Sox hit their brakes
Bats halted but Johnson sharp
DETROIT — Before the Red Sox make any trades to address their potential starting pitching needs, they’ve discovered an important piece of information: Brian Johnson is good enough to contribute.
Tuesday they’ll learn more about the status of Drew Pomeranz, the injured left-hander who makes his first start since May 31. And they’re still unsure how long Eduardo Rodriguez (ankle) and Steven Wright (knee) will be out with injuries.
But last night, Johnson pitched five strong innings and allowed just two unearned runs while the Red Sox offense remained quiet in a 5-0 loss to the Tigers.
“Yeah, B.J. can pitch,” manager Alex Cora said. “He does a good job with what he has going up in the zone throwing the breaking ball, expanding down and in against righties. It might seem like a comfortable at-bat but it’s actually not. What you see is not what you get as far as up in the zone. You set your sights up and that pitch is higher than what you think it is, just like (Tigers starter) Mike Fiers.
“We’re very happy the way he’s throwing the ball. We’re comfortable with him and we’ll keep rolling with him.”
The short break seems to have sapped the life out of the Red Sox offense, which collected just eight singles. With a 1-0 win on Friday night to start the second half, the Sox have scored just once in 18 innings while going 14-for-67 (.209) with one extra-base hit.
The hitters who played in the All-Star Game have gone a combined 3-for-20. Mookie Betts is 2-for-9, Mitch Moreland is 1-for-8, J.D. Martinez is 0-for-3 (he didn’t play last night after slamming into the wall on Friday).
But Johnson provided the silver lining, going five strong innings, striking out five without walking anyone. He allowed two unearned runs on five hits, with both runs scoring off a double by Jose Iglesias after an error by Rafael Devers extended the inning.
“He did a good job,” Cora said of Johnson. “We don’t make a play and then the pitch to Iglesias, probably location wasn’t what we wanted. If we’re going to go in it should be up and in. He’s very quick in there. Put a good swing on and they scored two runs. But overall, that’s what we’re asking for him to give us: a chance to win.”
Despite bouncing between the bullpen and starting rotation, Johnson now has a 3.81 ERA overall, and a 2.91 ERA in his last nine major league starts.
“Looking back, I think going to the bullpen has actually made some of my offspeed pitches better,” Johnson said. “I feel like my slider has come a long way from last year and the year before. I think going to the bullpen has helped me to get better.”
It was the only way Johnson could make the team out of spring training, when he was out of options and fighting for a roster spot.
“For me, you come out of the bullpen throwing almost like two-strike pitches immediately,” Johnson said. “Going to the bullpen has allowed me to do that and throw it harder and get more action on it.”
Last night, he was matched up against Fiers, who was even better and held the Red Sox scoreless on seven hits over 61⁄3 innings. ESPN reported yesterday that the Red Sox were evaluating Fiers as a possible trade candidate.
There was plenty of traffic on the bases but the Red Sox had a mix of bad luck with bad timing in this one.
Down 2-0 in the sixth, they put runners on the corners for Jackie Bradley Jr., who blasted one to the warning track that landed a few feet short, and in a Detroit outfielder’s glove.
With two on in the seventh, Xander Bogaerts grounded into an inningending double play and slammed his helmet on the ground in frustration.
The Red Sox left 10 on base.
Afterward, Cora praised Fiers, who he coached last year while with the Houston Astros.
“Honestly, I saw him last year, and for everything we talk about, the big boys (in the Astros rotation), there was a point in time there where he was the most valued pitcher,” Cora said. “For a month and a half he carried that pitching staff. They were a little banged up and he came in and did a good job. That’s what he does.”
Tyler Thornburg had a rough outing, serving up a homer to Iglesias while allowing three runs in the sixth.
“I feel like I’m one thing away from clicking and getting on a roll,” said Thornburg, who has allowed five runs in 41⁄3 innings this year. “I want to get back to being the guy that I can be. I know, regardless of numbers, if I get back to that point at some period this year, then all of a sudden I’m going to be able to help a hell of a lot more than I am.”