Trevor Story's sticker story
There haven't been many 'this is how they drew it up' moments for the Red Sox this season. While they find themselves just one game out of a Wild Card spot after a 10-2 win over the Rockies Tuesday night, the path to get there has been more bobbing and weaving than straight line strategy.
But, thanks to Brayan Bello, the Red Sox got a taste of their original blueprint.
The Red Sox starter exhibited all the qualities the team has been banking on emerging since inking the 26-year-old to his current six-year, $55 million contract extension. He retired his first 10 batters and 18 of the initial 20. He struck out as many as 10 batters for the third time in his career. And, most importantly, he threw the first and last pitches of the game.
For the first time since Tanner Houck on April 17, 2024, a Red Sox pitcher managed a complete game, with Bello needing 107 pitches to finish off his first nine-inning outing.
"That was sick. I couldn't contain myself," said Jarren Duran, who contributed with his seventh homer of the season. "I was screaming from left field like I was in high school or something, cheering for him to finish the game. So it was awesome to see him do that."
The Red Sox's resurgence has largely been highlighted by their new Rafael Devers-less offensive approach, having now scored 10 or more runs in five of their last 10 games. Alex Cora's club has scored 86 runs and hit 18 home runs in 10 games since June 28, after scoring 43 total runs with 15 HR over their previous 15 games.
But the meat and potatoes of any true, meaningful postseason run is going to be built on performances like the one turned in by Bello.
This version of this pitcher should be highlighted as one of the most important pieces of this rapidly unfolding puzzle.
Bello has now gone six innings or more in five of his last six starts, managing a 2.78 ERA over that stretch. Dating back to June 3, opponents are managing just a .571 OPS and .206 batting average against the righty. The only Red Sox starter who has been better over that span has been Lucas Giolito (2.62 ERA).
The takeaway is that the Red Sox's starters are having the kind of positive impact Craig Breslow and crew were banking on. In the last 10 games, the Sox starting pitchers have won seven of them, carrying just a single defeat.
Not surprisingly, the Red Sox are now 25-16 when their starters go at least six innings, and 12-4 on outings of seven frames or more. This is how it's supposed to work, as we were reminded Tuesday night.
The narrative has changed, and Bello can claim responsibility for a big part of that evolution.