Red Sox’ Garrett Crochet: ‘I didn’t even know what to do when the third out was recorded’

BOSTON — The Fenway Park crowd erupted when ace Garrett Crochet jogged out of the Red Sox dugout to pitch the ninth inning with a 1-0 lead against the Rays on Saturday.

The 26-year-old lefty admitted the fans got his adrenaline pumping but he knew he needed to manage his emotions.

“Was trying to keep it as under control as I could this time,” Crochet said, noting that he didn’t do a good enough job of that when he blew a 1-0 lead in the ninth inning against the Yankees on June 13 by allowing a 443-foot, 115.5 mph game-tying homer to Aaron Judge.

Crochet finished the job this time. He tossed his first career complete game, beating the Rays 1-0. He allowed three hits and no walks while striking out nine.

“It was really awesome, really special. Just grateful to get the job done,” he said.

First baseman Abraham Toro added, “For me, he’s the American League Cy Young.”

With his pitch count at 93 entering the ninth, Crochet also knew he needed to record quick outs in addition to remaining calm.

“Just trying to get efficient outs,” he said. “That’s all I was thinking about.”

He did just that, throwing only seven pitches to finish at 100 pitches for the game.

He got Yandy Díaz to ground back to the mound on three pitches for the first out.

He also needed just three pitches to record the second out. Ha-Seong Kim grounded out to catcher Carlos Narváez who fired to first base.

Crochet then used a first-pitch sweeper to get Jake Mangum to line out to right field to end the game.

“I didn’t even know what to do when the third out was recorded,” Crochet said. “I was like, ‘Where do I stand?’ It’s incredibly satisfying. … Nice to keep the streak going, too.”

Boston’s winning streak increased to nine games. Crochet said days like Saturday are the reason he decided not to pitch in the All-Star Game despite being selected for the second year in a row.

“Just being able to use my workload in games that matter for the Red Sox, that’s really all that I’m focused on,” he said.

Crochet got some help with a tremendous defensive play from Toro, the first baseman, in the sixth inning.

The Rays bunted with runners at the corners and one out. Kim laid down the bunt to the right side of the infield. Toro charged in to field it with his barehand and threw out Taylor Walls at home.

“That was incredible,” Crochet said.

The play was close enough that the Rays challenged the call, but it was upheld after review.

“When they decided to challenge it, Carlos was coming out to the mound, and he was pretty confident,” Crochet said. “I saw the video and I wasn’t super confident until they showed the next angle. But yeah, that was a very awkward, uncomfortable throw — and he put it right on the money. So it was huge.”

Crochet was “shocked” that Toro threw home instead of getting the sure out at first base.

“And was more shocked at the out call,” he said. “But it was a great play overall.”

The lefty described his first half as “consistent.” He‘s 10-4 with a 2.23 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and .210 batting average against in 20 starts (129 ⅓ innings).

“That was kind of what I was trying to find last year was consistency, just limiting blow-up starts,” Crochet said. “I know I’ve had a couple lately. But I felt like I was able to eliminate them throughout the first half as a whole.”

Crochet will “dial it back as much as possible” during the All-Star break. He will be in Atlanta for the game despite declining to pitch. He plans to play catch throughout the break and might pitch off a mound once. He will throw off the mound when he arrives in Chicago to prepare his Sunday start against the Cubs. He will travel directly from Atlanta to Chicago.

Manager Alex Cora said he never hesitated to send Crochet back out for the ninth.

“Throwing strikes, using all his weapons today — changeup, sweeper, cutter, four-seamer, sinker. He used everything and did an outstanding job,” Cora said.

Cora summarized Crochet’s first half as “fantastic.”

“When I saw him in spring training, the way he conducted himself in the clubhouse and the way he helps his teammates and all that, I was like, ‘This is a true ace. He’s a leader,’” Cora said.