BOSTON \u2014 Garrett Crochet lifted his glove to his ear in the bottom of the seventh. The roar of the Fenway Park crowd was so loud he couldn\u2019t hear the PitchCom call from catcher Carlos Narv\u00e1ez.<\/p>\n
Moments later, he set and fired a 97 mph four-seamer for his 105th pitch of the night, sending Kansas City catcher Luke Maile flailing on a strikeout and stranding the tying run at second base.<\/p>\n
Crochet screamed with uncharacteristic emotion, balling his fists as he walked off the mound after another terrific performance, this one helping push the Red Sox to their seventh straight win, a 6-2 triumph over the Royals.<\/p>\n
\u201cAces, man. Aces stop the losing streaks and they keep the winning streak going, and that\u2019s what he\u2019s doing right now,\u201d manager Alex Cora said.<\/p>\n
That Crochet hadn\u2019t made a start during this streak speaks to how well the team is rolling. The Red Sox are slowly creeping up the American League East standings, now just three games back of Toronto for first place while owning the AL\u2019s top wild-card spot.<\/p>\n
They didn\u2019t even need their ace to do it.<\/p>\n
\ufeff<\/p>\n
But they\u2019ll need him more than ever if they get to where they want to be by season\u2019s end. That\u2019s why Crochet hadn\u2019t pitched in nine days entering Tuesday.<\/p>\n
After his July 26 start, the Red Sox decided to push him back a few days to ensure he\u2019ll be as strong as possible down the stretch. He\u2019s never pitched this many innings, surpassing his career high of 146 innings set last year, in the fifth inning on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Crochet now leads the majors with 148 1\/3 innings and 183 strikeouts after allowing two runs on four hits and a walk and striking out eight over seven innings as he continues to make a case for the AL Cy Young Award.<\/p>\n
A creature of habit like most pitchers, Crochet was uncertain how sharp he\u2019d be in this start. Instead, he pumped 99 mph in the first inning for the first time this season and retired the first nine batters he faced.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like normally extended rest makes me feel a little bit rusty,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I was able to squeeze in two bullpens during that time, so I feel like it helped me stay up to date.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last season with the White Sox, his first as a full-time starter and coming off Tommy John surgery, Crochet was limited to four-inning starts in the second half. That won\u2019t be the case this year in Boston, where the club will find him extra days around off days, but otherwise set him loose.<\/p>\n
Crochet appreciated the extra rest, but also was anxious to get back into his routine.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe past eight days, I\u2019ve been pretty hungry for this next one,\u201d he said. \u201cHopefully, that\u2019s the last time we feel as though I need a breather and that come October, I\u2019m still feeling good and going full bore.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why in the seventh with the tying run on, after the Red Sox had just climbed ahead on Trevor Story\u2019s two-run single, Crochet let his emotions show.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just didn\u2019t want to give up the lead again,\u201d Crochet said. \u201cI just wanted that strikeout pretty bad.\u201d<\/p>\n
As the Red Sox continue to prove they\u2019re capable of securing a postseason spot, keeping Crochet healthy is paramount. But more reinforcements may be on the way, too.<\/p>\n
Reliever Justin Slaten has been out since June 1 but threw his first bullpen on Tuesday and is scheduled for another on Friday. After a prolonged absence, the medical staff finally discovered a bony protrusion in his neck that he\u2019d been born with, which restricted blood flow and caused the muscle pain that led to his IL stint. He noted that, since the diagnosis and treatment, he feels completely different and hopes to be back by September, barring setbacks.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, infielder Marcelo Mayer, who received an anti-inflammatory shot in his wrist over the weekend, began workouts on Tuesday, reporting his wrist pain has been significantly reduced. He noted surgery was on the table, but hopes the shot continues to work, allowing him to return to the field.<\/p>\n
The wrist injury is the same as the one he had in the minors in 2022 when he had microscopic surgery, but he\u2019s uncertain if that will be the course of action this offseason.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now, my focus is doing whatever I can to try to get back on the field,\u201d Mayer said.<\/p>\n
Crochet, Slaten and Mayer are all hopeful the rest will pay dividends over the next seven weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a fun atmosphere right now,\u201d Crochet said. \u201cI can only imagine what it\u2019s going to be in a couple months.\u201d<\/p>\n
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