On Friday, Crawford gave up three long balls.
The Boston Red Sox have struggled to secure victories when Kutter Crawford starts, now dropping to a 4-12 record in his outings following a 5-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night.
Crawford began the season strongly in April, striking out batters and pitching deep into games while keeping home runs at bay. However, he has hit a rough patch recently, giving up seven home runs in his last three starts, including three solo shots against the Reds.
Reflecting on Crawford’s performance, manager Cora remarked to reporters on NESN’s postgame coverage, “It was an interesting outing for Kutter, with the home runs and early traffic. But after that, he settled in and was dialed in. The homers happen; Candelario swung the bat well. We threw strikes and they were solo shots, three of them on first pitches. Overall, it was good. He gave us a chance to win.”
Despite conceding a second home run to Candelario, Crawford refocused and retired the next ten batters he faced, showcasing resilience in the face of adversity.
“At that point, I really tried to lock in and stay aggressive,” Crawford told reporters. “I focused on executing pitches, and I think I was able to do that from then on.”
Despite the early homers, Crawford managed to pitch into the seventh inning, a crucial contribution to the Red Sox rotation’s efforts in 2024 as they prioritize durability.
“I appreciate that,” Crawford added. “It means a lot for him to keep me out there in that situation. Obviously, things didn’t go as planned, but it shows he trusts me.”
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