Red Sox Strut: There Were Best Players Of The Week?

3 of 3

Jul 17, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher

Wade Miley

(20) pitches against the Los Angeles Angels during the second inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Pitcher: Wade Miley

If anyone questions this choice with another starter, I may need to pull off my left arm just to have something to throw at you. Miley’s start against the Angels was exactly the opposite of everyone else’s: it was good.

Miley threw 101 pitches, 57 for strikes, and allowed zero runs on … yes, I said ZERO runs. Can you believe it? No runs were scored on the Red Sox for seven full innings that Miley pitched. He only allowed one hit. No, I’m not messing with you. Seriously, he only gave up one hit, walked two batters, and struck out six Angels. Yes, in the same game; it’s not a miracle, I swear.

If it wasn’t for Koji Uehara gift-wrapping a home run to All-Star MVP Mike Trout in the bottom of the ninth, and the fact that the Red Sox couldn’t sniff a run of their own to save their lives, we would be talking about the only victory any of the starters had in the last five games.

The key was Miley’s strategy. He kept the ball very low all game, unlike his fellow teammates on the mound. Miley earned nine groundball outs, instead of trying to strike everyone out. Rick Porcello was the closest starter to Miley with five strikeouts. Allowing three runs, two earned, is not the end of the world. However, the two home-run blasts that Porcello gave up take him right out of the equation, this week.

With Clay Buchholz injured and no trade for another starter made, as of yet, Miley is an island all of his own. He may not want to strut, but he did his job and deserves the recognition.

More from BoSox Injection

Home/David Ortiz