Were you worried about Ranger Suárez coming into this afternoon’s game? It’s okay to admit it if you were. Hell, it’s okay to still be worried a tad. The man put up a 5.70 ERA in the month of August, culminating in a no-show performance against the Yankees in what was the biggest series of the season up to that point.
But today Suarez dined out on crafty veteran card, putting together a start that was uneventful in the best way. He gave up just one solo shot and was only trouble twice — and it was a but
a teeny tiny little bit of trouble both times. In the first inning Bobby Witt, Jr. made his way to third after singling and stealing second. Suarez would escape the inning unscathed after striking out Vinnie Pasquantino on a full count (hat tip to Adley Rutschman for a nice challenge on the called third strike).Then in the seventh, after the Sox finally took a 3-1 lead in a game that was somnambulant up that point, Suárez struck out consecutive hitters to end a mini threat that saw the Royals put a runner in scoring position with only one out.
The whole point of Ranger Suárez is that you’re not supposed to worry about him. He’s never going to look like one of the best pitchers on the planet. He’s going to have stretches where he looks hittable. But, ultimately, he’s going to figure it out and get the job done. That’s what he did today, giving the Royals hitters no room to breath while the heart of the Sox lineup strung a few hits together here and there.
The losing streak is over, the Red Sox magic number is 7
Three Studs
Ranger Suárez: See above, duh.
Wilyer Abreu: It was Wilyer’s two-out, two-run double in the sixth that gave the Sox a 3-1 lead. Even at the time you knew it was all they would need.
Garrett Whitlock: We all know how important the bullpen is going to be in October. Whitlock striking out the side in the 8th has me dreaming about the postseason Sox shortening ballgames big time.
One Dud
Jarren Duran: 0-4 with a K, the only Sox player who played the whole game without getting a hit
