Kutter Crawford, for the first time, secured a spot in the big league starting rotation after spring training. However, his last preparation before the regular season didn't go as well as hoped.
The 27-year-old right-handed pitcher had difficulties in his last spring start, giving up five runs in 5.2 innings during the Red Sox's 5-5 tie with the Atlanta Braves. He faced a lineup filled with All-Stars, allowing eight hits and two walks while also conceding two towering two-run home runs to Braves catcher Sean Murphy.
Although he managed to make five strikeouts, the most positive aspect of his performance was the fact that he threw 88 pitches and stayed in the game until there were two outs in the sixth inning. Crawford rarely pitched that deep into any game last season, throwing more than 88 pitches in only six of his 31 appearances.
Apart from Crawford, veteran relievers Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin made their second appearances in the last three days. Jansen continued his strong performance from Friday with a flawless top of the seventh, while Martin pitched a scoreless eighth, hitting a batter before striking out Tyler Tolve to end his day.
Triston Casas had an impressive day both at the plate and in the field. The first baseman went 1 for 3 with a two-run single and also made a remarkable unassisted double play on a line drive by Ozzie Albies in the first inning. Masataka Yoshida scored on a wild pitch in the fourth and added an RBI single in the fifth. Allan Castro tied the game with an RBI single in the seventh to complete the scoring.
