Red Sox starter Josh Winckowki wasn’t impressed with Wrigley experience

Red Sox starter Josh Winckowski has some thoughts on Wrigley Field

Wrigley Field is one of the most popular destinations for fans traveling to watch their team on the road. The second-oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball has been home to the Chicago Cubs for over a century. The ivy covering the outfield wall is among the most notable quirks giving the ballpark its charm. While many visiting players appreciate the rich history of Wrigley, count Boston Red Sox pitcher Josh Winckowski among those who aren’t impressed.

The rookie right-hander made his first career appearance at Wrigley Field on Saturday but he believes the experience couldn’t hold a candle to pitching at Fenway Park, according to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo.

"“A little underwhelming,” Winckowski said. “Fenway kind of has a presence to it. I really didn’t get that here, to be honest. I said to my mom last night, this place is very stock standard, if you ask me. I didn’t really feel anything, to be honest. It kind of just felt like another ballpark.”"

Perhaps he’s been spoiled by pitching his home games at Fenway but it’s still a bit surprisingly to hear Winckowski bashing one of America’s most beloved ballparks. His comments come off even worse in the wake of the Red Sox dropping their second consecutive game in Chicago.

Cubs players must have rolled their eyes when they heard what Winckowski had said. We can only imagine that they felt the Red Sox were a little underwhelming. Boston’s lineup is supposed to have a presence to it but the Cubs really didn’t get that from them in this game, holding them to only one run despite that their starting pitcher exited with an injury after recording only one out. The Red Sox were playing at an elite level in June but so far in this series they have felt like just another team.

Winckowski’s controversial comments may have stemmed from frustration. He pitched far too well to have deserved taking the loss. Winckowski tossed six innings while allowing two runs, one of which was unearned following consecutive throwing errors in the second inning. He only walked one batter and struck out six.

Winckowski allowed six hits, all singles, including four infield singles. The average exit velocity on the balls in play against him was only 75.8 mph, per Baseball Savant.

Boston’s bats weren’t able to cover for the team’s sloppy defense. The Red Sox managed only five hits in what essentially turned into a bullpen game for the Cubs. Mark Leiter Jr. who entered the game with a 5.55 ERA, held Boston to only one run over 5 1/3 innings.

The Red Sox were 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left four men on base. Franchy Cordero was caught stealing in the second inning, wiping out another potential scoring opportunity.

It was a tough loss with the Red Sox failing to execute on several levels but at least Winckowski can take solace in his own strong performance. Boston’s rotation has been ravaged by injuries but Winckowski has stepped up by filling in admirably. He owns a 3.12 ERA this season and he’s gone 3-1 with a 1.96 ERA since joining the rotation in mid-June.

The Red Sox must be pleased with the production they are getting from the rookie but they are probably less than thrilled about his post-game comments. There’s no need to give the Cubs any additional motivation with bulletin board material as they aim to complete a sweep against the Red Sox. A candid response from players can be refreshing but being critical of a ballpark that is essentially a historical landmark sounds like sour grapes from a pitcher who took a tough luck loss.