Spring training numbers are ultimately meaningless, but Garrett Crochet will likely be happy to put this camp behind him.
In his final tuneup before Opening Day this Thursday, Crochet was charged with six runs over 5 1/3 innings in the Red Sox’s 6-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves. He allowed six hits, two walks, a hit batsman and a home run on 89 pitches while recording three strikeouts.
Crochet had a particularly tough time with Braves third baseman Austin Riley, who hit a solo home run and two doubles against the Red Sox lefty. The solo shot came in the second inning, the first RBI double came in the third and the last was a two-run double in the fifth.
Crochet also gave up an RBI single to Matt Olson and an RBI double to Ozzie Albies, both also in the third as part of a three-run Braves rally.
Over four spring starts Crochet allowed 12 earned runs over 14 2/3 innings (7.36 ERA), giving up 15 hits, three walks, two hit batsman and recording eight strikeouts. None of that will matter once the rubber hits the road on Thursday, when Crochet takes the ball against the Cincinnati Reds.
Kahnle debuts
Newly signed reliever Tommy Kahnle made his team debut on Saturday, and the veteran right-hander made a strong first impression. Kahnle posted a 1-2-3 eighth inning, drawing a groundout, a strikeout and a groundout on 12 pitches.
Kahnle is among the last remaining candidates for a spot in the Red Sox bullpen. That group also includes rookie left-hander Tyler Samaniego, who came on in relief of Crochet in the sixth and threw a scoreless 2/3 of an inning.
Coming up next
Sonny Gray will take the ball for his final spring outing on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Zack Kelly and Ryan Watson are also scheduled to take the mound, with first pitch scheduled for 1:05 p.m.