here at Fenway Park.
It all started with rookie Cam Booser who threw seven pitches (all strikes) in a perfect sixth inning against the 2-4 spots in Washington’s batting order. He recorded his second hold.
Cora mentioned Booser, a left-hander, before the game when discussing Boston’s decision to option Josh Winckowski to Triple-A Worcester. The Red Sox demoted Winckowski over lefties Brennan Bernardino and Booser and righty Zack Kelly, all of whom began the season at Worcester and also have minor league options. Greg Weissert has options remaining, too, but he has been on the roster all season and has allowed just two runs in 15 ⅓ innings (1.17 ERA). So he wasn’t in any real jeopardy of being sent down.
“Love having the two lefties and Zack (Kelly) is throwing the ball well,” Cora said pregame. “I think he (Winckowski) will benefit from going down there and work on his repertoire.”
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Booser is a 32-year-old who never pitched in the majors before April 19. But the Red Sox kept him over the 25-year-old Winckowski who has a 2.98 ERA in 108 ⅔ innings in the majors since the beginning of the 2023 season.
“The stuff is good and he’s throwing strikes,” Cora said after Boston’s win. “That’s something that I didn’t see last year in spring training. And then halfway through the season, it just clicked and he’s been consistent with it.”
Booser has landed 70% of his pitches for strikes (159 pitches, 111 strikes) in his 10 outings (11 ⅔ innings).
“The fact that he can throw 96 (mph) and he’s got the sweeper and the cutter, it’s a good one,” Cora said. “And now we’ve got both of them (both lefties). Bernie was down today. Let’s see where we’re at tomorrow. But it’s a luxury to have two lefties.”
Cora added that it’s also a luxury to have two lefties with different repertoires and styles.
“One sinks it at 91, 92 with a breaking ball. And (Booser) throws harder,” Cora said. “So you pick and choose. And throughout the series, you don’t give them the same look, which is very important.”
Booser’s fastball has averaged 95.1 mph. Opponents are just 3-for-17 (.176 batting average) against it. He used it Sunday to get Joey Meneses to fly out and Trey Lipscomb to strike out swinging.
“He’s just got really good stuff,” catcher Connor Wong said. “He attacks the strike zone. He’s not scared of any moment. He goes right after guys.”
