Boston Red Sox: Bullpen is still dominant so far in October
By Tyler Mason
Everything has gone wrong for the Boston Red Sox so far in the postseason, except for their bullpen.
To say I am shocked that the Boston Red Sox are down 0-2 in the ALDS against the Cleveland Indians is an understatement.
Going into the series, most of Red Sox Nation, including myself, was expecting at least one win in Cleveland. You need to win on the road during the postseason to be successful. It was just flat out disappointing seeing your 22-game winner, Rick Porcello, and $30 million a year man, David Price, get embarrassed in Games 1 and 2.
Even though the starting pitching has been horrid and the offense was shut out last game, one thing has stayed consistent in the first two games: the bullpen.
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When Porcello couldn’t get out of the 5th inning in Game 1, the trio of Drew Pomeranz, Joe Kelly, and Koji Uehara combined for 3.2 innings of shutout ball. The three pitchers kept the game close, but the offense couldn’t capitalize, as they lost 5-4.
In game 2, everything went wrong for the Red Sox. The first thing we realized is that October baseball is still Price’s kryptonite, as he went only 3.1 innings while allowing 5 earned runs. After Price got pulled in the 4th, Matt Barnes, Robbie Ross Jr., Brad Ziegler, Kelly, and Craig Kimbrel combined for 4.2 innings allowing 1 unearned run. Although the Sox lineup was held to three hits as the Indians ace Corey Kluber pitched 7 shutout innings, the bullpen still held strong.
As we all know, the Red Sox lost Game 2 by a score of 6-0 and now the two teams head to Boston to play Game 3 tonight. We all know what the Sox need to do to win. Timely hitting, a good quality start out of Clay Buchholz, and the bullpen to remain solid.
In the first two games, the bullpen has combined for 8.1 innings pitched with just one unearned run. I know it’s hard to look on the bright side for the Red Sox right now, but if they can start some type of comeback, you’re going to want this bullpen to continue to be lights out.
This team has played too well to get swept in the first round of the playoffs. They have played in the most competitive division in the American League, have the one of best offenses baseball has seen in years, and they have a guy (maybe you have heard of him?) by the name of David Ortiz retiring after this season. So how about they show some heart and fight their way back into this series?
All Red Sox Nation is asking for right now is a win tonight. That may be easier said than done, but if the Sox can win tonight and get some momentum for the first time all series, you may be watching the beginning of something special.
As the former fan favorite Kevin Millar once said in 2004…
“Don’t let us win tonight.”