Red Sox Rankings: Top Five First Week Performances

3. Steven Wright start on April 10

In the Red Sox Spring Training camp at Fort Myers one of the big competitions was the position of fifth starter in the rotation, once star-in-the-making lefthander Eduardo Rodriguez went down with a knee injury on February 29. Through his strong Spring, Wright won the job and this was the first chance for him to show the Red Sox that they had made the right decision. At least through the first start of the year, he quieted the critics for now with his strong performance. Of course, you never want to lose a game, but this doesn’t prevent Wright’s performance from being outstanding.

Right off the bat, it appeared to be a short outing for Wright as two hits and a walk loaded the bases for the Blue Jays. One run scored on a would-be double play.  The second run trotted home as Dustin Pedroia‘s throw to get the second out sailed high out of play.  It was a quick, 2-0, but Wright was able to get out of further damage.

This would be all the runs that Wright would allow on the day. He was able to wriggle out of further first inning damage, retiring the Jays in order, three up and three down, four times on the day. He managed to work out of a bases loaded two out jam and left with a runner on second in the seventh. Even after a second Price start today, Wright remains the only starter to go more than six innings in a game. For a team with a tired bullpen, Wright’s performance was exemplary, even if he did come out on the wrong end of a 3-0 decision. Allowing only six hits and three walks on 118 pitches in 6.2 innings, Manager John Farrell will feel very good about having Wright as a fifth starter.

Next: 4. David Ortiz' two homers to open 2016 season