Red Sox’ Garrett Crochet even heard ‘trash talk in the bullpen’ during ‘coolest’ Opening Day
Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet said, "I knew that that wasn’t who I was. You gotta be able to turn the page."
CINCINNATI — Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet struggled throughout spring training, allowing 12 runs on 15 hits in 14 ⅔ innings across four starts. But he turned into his typical dominant self once the calendar flipped to the regular season on Thursday. He struck out eight over six scoreless innings to lead the Red Sox to a 3-0 win over the Reds at Great American Ball Park.
“I’ve got a lot of self belief, but in the moment in spring, I definitely thought I sucked,” Crochet said. “But I knew that that wasn’t who I was. You gotta be able to turn the page — and no better time to do it than first game of the season.
” Crochet kicked into a higher gear, including a bump in velocity. The 26-year-old lefty topped out at 98. 3 mph and averaged 96.
9 mph with his 30 four-seam fastballs, an increase from an average of 95. 6 mph during spring training. “As far as Opening Days go, this has been the coolest one I’ve been a part of,” Crochet said.