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FELIX DOUBRONT |
A LOST YEAR WITH
BOBBY V ...
Felix Doubront pitches a gem
September 23, 2012 ... Felix
Doubront, the 24-year-old lefthander was a face in the crowd at the
start of spring training, a pitcher with talent but no guarantee of a
spot on the roster. Now, seven months later, the Red Sox have a
starting pitcher who can be one of the pillars of their
reconstruction.
Doubront
pitched the best game of his young career Sunday in a 2-1 victory against the
Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park. Facing a team fighting to win the division,
Doubront allowed one run on four hits over seven innings. He walked two and
struck out a career-best 11 as the Sox avoided a three-game sweep.
Doubront
spent the last two seasons drifting between the majors and Triple A Pawtucket.
He had three starts in 2010, but he pitched mostly in relief. There were
concerns about his conditioning and commitment. Now, 28 starts later, Doubront
has shown he's part of the future. A 4.91 earned run average doesn't speak to
his potential. That he has struck out 157 over 154 innings while allowing 155
hits does.
Doubront
no-hit the Orioles for four innings, striking out seven. Baltimore had three
consecutive hits to score a run in the fifth inning. But with runners on second
and third and one out, Doubront stuck out Robert Andino looking at a fastball
and Nate McLouth swinging at a changeup. When J.J. Hardy grounded to first, a
big inning had been averted. He allowed only one other runner before leaving
after 112 pitches. Doubront was the youngest Red Sox pitcher to strike out 11
since 23-year-old Aaron Sele in 1993. The afternoon shadows across the infield
helped. But Doubront also had overpowering stuff.
The Sox won
the game with a run on back-to-back doubles by Dustin Pedroia and Cody Ross in
the eighth inning. That gave the win to Junichi Tazawa, who pitched a scoreless
top of the inning. Andrew Bailey left three runners stranded in the ninth to get
his sixth save. But it was Doubront who did the heavy lifting. He has allowed
six earned runs over 19 1/3 innings in his last three starts and struck out 21.
With an
above-average fastball, a sharp curveball, and an improving changeup, Doubront
has the ability. His problem is letting game situations or missed pitches by the
umpire become distracting. Doubront is expected to make one more start. Then he
can go into the off-season knowing he has a place in the rotation. |
