Reid Detmers came into Boston last night and absolutely shut down the Red Sox, holding them to just one hit and zero runs over six stellar innings in a 6-1 Angels win. It was a brutal night for the Red Sox, especially when you consider Detmers has been on an insane run since July 17th, rocking a microscopic 1.52 ERA. That kind of dominance makes you wonder what kind of magic the guy is brewing on the mound.
Pitching Mismatch Was So Obvious It Hurt
The difference between Detmers and Boston’s starter, Patrick Sandoval, was just wild. Sandoval coughed up four runs on ten hits in his six innings. Seriously, ten hits! The Red Sox defense somehow turned four double plays, which probably saved them from getting totally boat-raced. We’re talking easily a 10-1 game if those plays don’t happen. The mismatch on the mound was so severe, it’s a real contender for the most lopsided quality of starter game the Red Sox have had all year where they were at the disadvantage. Even when Boston started the season a dreadful 32-46, their pitchers usually put up quality starts, only to be let down by the offense. Last night? It was the pitching that got outclassed.
“Don’t Need To Win” Makes For Underwhelming Baseball
The Red Sox are in a weird spot, using Sandoval as a “sixth man” or depth piece to give other guys a break because they “don’t need to win these games.” Look, I get the prudence behind it, but watching it happen when games should be ramping up for the stretch run? It’s just so underwhelming. There was this tiny window in the bottom of the seventh after Detmers left, when the first three Red Sox hitters reached, and you thought, “Okay, maybe something’s about to happen!” But the bottom of the lineup and Chad Tracy just did nothing. Should Tracy have pinch-hit Gasper for Monasterio? Rutschman for Wong? Bunted with Monasterio when there was nobody out? Probably. But he seemed to be waiting for an opportunity that never came. Trevor Story striking out to end the eighth was just a punch to the gut after all that.
Last night’s game marks the penultimate day of a brutal stretch where the Red Sox play 54 games in 56 days, dating back to July 17th. Honestly, tomorrow can’t come fast enough to end this half-baked game parade.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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