The Boston Red Sox are riding high on a wave of stellar pitching performances, and their recent series against the New York Yankees was no exception. Each night, the Red Sox pitchers have been stepping up, and Saturday night was all about Jake Bennett, a Triple-A call-up making waves in just his fourth big-league outing since stepping in for Brayan Bello.
Bennett was nothing short of spectacular, flirting with a no-hitter into the fifth inning for the second consecutive night. It took a powerful swing from Max Schuemann, who launched a first-pitch fastball into the center field batter's eye, to finally put the Yankees on the board. That home run was the only blemish on Bennett's otherwise pristine first six innings.
Interim manager Chad Tracy showed confidence in the young pitcher, sending him back out for the seventh inning. Bennett allowed a soft infield single before giving Cody Bellinger something to hit, but he quickly regained his composure, striking out Jasson Dominguez in what would be his final batter faced for the night.
Bennett's final stat line was impressive: 6.1 innings, three hits, one earned run, three strikeouts, and two walks. What makes this performance even more noteworthy is that, as reported by Tim Healey of the Boston Globe, it was the first time Bennett had pitched into the seventh inning in his professional career, whether in the majors or minors.
With his ERA dropping to a solid 3.27, Bennett helped the Red Sox secure their third straight win over the division-leading Yankees. It's safe to say that Bennett's performance has added a spark to the Red Sox's pitching roster, and fans are eager to see if he can keep up this level of play as the season progresses.
In Other News...
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Patrick Sandovals next step is murkier than the rehab timeline itself. Boston must act soon under MLBs rehab rules, but the fit on the active roster is not obvious with the rotation holding its own, which leaves the club weighing whether to ease him in as a multi-inning arm or get creative with a temporary six-man setup before the All-Star break. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Suddenly Have Fans Reopening A Debate They Know Too Well
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The timing helps, too, because the schedule ahead looks manageable with the Nationals, Angels, White Sox and Mets lined up before the All-Star break. If Boston keeps pitching the way it has while squeezing more production out of the lineup, the front office could face a deadline question it has spent plenty of seasons trying to avoid: whether this is merely a nice run or the start of something worth pushing further. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Made A Surprising Roster Sacrifice With Romy Back
Romy Gonzlez finally made his season debut for the Red Sox after coming back from shoulder surgery in March, giving Boston another right-handed infield option as it tries to keep its bench balanced. His return was enough to force a real roster decision, one that came down to how the club wanted to shape its depth while getting Gonzlez back into the mix.
Mickey Gasper was the odd man out, with the Red Sox optioning the catcher despite his solid work in limited action. Interim manager Chad Tracy said the move was about avoiding three catchers and keeping the bench flexible, a reminder that even a useful performer can be squeezed out when a team is trying to make every roster spot count. [Read more 🡒]