Josh Winckowski struck out eight and allowed just one run, three hits and no walks in 6 innings for Triple-A Worcester on Thursday against Buffalo.
The Red Sox demoted Winckowski on May 12 after he had posted a 3.33 ERA, 4.25 WHIP, 1.56 WHIP, 19 strikeouts and 11 walks in 12 outings (24 ⅓ innings). His advanced stats weren’t good. He ranked in only the eighth percentile in expected ERA (5.47) and the seventh percentile in expected batting average against (.288).
“I just know the line was a good one,” manager Alex Cora said Saturday before Boston’s game against the Yankees at Fenway Park. “Some swing and misses. The strikeouts were up.”
Winckowski’s eight strikeouts were the most he has recorded in six outings (five starts) for the WooSox. The 25-year-old righty’s previous high was five strikeouts against Rochester on June 7.
He induced 14 swings-and-misses: eight whiffs with his cutter, three with his slider, two with his four-seam fastball and one with his changeup, per Baseball Savant. He used his cutter the most of any pitch, throwing it 31 times. He threw his changeup 16 times, his sinker 13 times, his slider 10 times and his four-seamer five times.
“He’s been on and off basically throughout his outings but that was his best one,” Cora said.
Cora said need will dictate the role — starter or reliever — when he pitches for Boston again this year. Winckowski was one of Boston’s top relievers last year, posting a 2.88 ERA in 60 outings.
“I think out of necessity,” Cora said. “We stretched him out. So that’s good. But we can always go the other way.”
