Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet outduels flamethrowing Jacob Misiorowski as Boston snaps losing streak

It was a cold night at Fenway Park, but that didn’t stop Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet and Brewers flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski from bringing the heat all night long.

The Fenway Faithful were treated to a premier pitching matchup that lived up to the billing, featuring two of the game’s most electric young arms. In the end, it was Crochet who outdueled Misiorowski, as Boston snapped its three-game losing streak with a 3-2 win.

Misiorowski came out overpowering, striking out the first five Red Sox hitters he faced to open the game.

In the first inning, Roman Anthony and Jarren Duran had no answer for his triple-digit velocity. Misiorowski kept Anthony off balance with a sharp curveball for the punchout, then blew Duran away with a 101 mph four-seamer. He threw four fastballs to Duran in the at-bat, all of them over 100 mph. The righty threw 11 pitches in the first inning that was over 100 mph. 

Willson Contreras, Wilyer Abreu, and Trevor Story followed as strikeout victims, as Misiorowski carved through the lineup to set the tone early. 

The second time through the order, Misiorowski retired Anthony and Duran before Contreras sliced a base hit into right field, Boston’s first hit of the night against the hard-throwing righty.

With a full count against Abreu, Misiorowski dotted the zone for a called third strike. Abreu challenged the call, but the ABS upheld it, costing the Red Sox a challenge.

Boston threatened in the fifth when Ceddanne Rafaela singled to left with two outs. Connor Wong was then hit by an 83.3 mph curveball, putting runners on first and second, but Kiner-Falefa couldn’t come through, grounding out to David Hamilton at second to end the inning.

The hard-throwing righty carved through Boston’s lineup before running into trouble in the sixth, as his pitch count climbed and his command wavered. He finished with 10 strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings, allowing two hits, three earned runs, and four walks while generating 16 swings and misses.

As the strikeouts piled up for Misiorowski, so did his pitch count. The right-hander issued a one-out walk to Duran in the sixth, prompting movement in the Brewers’ bullpen. Contreras, who has long had a bone to pick with Milwaukee after being hit 24 times in 131 career games, followed with a four-pitch walk, reaching base for the second time.

Pat Murphy stuck with his young ace, but Misiorowski lost the zone, walking Abreu on five pitches to load the bases. That was the end of his night.

Milwaukee turned to left-hander DL Hall with the bases juiced to face Story, who entered coming off a two-RBI performance in the series opener. Story wasted no time, ripping a changeup down the left-field line for a two-run double, giving Boston a 2-0 lead.

Crochet was solid, but largely overshadowed by Misiorowski’s electric Fenway Park debut. The Red Sox ace opened the game by striking out Brandon Lockridge swinging on a 91.2 mph cutter, then set the Brewers down in order in the first, aided by a lunging play at third base from Isiah Kiner-Falefa.

Milwaukee scratched across pressure in the third with a bit of small ball. Blake Perkins led off with a base hit to center, then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from David Hamilton. Perkins later advanced to third on a Crochet wild pitch, but the left-hander locked back in, punching out Willson Contreras to end the inning and escape the jam.

To open the fourth, Crochet issued a one-out walk to Gary Sánchez before Joey Ortiz chopped a grounder to Story. The Red Sox looked to turn two, but after Story flipped to Marcelo Mayer, he missed the bag at second. The call was overturned on review, and Mayer was charged with an error.

With runners on first and second and one out, Crochet regrouped. He got Brewers outfielder Luis Matos to roll into a 6-4-3 double play, erasing the threat and keeping the game scoreless.

In the sixth, with two outs and a runner on first, Crochet snapped off a nasty 83.4 mph sweeper down and away that was called strike three. Sánchez tapped his helmet to challenge, but the call stood, giving Crochet his sixth strikeout of the night.

With the lefty still on the mound, Alex Cora countered by sending up Caleb Durbin to pinch-hit for Mayer. Durbin put the ball in play, grounding out to second, but it was enough to bring home another run and extend the lead to 3-0.

It marked the third straight game in which the Red Sox jumped out to a lead of three runs or more. 

Working with a three-run lead, Crochet returned for the seventh but wasn’t as sharp as he had been earlier. Joey Ortiz led off with a single, Sal Frelick followed with a base hit to right, and Perkins drew a walk to load the bases.

With no room for error, Crochet hit Hamilton, forcing in Milwaukee’s first run of the night.

That ended Crochet’s outing after 107 pitches (65 for strikes). Cora turned to Zack Kelly to escape the jam, with Christian Yelich coming up as a pinch hitter.

On a 2-2 count, Yelich ripped a ground ball to third. Durbin fielded it cleanly but couldn’t keep his balance, settling for the force at second as another Brewers run scored. Kelly then got William Contreras to ground out to Story, who handled a tough backhand play to end the inning.

Crochet still delivered a strong outing, going toe-to-toe with Misiorowski and keeping a feisty Brewers lineup largely in check. The left-hander struck out seven over 6 1/3 innings, allowing five hits, two earned runs, and two walks while generating 11 swings and misses.

Garrett Whitlock, who took the loss on Monday night, bounced back with a clean 1-2-3 eighth inning.

The Red Sox threatened to add on after Hall walked Contreras, but Boston couldn’t capitalize. Abreu grounded into a force at second, and Story followed with a flyout to right to strand the runner. Contreras finished 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored, while Story went 1-for-4 with two RBI and a strikeout. Aroldis Chapman handled the ninth, locking down his third save of the season.

After the game, Cora told reporters that Justin Slaten was unavailable, dealing with oblique soreness. 

The series wraps up Wednesday, with the Red Sox set to send Sonny Gray (1-0, 4.50 ERA) to the mound in search of a series win. The Brewers have yet to announce a starter, though former Red Sox pitching prospect Shane Drohan, who was promoted Monday, could be in line to make his major league debut.

Triston Casas’ Setback

Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas has suffered another setback, delaying his return to Boston.

Casas, who has been rehabbing from knee surgery, sustained a left-side intercostal (rib muscle) strain last week and is scheduled to undergo imaging after experiencing discomfort while attempting to hit off a tee on Monday.

Cora said the team is still awaiting more information.

“Casas tried to swing. It didn’t go well,” Cora said. “He’s going to go for imaging this week. I don’t know when. That’s where we’re at.”

Casas originally ruptured the patellar tendon in his left knee on May 2, ending his season. He made steady progress throughout the offseason and was active during spring training, taking batting practice and participating in intrasquad at-bats. When the team left Fort Myers to begin the season, Casas remained behind with plans to appear in extended spring training games in early April.

Boston had hoped a brief shutdown from hitting would calm the discomfort in his rib cage, but the issue persisted. Casas previously dealt with a similar injury in April 2024, when he tore cartilage in his rib cage on a swing in Pittsburgh and missed 63 games.

With Casas sidelined, the Red Sox acquired Contreras from the Cardinals to handle first base duties. If and when Casas returns, he could help spell Contreras at first or factor into the designated hitter mix.

Pitching News 

The Red Sox had planned for Patrick Sandoval to make a rehab start in Portland on Sunday, but inclement weather forced a change in plans. The left-hander will now take the mound on Wednesday afternoon at Polar Park.

Sandoval, working his way back from Tommy John surgery, remains on track to face Columbus. It will mark his first game action since pitching with the Angels in 2024.

Kutter Crawford is not far behind. The right-hander, recovering from wrist surgery, is scheduled to throw a bullpen session at Fenway Park on Wednesday. If all goes well, he’s expected to make his first rehab start with Worcester on Saturday.

Boston is still awaiting an update on Johan Oviedo, who is set to visit orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister in Texas on Tuesday. Meister will compare Oviedo’s recent MRI results, as he deals with a right elbow strain, to imaging from the fall of 2023, when he underwent Tommy John surgery.

Tommy Kahnle made his WooSox debut on Tuesday night, tossing one inning while allowing one earned run on two hits with a walk and a strikeout. He was activated off the development list prior to the start of Worcester’s six-game series against the Columbus Clippers.

MiLB Notes

The Red Sox traded right-hander Patrick Galle to the Cardinals on Monday to complete the Gray deal.

Galle joins Richard Fitts and Brandon Clarke as the full return package sent to St. Louis in exchange for Gray.

The 22-year-old spent less than a year in Boston’s system after being selected in the 17th round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of Ole Miss. He appeared in just five professional games, all with Low-A Salem, posting a 4.91 ERA over 7 1/3 innings with four strikeouts and seven walks.

Gray, meanwhile, has a 4.50 ERA through his first two starts with Boston and is coming off a stronger outing at Fenway Park in the home opener.