NEW YORK – Garrett Crochet entered the storied Red Sox-Yankees rivalry by giving the visitors a commodity that has been lacking of late from the starting rotation: innings.
The power lefty wasn’t at his best, but he was good enough to lift his recently struggling Sox to an important 10-7 victory over the Yankees on Saturday night at Yankee Stadium.
Crochet allowed six hits and five runs, walking one and striking out nine. The line was better than it looked, as two defensive misplays (not scored as errors) led to two hits and at least two runs for New York.
In three of the previous four games, Boston starters Richard Fitts, Lucas Giolito and Walker Buehler recorded six outs or fewer.
“He gave us what we needed,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora of Crochet. “Forget the line. There were some plays defensively that we didn't make that put him in a bad spot. We needed six, regardless. I mean, we’ll take it.”
It has been one of those weeks for the 31-35 Red Sox, but they can cap it by taking the first rivalry series of 2025 with a victory on Sunday Night Baseball.
Without the clutch hitting of Trevor Story (3-for-5, five RBIs), Saturday could have had a less desirable outcome. On two occasions, the veteran shortstop came up with the bases loaded.
As part of Boston’s five-run third inning, Story hammered a three-run double into the corner in left. When his team’s once-commanding 8-3 lead was chipped to 8-7 in the bottom of the eighth, Story ripped a two-run single to center in the ninth.
“It felt good,” said Story. “So credit to the guys getting on base ahead of me, putting together really good at-bats against some good pitchers.
“It always feels good to come through with men on base. And I feel like that's what we've been missing a little bit lately. It was nice to do it tonight.”
While Crochet has put the Red Sox on his back many times this season, his offense had his on Saturday, pounding out 14 hits.
This should be the first of many rivalry starts for Crochet, who signed a six-year, $170 million extension for Boston that starts next season.
“Yeah, it was cool,” said Crochet. “Outside of three, four pitches, I felt like my line didn't reflect how I threw the ball tonight. I got my feet wet in the first rivalry game I've been a part of.”
Crochet will be a part of it again next weekend, when the Yankees come to Fenway. With an off-day on Thursday, the Red Sox have the option of handing the ball to their ace on Friday or Saturday.
That will also set up a rematch of a classic power-vs.-power matchup against Aaron Judge, which Crochet won on Saturday by punching out the superstar right fielder three times.
“Just had his number today, that’s all,” said Crochet.
While the stakes weren’t nearly as high as in many past matchups – and undoubtedly some future ones – it was a back-and-forth tilt befitting of the game’s most storied rivalry.
“Yeah, exciting game,” said Story. “A lot of ups and downs, a lot of action. It felt like classic Red Sox-Yankees.”
Meanwhile, Crochet has 32 strikeouts in his past three starts. At 25 years and 351 days, he is the youngest Boston pitcher with 30-plus strikeouts in a three-outing span since Jon Lester in 2009.
“I felt like I threw the ball pretty well today,” Crochet said. “I know I gave up five earned, but I kept the ball on the ground. I could do a better job at finishing lefties once I'm ahead. But outside of that, in my mind, it was a good start.”