BOSTON — A week after the Yankees managed five runs off Garrett Crochet in the Bronx, Aaron Boone wasn’t going to underestimate the Red Sox ace.
“Big stuff, big and physical, deception on the mound, kind of that unique delivery,” the Yankees skipper said before the American League East rivals began a new three-game set in Boston on Friday. “He’s a front-liner, that’s for sure.”
Crochet looked the part in the series-opener, a 2-1, 10-inning, walk-off Red Sox win that left the Yankees fuming over a replay review and two ejections. The southpaw, firing high-90s fastballs, cutters, sweepers and sinkers, allowed just one earned run across 8.1 scoreless innings.
Unfortunately for Crochet, the one run came on a towering, game-tying home run from Aaron Judge, who sent a 99.6-mph fastball 443 feet deep and well beyond the Green Monster in the ninth inning. According to MLB’s Sarah Langs, the heater was the fastest pitch Judge has homered off in his career.
“Just demolished,” Boone said after Judge’s 26th dinger of the season tied him for the league lead. “That’s two great players going at it. Crochet’s got that kind of stuff that he can punch your ticket if he’s executing. And then we’re talking about the best player in the world, too, that just saw a lot of pitches on the night.”
Crochet shook his head as Judge circled the bases and stained his otherwise spotless evening. The pitcher had previously owned the game’s best hitter, as Judge was 0-for-6 with six strikeouts against Crochet this season — including three strikeouts on Friday — before his longball.
Those numbers surely in mind, Judge showed nothing but respect for Crochet — and a little self-deprecation — after the Red Sox walked the Yankees off on a Carlos Narváez single.
“I just used a new bat,” Judge said of his home run. “I switched it up. I think the other one wasn’t working. He broke it. He’s an incredible pitcher. That’s why Boston went out there and got him and made the trade they did.”
Crochet, acquired from the White Sox over the winter, now has a 2.24 ERA this season. He also struck out seven while holding himself to one walk over 107 pitches on Friday. The Yankees mustered just four hits against him.
“He’s an ace,” Boone said. “He’s capable of doing that. He was obviously pretty dominant tonight.”
