WEST SACRAMENTO -- Even in a brand-new uniform, Kyle Harrison was on familiar ground Wednesday.
There could hardly be a more apt ballpark for the former Giants left-hander to make his Red Sox debut than the home of San Francisco’s Triple-A affiliate. With 26 career starts for the River Cats, Harrison definitely feels comfortable at Sutter Health Park.
“It is kind of a full-circle moment,” Harrison said. “I started the year here, so why not make the debut here with the Red Sox?”
That connection certainly didn’t hurt as Harrison turned in a solid debut for Boston, pitching three scoreless relief innings in Wednesday’s walk-off, 5-4 loss to the Athletics. The left-hander entered in the sixth inning and kept the Red Sox’s deficit to a single run, setting the stage for Rob Refsnyder’s game-tying, pinch-hit double in the ninth.
Harrison struck out two batters, hit one with a pitch and worked around three hits -- including a Brent Rooker double in the seventh inning -- to keep the A’s off the scoreboard. He filled up the zone, throwing 35 of his 49 pitches for strikes.
“Just went out there and tried to attack and get the boys in the dugout as quick as possible,” Harrison said.
The Red Sox (81-66) would welcome more outings like that from Harrison, who was a key part of the blockbuster deal that sent Rafael Devers to San Francisco in June. With Jordan Hicks (shoulder) on the injured list and prospect James Tibbs III shipped to the Dodgers for Dustin May (who is also on the IL), Harrison is the biggest piece currently available from Boston’s moves before the Trade Deadline.
Simply put, the Red Sox need something from Harrison, especially with constant turnover in the back end of their rotation and inconsistencies from their bullpen. The lefty had yet to learn his role by the time he reported to the ballpark for Wednesday’s game, but he’s willing to be flexible.
“I just think I’m going to be available and ready for whatever they need,” Harrison said.
The lefty’s arsenal has expanded since he joined the Red Sox. With the Giants this season, Harrison threw his four-seam fastball a whopping 65.2% of the time, complementing the pitch with a slurve and a changeup. In the visitors’ clubhouse pregame, he rattled off a five-pitch repertoire: four-seamer, sinker, cutter, slider and changeup.
Told that was “a lot of options,” Harrison replied, “Exactly.”
The left-hander didn’t even mention his slurve, which he threw 19 times Wednesday, as much as his four-seamer. He used the pitch to fan Lawrence Butler in the seventh inning for his first strikeout, then punched out Brett Harris on a 95 mph fastball down and in for his other K.
After allowing an infield single to A’s second baseman Zack Gelof and plunking catcher Willie MacIver with one out in the eighth, Harrison retired the next two batters to end his scoreless outing.
“He did a good job -- good fastball and good command, great tempo,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “That was good to see. He was very patient throughout the process, and for him to go out there and give us a chance to win, that was awesome.”
Harrison admitted he found it difficult at times to deal with the anticipation that came as he awaited a call to the big leagues. He performed well with Triple-A Worcester, pitching to a 3.75 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 50 1/3 innings. But with Boston calling up pitching prospects Payton Tolle and Connelly Early from the Minors in recent weeks, Harrison tried not to wonder when his turn would come.
“We all want answers,” he said. “Just the way this game goes, just going through it, you can’t control anything except about being where your feet are. That’s the way I kept looking at it.”
On Tuesday, Harrison flew from Syracuse, N.Y. -- where Worcester was beginning a six-game road series -- to West Sacramento to join the Red Sox. A day later, he made a debut he acknowledged “had been a long time coming.”
When he visited Fenway Park with the Giants in 2024, Harrison experienced “a little different feeling” on the field of the historic venue. With the Red Sox currently holding the second American League Wild Card spot, another postseason run appears to be in the cards.
Harrison feels like he can make an impact for Boston down the stretch.
Ideally, he can do it somewhere besides West Sacramento.
“I’ve seen this mound too many times,” he said.