Red Sox: Fister finally delivers the performance that was expected

The Boston Red Sox signed Doug Fister to be their 5th starter in a time of need – last night it finally paid off going almost eight innings

The Red Sox were needing to pick up a starting rotation man and in late June, Dave Dombrowski opted to pick up Doug Fister who has just been granted his release from the Angels. While his first start coincidentally was against the same club that dropped him, his first start showed promise. It slowly went down hill from there. In his 5th start, Doug Fister went almost as far as he had in his previous three appearances.

Fister picked up his first win on the season and the first since August 22nd, 2016. It was also the longest game he’d pitched into since July 7th 2016. Finally, Dombrowski and the Red Sox get rewarded with a great appearance from the relatively new guy. Fister threw 67 of his 108 pitches for strikes allowing only two earned runs on five hits in 7 2/3rd’s innings of work. He also walked two batters and struck out five.

Aside from the two run homer than Fister gave up in the 8th inning, he was electric. It would have been something to see him go the whole way. Had he been able to go the whole way, it would have been his first complete game since he shut out the Marlins as a member of the Nationals on September 26th, 2014. Even after the game Fister was giving praise and credit to his teammates and opponents, a truly classy guy who never gave up.

This is the type of person the Sox need right now. Someone who can stay humble, get the outs and come back five games later to do the same thing. You’d never know that last night marked Fister’s first win on the season. With early help from the offense, Fister was spotted a three run spot in the bottom of the 2nd and two more were added in the 4th. The 6th run came around in the 7th inning all but shutting the book on the Indians.

The offense came out guns blazing with Red Sox rookie, Rafael Devers going 4/4 with three singles and a double with a run knocked in. Sox newcomer Eduardo Nunez continued his hot streak going 3/5 with a single, two doubles, two RBI’s and a run scored and stole his 2nd base with his new team. Nunez is now slashing .471/2/5/2 through four games with the Red Sox. He had four homers in 76 games with the Giants.

Mookie Betts also came out of his season slump getting two hits, knocked in three runs, scored one bringing his season batting average up to .270. Betts leads the team in home runs with 17, RBI’s with 66, and hits with 116. Maybe this was the game the team needed to bounce out of the rut they were stuck in. If the Sox can win the next two against the Indians, it’ll put them back on track in the American League East.

Fister certainly earned himself another start in the rotation after his latest performance. His next schedule start will come against the White Sox at home on Saturday, August 5th.

 

Photo Credit – Charles Krupa – AP Photo