Instant reactions from the Red Sox‘ 6-1 loss to the Blue Jays on Tuesday here at Fenway Park:
1) Garrett Crochet made his first start as a Red Sox pitcher at Fenway Park. He pitched 5 ⅔ innings, allowing four runs (one earned run), five hits and four walks while striking out five.
Control was an issue. He threw just 65 of his 107 pitches (60.7%) for strikes.
On a very cold night, his fastball velocity was down. He topped out at 96.7 mph and averaged 94.8 mph with his 58 four-seamers. That’s down from an average four-seam fastball velocity of 96.3 mph this season.
He also threw 30 cutters, eight changeups, seven sinkers and four sweepers, per Statcast.
2) Crochet — who he held Toronto scoreless through five innings — didn’t have great control but he probably deserved better as his defense let him down in the sixth inning.
The lefty allowed a solo homer to George Springer that made it 1-0 Toronto. Davis Schneider reached on a throwing error by Alex Bregman. Crochet then walked Myles Straw and gave up an infield single to Tyler Heineman.
Kristian Campbell made an errant throw to first base on Heineman’s ground ball, allowing a second run to score. Crochet walked Alan Roden to load the bases before manager Alex Cora finally replaced him with Zack Kelly.
Bo Bichette’s two-run single against Kelly made it 4-0.
3) Crochet’s 107 pitches is the most he has ever thrown in a major league start. It’s just the fourth time in 35 starts he has thrown 100 or more pitches. His previous career high was 103 pitches June 1, 2023 for the White Sox at Milwaukee. He threw 102 pitches in his previous outing (April 2 at Baltimore).
Manager Alex Cora got Kelly warming after Crochet reached 100 pitches.
4) Ceddanne Rafaela continued to play strong defense in center field. He sprinted in to make a diving catch in the sixth inning on Ernie Clement’s 237-foot fly ball that had a .790 expected batting average.
5) How cold was it? This fact came from the Red Sox media relations department: "Per BBREF, at 35 degrees, this is the 3rd coldest first pitch temperature recorded at a game at Fenway. The coldest first pitch logged was 34 degrees (done 2x first on was April 15, 2018 vs Baltimore and again on April 17, 2003 vs. Tampa Bay Devil Rays)."
6) The Red Sox and Blue Jays will play the third game of their four-game series Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. Righty Tanner Houck (0-1, 6.52 ERA) will start for Boston opposite Jays righty Kevin Gausman (1-1, 3.97 ERA).
