BOSTON — Instant reactions from the Red Sox’ 1-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on Saturday:
1) Boston has won nine straight games to improve to 52-45. The Rays dropped to 50-46.
2) During his pregame media availability, manager Alex Cora referred to ace Garrett Crochet as “the leader.”
Crochet pitched his first career complete game — and it was a complete game shutout. He allowed just three hits and no walks while striking out nine.
Crochet has pitched 8 innings or more three times this season. He has pitched 7 innings or more 9 times.
“What he’s doing in the clubhouse. You see him in the dugout. He’s always into games, talking to pitchers,” Cora said. “Yesterday, (Greg) Weissert came out. He didn’t like the slider. They were talking about grips and all that. He’s very similar to Alex (Bregman) in that sense.”
Cora said Crochet assumed the responsibility of being a leader when he signed a six-year, $170 million contract extension at the beginning of the season.
“You have to be that guy,” Cora said. “And we haven’t had a guy like that in a while. We’ve had some good ones throughout the years. Now that he’s the ace of the Red Sox, he’s doing an amazing job.””
3) The Rays attempted a suicide squeeze with with runners at the corners and one out in the sixth inning. Ha-Seong Kim laid down a bunt to the right side of the infield. First baseman Abraham Toro charged in to field it with his bare hand and threw out Taylor Walls at home.
The Rays challenged but the call was upheld.
4) The Red Sox needed Crochet to go deep into the game after starter Hunter Dobbins left Saturday in the second inning because of an ACL tear.
5) The Fenway Park crowd erupted as Crochet jogged back out of the dugout at 93 pitches for the ninth inning.
6) Rookie Roman Anthony‘s hustle on a hit to right field 1(03.4 mph off his bat) allowed him to turn a single into a double. He scored to make it 1-0 when Carlos Narváez, the next hitter, singled to left-center field.
7) The Red Sox will host the Rays for the final game before the All-Star break on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. Righty Brayan Bello (5-3, 3.27 ERA) will start for Boston opposite Rays righty Ryan Pepiot (6-6, 3.32 ERA).
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