Red Sox starter Andew Cashner shines in win over Yankees

Andrew Cashner picked up his first win in a Red Sox uniform Friday night, pitching well against a formidable Yankees lineup.

The Boston Red Sox have taken the first two games of their weekend series against the New York Yankees with the latest victory showcasing a strong performance from their rotation’s newest addition, Andrew Cashner.

In his third start in a Red Sox uniform, Cashner tossed 6 2/3 innings, gave up 10 hits and three runs while striking out six. He would also have help from the offense, as they scored early and often to give Cashner a comfortable lead.

What we’ve seen the past two nights is what we need to continue to see from the starting pitching staff. Cashner was facing a really good first-place Yankees team that was coming to Fenway trying to win a baseball game. He didn’t let the heat of the moment get to him and pitched really well, the best outing he’s had in a Red Sox uniform. He pitched five scoreless innings until a Luke Voit RBI single in the sixth.

According to Baseball Savant, Cashner recorded 14 swing-and-misses, five with his changeup and slider. He also threw 39 four-seam fastballs that were an average 94.8 MPH and topped out at 96.7 MPH. It looks like he changed something mechanically to have better control with his pitches. That’s not an easy Yankee lineup to face as a pitcher but Cashner stepped up to the challenge in a big way. His ERA also dropped to 6.11 in a Red Sox uniform after tonight’s win. A few more like that and it will be even lower.

Overall, the starting pitching has to be better if the Sox wanna make a run for the playoffs and in October. They also need a collaboration of everyone stepping up but the starting pitching especially needs set the tone early in games with getting the opposing hitters out.  Manager Alex Cora was pleased with Cashner’s performance after the game saying telling NESN, 

"“He had good fastball command,” said Cora. “The slider was good, changeup was good too. … It was a great one for Cash.”"

The Sox have to quickly turn the page on this one and play a 4:05 game Saturday afternoon with Eduardo Rodriguez taking the mound. Hopefully, Rodriguez can have an outing as strong as Cashner and Porcello did and the offense can hit for him too.

It seems like when the Sox get off to a hot start they just keep adding on and it’s tough for teams to catch up. We haven’t seen much of that this year but now is a great opportunity to turn the page to be playing like a championship team should play.