Red Sox 2, Rays 7: A Deep Kut

Kutter Crawford ends the season on a dud as the Sox fall.

Kutter Crawford began the season fighting for an All-Star nod. He ends it as someone who will need to fight for a rotation spot in 2025. Kutter gave up yet another homer — his league-leading 34th — though in today’s case the walks were the bigger issue, as he issued four free passes in less than five innings of work.

The bullpen actually did pretty ok, all things considered. Greg Weissert shined in particular, after he relieved Kutter in the fifth with two men on and one out and limited the damage to keep the Sox in the game. But that wasn’t enough to pick up a somnambulant offense that was shut down by Shane Baz, the final piece of the Rays’ Chris Archer heist.

We began the season wondering if the Red Sox had enough quality starting pitching to compete. We end the season knowing they didn’t.

Three Studs

Triston Casas: 1-4, HR, RBI, R, K

Please, let’s get a full season of healthy Casas in 2025. If we do, we’ll have the best first baseman in the American League.

Greg Weissert: 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 K

Trevor Story: 2-3, 2B, BB, K, CS

Three Duds

Kutter Crawford: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 6 ER, 4 BB, HR

Luis Garcia: 1 IP, 3 H, ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Vaughn Grissom: 0-3, 2 K E

Play of the Game

It’s good to see Triston Caasas going deep again.