Overall, Velazquez accomplishes mission
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The back end of the Red Sox rotation has been seeking qualified, reliable applicants for some time now.
Last night, Hector Velazquez started to stand out.
In a strong 51⁄ 3- inning start against the Royals, Velazquez allowed only five hits, walked nobody and struck out three. He also gave up a home run to Eric Hosmer, a two-run shot in the third inning that was pretty much the only mistake of Velazquez’ night in which he did not factor in the decision of the 4-2 loss.
On a night when the Red Sox took and lost a couple of gambles, Velazquez was left looking like the safest bet.
“He gave us everything we could have hoped for (last night),” manager John Farrell said. “He was very good, with the exception of the 3-2 changeup that stayed in the middle of the plate to Hosmer, he then settled down, got us into the sixth inning. You get a little bit of an idea, a little bit of a game plan mapped out before the game and he did exactly what we would have hoped.”
This was Velazquez’ third big league appearance, his second start. After he got roughed up in Oakland on May 18 for six runs in five innings, Velazquez was sent back to Triple-A Pawtucket, where he resumed his dominating run. Over his nine minor league starts this year, Velazquez posted a 4-1 mark with a 1.29 ERA.
Last night, he experienced similar success at the big league level.
“I’m starting to feel more comfortable with my surroundings,” said Velazquez, via translator Daveson Perez. “Each time out, I feel better and better. I think that’s leading to the success that I’ve had so far.”
Velazquez has been with the team from the start of this road trip and pitched 31⁄ shutout innings in 3 relief on June 14 in Philadelphia, allowing only one hit and one walk, with two strikeouts.
Pitching on normal rest for a start, Velazquez was sharp.
“I’ve been preparing the last couple of days for this start and I felt good out there,” he said.
Velazquez had the right attitude about the Hosmer blast — forgive and forget.
“Just a pitch that I left over the plate,” said Velazquez. “You can’t make those mistakes with big league hitters, and Hosmer’s a good one. He made me pay but you’ve just got to turn the page and keep looking forward.”
The runs that Hosmer produced ended Velazquez’ streak of 211⁄ innings 3 in both the minors and the majors without allowing a run, dating back to May 27 with Pawtucket.
After the homer, Velazquez retired the next eight batters.
He was relieved with one out in the sixth, after only 77 pitches. But the next batter was Hosmer and Velazquez already had achieved what Farrell wanted him to do: go at least five innings.
“That’s to keep the game close, keep it under control, get us to the sixth inning,” said Farrell of Velazquez meeting expectations. “The lineup kind of indicated where we could go to get our left-handers. And for Hector’s effort, that was a very good job on his part.”