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EDUARDO RODRIGUEZ |
"THE FUTURE AIN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE"
Eduardo Rodriguez debut is a
dazzler
May 28, 2015 ... Eduardo
Rodriguez threw 7⅔
shutout innings, allowing only three hits as the Sox beat the
Rangers, 5-1. The crowd of 34,081 applauded as he left the mound in
the eighth inning. Rodriguez walked two and struck out seven. Texas
did not advance a runner beyond second base against him. It was the
best performance by a Red Sox starter this season.
It was the longest
scoreless outing for a Red Sox pitcher making his major league debut since Billy
Rohr threw a shutout against the Yankees on April 14, 1967. Rodriguez also had
the most shutout innings by a Red Sox starter this season. He was the youngest
Red Sox starter since 21-year-old Michael Bowden in 2008.
Rodriguez was facing a
Texas team that had won seven of eight games. The Rangers lineup included Prince
Fielder, Adrian Beltre, and Josh Hamilton. The last-place Red Sox, who had been
swept in three games at Minnesota, were desperate for a reprieve from a season
gone awry. If those pressures were felt, Rodriguez didn’t show it before the
game. The rookie from Venezuela sat on a clubhouse couch watching television and
munching on popcorn.
Rodriguez retired 14 of
the first 15 batters he faced, the exception being a double by Hamilton in the
second inning. Rodriguez walked Elvis Andrus with two outs in the fifth inning
then came back to strike out Adam Rosales.
Working with catcher
Blake Swihart, who caught him in the minors, Rodriguez relied heavily on his
fastball early in the game then worked in more off-speed pitches, particularly
changeups, the second time through the order. Rodriguez struck out the first two
batters he faced in the eighth inning, his fastball hitting 94 miles per hour. A
walk and a single prompted Farrell to come to the mound and end his outing after
105 pitches. The Rangers scored a run in the ninth inning but nothing would
spoil this night for the Sox.
As Rodriguez ably handled
the Rangers, the Red Sox scored two runs in seven innings against Texas starter
Nick Martinez. Swihart singled to right field to start the fifth then scored on
one-out singles by Dustin Pedroia and Mookie Betts.
Ramirez, who doubled in
the fourth inning, led off the sixth inning with a home run to left-center
field. It was his 11th home run of the season, the first in 85 at-bats going
back to April 29. Ramirez came into the game hitting .210 this month with one
RBI. Since injuring his left shoulder trying to make a catch in left field on
May 3, Ramirez had been unable to pull the ball with any authority. The home run
came on a pitch on the inner third of the plate. The double also came on a pitch
inside.
The lead grew to 5-0
against the Texas bullpen in the eighth inning. Mike Napoli drew a walk against
Tanner Scheppers with two outs. Sam Freeman came in and hit Brock Holt with a
pitch before walking newcomer Carlos Peguero. Swihart singled to right field,
scoring two runs. Rusney Castillo then reached on an infield single as Peguero
scored. |
