Garrett Whitley's Game-Saving Strikeout Revives Boston!
Last season, Garrett Whitlock was among the very best set-up men in the game. On Sunday as part of the WBC, it was more of the same.
MIAMI — The situation: A one-run game in the eighth inning of the World Baseball Classic semifinal. The task: Facing arguably the three toughest hitters in a power-packed Dominican Republic lineup. The result for Red Sox reliever Garrett Whitlock: strikeout called, comebacker to the mound, strikeout swinging.
No big deal. “Garrett Whitlock is absolutely nasty,” said Team USA manager Mark DeRosa by way of a compliment after the Red Sox’ set-up man preserved the lead in what turned out to be a 2-1 victory, sending the Americans to the championship game Tuesday night. There wouldn’t be much argument from the Dominicans.
They had Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Manny Machado due in the eighth, each a perennial MVP candidate. Together, the three have combined to hit almost 800 homers and have earned 11 Silver Sluggers.
One swing by any of them could have tied the game. That was especially true in a contest in which all three runs that scored came via a solo homer. But Whitlock was undeterred.