Left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet continued his dominant performance for the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, recording eight strikeouts over six innings in a 3-1 victory against the Seattle Mariners. Crochet’s outing helped him extend his MLB lead in strikeouts this season, as well as in starts and innings pitched.

Currently, Crochet tops the majors with 16 starts, 102⅓ innings pitched, and 125 strikeouts, firmly establishing himself as a key performer for Boston.

Joining Elite Company in Red Sox History

With his latest achievement, Crochet joined an elite group of Red Sox pitchers by becoming only the fourth in franchise history to strike out 120 or more batters within the first 16 games started in a season. This accomplishment places him alongside legends such as Pedro Martinez, who achieved the feat four times, and Roger Clemens and Chris Sale, each having done so three times.

Grinding Through the Game Despite Challenges

Despite his statistical success, Crochet expressed some frustration with his performance on the mound. He admitted that he struggled in the early innings due to a lack of command on his four-seam fastball and had to rely heavily on his cutter to induce weak contact.

I was grinding through the first couple innings, Didn’t really have the four seam. So just ultimately pivoted and rode the cutter pretty hard, and [I] was able to get some weak contact with it.

—Garrett Crochet

Red Sox manager Alex Cora recognized Crochet’s resilience during a tough outing.

He kind of grinded the first few innings and then he found his groove,

said Cora.

Reflecting on the ups and downs of a pitching season, Crochet explained that not every start will feature his best stuff and sometimes success depends on adjusting and persevering.

Just the nature of the job, really, They always talk about the 10 days that you have your best stuff, 10 days you have average stuff and 10 days you have your worst. So 20 starts out of the year you just have to find a way, and today was one of those days.

—Garrett Crochet

Impact and What Lies Ahead for Crochet and the Red Sox

Garrett Crochet’s ability to consistently lead the Red Sox in strikeouts, even on days when he is not at his peak, underscores his growing importance to the team’s pitching staff. His place alongside historic pitchers such as Pedro Martinez, Roger Clemens, and Chris Sale highlights his potential to join the franchise’s all-time greats.

As the season progresses, Crochet’s endurance and adaptability will continue to be vital for the Red Sox’s push to remain competitive in the majors.