The Boston Red Sox finally took advantage with their ace on the mound. <\/p>\n
Garrett Crochet has done everything the Red Sox could have asked him to do this season. He misses bats. He racks up strikeouts. He gives the team a chance to win. He eats innings.<\/p>\n
Crochet entered his start Sunday against the Atlanta Braves with Boston going just 6-6 through his first 12 starts. Unlike recent trends, the offense gave him an early boost in the first with a three-run double for Trevor Story in another positive sign. That\u2019s all the Boston starter needed in a 3-1 victory<\/a> for the Red Sox, who also won the series with the win. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s amazing, man,\u201d Trevor Story told NESN\u2019s Jahmai Webster. \u201cHe sets the tone for us. As a ballclub, as a staff. He goes out there and lets it rip. Not much action (defensively), I told him that. That\u2019s OK. He\u2019s punching out 10+, it feels like every night and setting the tone for us. Every time he pitches, I love our chances to win.\u201d <\/p>\n The Red Sox lefty found success in two starts against the Braves this season with 20 strikeouts in 14 innings and just three earned runs allowed (all solo home runs) against the Braves.<\/p>\n Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n Crochet stepped it up a notch with the Red Sox in desperate need of a better start to the month of June. He dominated Braves hitters with 23 swings-and-misses and struck out a season-best 12 men across seven innings and a career-high 112 pitches. Boston wanted to push him further in his second full season as a starter. So far, Crochet\u2019s aced the test. <\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s huge,\u201d Crochet told reporters, per NESN\u2019s postgame coverage. \u201cYou feel it when you\u2019re out there on the mound. It\u2019s not like I\u2019m trying to achieve a certain number or anything like that, but you definitely feel it when you\u2019re out there on the mound. I think that cutter usage has been in a good spot. Throwing that in fastball counts, but also throwing the fastball in fastball counts. Pitching backwards every now and then with it. It\u2019s just been an overall great weapon for me.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been doing this all season,\u201d Alex Cora told reporters, as seen on NESN\u2019s postgame coverage. \u201cThese are the outings, you look back at the Mets one, you\u2019ve got to pick and choose. \u2026 There\u2019s a reason for us to be aggressive. Understanding now, we\u2019ve got Thursdays off. He\u2019s going to get an extra day. We can be more aggressive. We pushed him to the limit and he did an outstanding job.\u201d <\/p>\n Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n<\/p>\n