Kendrick can’t pitch in
Machado, O’s blast veteran
As the announcement was made that Steven Wright would have to undergo season-ending knee surgery, the Red Sox were looking all around for answers to a suddenly stretched starting rotation.
Outside on the Fenway Park mound, David Price was throwing a simulated game, but even though he was making significant progress, he won’t be the answer any time soon. Inside the Red Sox clubhouse, though, Kyle Kendrick was getting ready to make his first big league start since October 2015.
He was called up to make a start for Wright, so if all went well, he could be at least the short-term solution.
“We’re hopeful that Kyle comes out and pitches similar to what he did in spring training, which would be a huge boost for us, stepping in the role that he’s in with the unfortunate injury to Steven,” manager John Farrell said before the game.
But given that opportunity, Kendrick didn’t seize it. At least not on this night.
The veteran hurler seemed to be overmatched by a powerful Orioles lineup that chased him away during the Sox’ 8-3 loss at Fenway Park.
The most damage came in the fourth inning. The Red Sox led 3-1 coming into the frame, but it ended with the O’s in firm control. Manny Machado’s threerun homer, a 456-foot shot over the Monster, capped a five-run outburst. Kendrick faced one more batter before Farrell reached into his bullpen.
“You look at the fourth, fifth and sixth, where we couldn’t really slow them down, and that being the difference in this one (last night),” Farrell said. “But with Kyle, it was more elevation in the strike zone.”
This won’t be a oneand-done tryout for Kendrick. Asked if the plan was to give him an extended look in the rotation, Farrell simply replied, “At this point, yes.”
Kendrick knows he’ll need to do better to stick around.
“All I can do is get ready for my next start and throw well my next start and this one is forgotten about,” Kendrick said.
The O’s also had a starter making their first start of the season. But after spotting the Sox an early lead, Tyler Wilson fared much better than his counterpart.
Dustin Pedroia’s first home run of the season gave the Red Sox a 3-1 lead in the third, but they managed just one hit off Wilson the rest of his outing. Wilson finished with six strong innings, giving up just six hits.
The Sox’ greatest chance came after Wilson departed. They loaded the bases off relievers Donnie Hart and Mychal Givens, and with two outs, Andrew Benintendi belted a drive to deep right, but Joey Rickard made a leaping grab over his shoulder to end the inning and the threat.
That was it for the Red Sox, who finished off their homestand with a 4-5 record, a number Farrell knows needs to get better.
“The bottom line is 4-5 is not what you’re looking to do on a homestand against good teams,” Farrell said. “You get all the hoopla surrounding the Cubs series, the rivalry and the competitive nature that we have with Baltimore. We have to continue to play good baseball, and we have to improve in some areas. Bottom line is the win-loss record’s what matters most and we have to do better at home.”