Sometimes baseball gives you those moments that make you remember why you fell in love with this beautiful, maddening game in the first place. Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium was one of those nights, and Garrett Crochet was the man painting a masterpiece on the mound.
Crochet Ties Century-Old Red Sox Record
The southpaw didn’t just pitch well—he absolutely carved up the Yankees lineup like a Thanksgiving turkey, racking up 11 strikeouts in his postseason debut. That performance tied him with some serious Red Sox royalty: Smoky Joe Wood from the 1912 World Series and Bill Dinneen from way back in 1903.
Yeah, you read that right. 1903. That was the same year the Wright brothers figured out how to fly, and Crochet just matched a record that’s been sitting there for 121 years. Talk about making an entrance.
Red Sox Ace Delivers When It Matters Most
All season long, Crochet has been mentioned in AL Cy Young conversations, and Tuesday night showed exactly why. He went 7.2 innings, allowing just four hits and one measly run while striking out 11 Yankees. His final pitch? A 100.2 mph fastball that tied for the hardest he’s thrown as a Red Sox player.
The best part? After giving up an early run to Anthony Volpe, Crochet didn’t panic or fold like a cheap lawn chair. Instead, he settled in and retired 16 consecutive batters. Sixteen! That’s the kind of dominance that makes opposing hitters question their life choices.
Historic Performance Powers Boston Victory
While Masataka Yoshida’s clutch two-run single ultimately gave Boston the 3-1 victory, this game belonged to Crochet from start to finish. He became just the fifth Red Sox pitcher ever to record 10+ strikeouts in a playoff game, joining an exclusive club that includes Pedro Martinez.
Manager Alex Cora had to feel pretty good about his decision to start his ace, especially after all the doubters questioned whether this Red Sox team even belonged in October baseball.
