BOSTON — Following a pair of consecutive subpar performances from Crimson Sox pitching, right-hander Josh Winckowski got here by way of.
Having made solely three begins by way of his first 13 appearances coming into Sunday’s sequence finale, the 26-year-old saved a dominant Padres lineup at bay. Winckowski pitched 5 scoreless innings on 58 pitches thrown whereas permitting simply 4 base hits.
The much-needed outing even earned Winckowski a good risk of getting his fifth begin of 2024 throughout Boston’s upcoming journey to New York.
“Winck helped us right now,” Crimson Sox supervisor Alex Cora stated following Boston’s 4-1 win. “He would possibly assist us subsequent week. There’s a great likelihood he’ll make the following begin as a result of he earned it, and the bullpen is in a great spot.”
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San Diego’s lineup, which put throughout a mixed 20 runs within the first two video games of the three-day journey to Fenway Park, went silent as soon as Winckowski took the mound. Cora famous that using the changeup extra successfully within the strike zone, which Winckowski emphasised throughout his time within the minor leagues this season, performed a key function in producing contact for outs.
Though beginning video games isn’t Winckowski’s standard function, the possibility to return to the mound as a starter towards the archrival Yankees left the third-year veteran excited going ahead.
“Clearly that’s thrilling,” Winckowski stated. “Good rivalry between us two and, , simply preserve at it.”
Winckowski now owns a 1.15 ERA when pitching as a starter this season for the Crimson Sox after having allowed solely two earned runs by way of 15 2/3 innings.
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“I’m not stunned. That man works as exhausting as anyone on right here,” Jarren Duran defined. “… He got here out right here and confirmed up right now. He’s such a great pitcher. He’s at all times working exhausting. He simply sits down and works and that’s what I really like about him.”
Listed below are extra notes from Sunday’s Crimson Sox-Padres sport:
— The Crimson Sox improved to an MLB-best 13-1 when enjoying on Sundays.
— Duran homered towards San Diego’s Matt Waldron within the fifth inning, giving the 27-year-old outfielder six residence runs in his final 22 video games.
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“I simply occurred to get a pitch on it and I simply occurred to place a great swing on it,” Duran stated after dealing with the veteran knuckleballer.
— Boston has gone 12-8 by way of its final 20 video games.
“We’re rather a lot higher than what folks thought,” Cora stated, “So we’ll take that.”
— The Crimson Sox will subsequent fly to Miami and open up a three-game interleague sequence with the Marlins beginning Tuesday night time. First pitch from loanDepot Park is about for six:40 p.m. ET, and you’ll watch the sport, plus an hour of pregame protection, reside on NESN.
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