Crochet had a ragged spring training, allowing 12 earned runs over 12 innings in his final three starts and striking out only eight. He finished Grapefruit League with a 7.36 ERA.<\/p>\n
Facing the Braves last Saturday, Crochet allowed six runs and assured reporters afterward that it was no cause for alarm.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt like today was kind of like the rest of the spring. The line looked uglier than how it felt,\u201d he said. \u201cIt feels uglier than what I felt like I deserved. Whatever.\u201d<\/p>\n
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That\u2019s how Reds manager Terry Francona views it. He was asked before the game about his starter, Andrew Abbott, having his own rough spring training and shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever looked at somebody\u2019s ERA or batting average [in spring training],\u201d Francona said. \u201cI don\u2019t think that\u2019s different for everybody.<\/p>\n
\u201cI get it when guys are trying to make a ballclub, stuff like that. But with the guys that you know are going to pitch or play for you, you want them feeling good about themselves when they break camp.\u201d<\/p>\n
Crochet felt just fine. He spent a lot of his time in Florida noodling around with a new pitch, a splitter that he threw only twice against the Reds.<\/p>\n
He also was cognizant about the career-high 213 innings he threw last year counting the postseason. This was a spring training to prepare for the season, not to impress anybody like he tried to do last year when he was new to the Sox.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was different for him,\u201d manager Alex Cora said.<\/p>\n
Crochet flipped the switch for Game 1 and carved the Reds up, allowing only three runners past first base and leaving the game with a 1-0 lead. He threw 52 of 80 pitches for strikes and averaged 96.9 miles per hour with his four-seam fastball.<\/p>\n
It was another virtuoso performance for Crochet, who has a 2.51 ERA in 33 starts for the Red Sox since being acquired from the White Sox.<\/p>\n
Crochet\u2019s best moments came in the sixth inning of a scoreless game.<\/p>\n
He walked Matt McLain with one out before Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart singled to load the bases. The sellout crowd of 43,897 at Great American Ball Park came alive \u2014 and so did Crochet.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe stuff picked up,\u201d Cora said.<\/p>\n
Eugenio Su\u00e1rez, who hit 49 home runs last season, struck out swinging through a cutter that dove at the plate. Spencer Steer worked the count full before Crochet struck him out swinging at a high cutter.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt got up there,\u201d Crochet said.<\/p>\n
Crochet spun toward the Red Sox dugout, pumped his fists, and let out a roar. He knew his day was done and that he had more than done his job.<\/p>\n
What was Crochet thinking in that moment?<\/p>\n
\u201cProbably unprintable,\u201d he said. \u201cI just felt good. It was good to be met with opposition early and be able to answer the call.\u201d<\/p>\n
His teammates got Crochet the victory in the top of the seventh inning when Mayer doubled as a pinch hitter against righthander Pierce Johnson and scored on a single by Ceddanne Rafaela.<\/p>\n
Justin Slaten, Garrett Whitlock, and Aroldis Chapman finished from there. It was the kind of pitching-and-defense victory the Sox hope will be a template they can count on this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe we have a good offense. We\u2019re going to score more,\u201d Cora said. \u201cBut we will pitch.\u201d<\/p>\n
Crochet entertained questions after the game, then ducked out of the clubhouse to spend time with his family, including his 4-month-old daughter Colette.<\/p>\n
Thursday was her first game, the first of many. If it was any indication, she\u2019s going to hear a lot of stories about her first season as a baseball fan.<\/p>\n