Red Sox accomplish pitching feat they’ve never achieved through 2 games before
While it's a long, long season, the Red Sox are off to a surprisingly strong start in that area.
Heading into the season, many harped on the Red Sox’ perceived lack of pitching and believed it would hold them back in a loaded American League East.
While it’s a long, long season, and it’s just two games in, the Red Sox are off to a surprisingly strong start in that area so far.
Boston pitchers have struck out 23 batters to this point – the franchise’s most ever during the first two games of a season. The previous high was 22, which happened both in 1996 and 2003.
This is also the first season in which the Red Sox (1-1) have struck out 20-plus batters and issued three walks or fewer across their first two games. Only one team has done so in each of the last two seasons: the 2023 Astros and 2022 Phillies.
The Red Sox have allowed just five runs – their fewest over the first two games of any season since 2017.
Boston’s starting pitchers have surrendered three runs in 11 innings, with no walks and 12 strikeouts. Bryan Bello allowed two runs over five innings on Opening Day, and Nick Pivetta gave up one run in six innings while fanning 10 on Friday.
Also from the game notes: All five pitchers in the Red Sox’ season-opening starting rotation are right-handed: Bello, Pivetta, Kutter Crawford, Garrett Whitlock, and Tanner Houck.
The Red Sox last started a right-handed pitcher in each of their first five games in 2007. The franchise record for most starts by a RHP in a single season is 161, set in 2004. Boston went on to win the World Series in each of those seasons.
So, yes … they’re guaranteed to win a World Series this year.
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