Walden carving out niche with Sox
BOSTON» Marcus Walden’s journey to the major leagues has required patience and faith that everything would eventually fall into place. It may have even included some frustration after he finally debuted with the Red Sox last season, only to be sent back down to the minors after a month.
This time, though, the 29year-old reliever might be here to stay.
Walden has been a fixture out of the Red Sox bullpen to start this season, and something about this stretch feels a lot different. The right-hander has been dominant, and over the last two weeks, he might be Alex Cora’s most reliable arm.
Wednesday afternoon provided the latest example. After Hector Velazquez started the game on what was basically a bullpen day, Walden followed and pitched three scoreless innings to help the Red Sox to a 7-3 victory and series sweep over the Oakland Athletics.
“It’s been great. It’s been outstanding,” Cora said. “When he got called up, he pitched the ball well, then we had to make a move, and he stayed positive. He’s been outstanding in different roles. Today the goal was to get 27 outs and have the lead, and we accomplished that and he was a big part of that.”
Even this season, Walden has had to endure some uncertainty after being sent down a few times. But since getting recalled on April 19, no one has thrown the ball better out of the bullpen. In six appearances since then, he’s pitched 8 innings and given up zero earned runs and just three hits and one walk. This season, he’s allowed no earned runs in 10 of his 11 appearances and has a 1.65 ERA in 16 innings.
It took Walden just 31 pitches to get through three innings Wednesday as he mowed down the A’s with three strikeouts to earn his team-leading fourth victory of the season.
“I’m just trying to enjoy it,” Walden said. “Honestly. It’s been a long road, just being able to come up here and take the ball whenever I get the chance.”
The biggest difference for Walden this season has been his slider, which he’s been using at a higher rate than in the past. On Wednesday, 17 of his 31 pitches came via the slider, and he produced five swings and misses on it, the most of his bigleague career. Another four were called strikes.
Walden said the slider isn’t a pitch he started regularly using until two years ago, and he admitted he doesn’t know why it’s been so productive. But it certainly has been.
“Being able to get more consistent with it and having more feel with it is something that helps,” Walden said.
Added Cora: “He’s got good stuff. Good velocity. Good movement. Good slider. I think usage has been a little bit different this year and he’s gaining confidence. You’re used in spots that are high-leverage situations and you get outs and you keep growing and you keep feeling better about yourself.”
Walden has always had the stuff, but now he’s getting the opportunity. He’s shown the ability to pitch in any role needed, whether it’s long relief or high-leverage, and he’s certainly staked his claim to continue to get more chances.
“Honestly, I haven’t really got comfortable here yet,” Walden said. “Just being able to throw, I like throwing with guys on base, I like when I’m in the middle of innings, but being able to go out there for three innings today was a big thing for our team.”