Following the Red Sox’s 8-6 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in the series opener, a frustrated Alex Cora sat at the podium and didn’t overcomplicate things.
“We have to pitch for us to get to .500 and go to where we want to go,” the manager declared. “We have to pitch, that’s the bottom line.”
Alex Cora:
“We have to pitch for us to get to .500 and go to where we want to go. We have to pitch, that's the bottom line. We walked 8. They had 18 at-bats with men in scoring position. It's very hard to win that way. Very hard… Plain and simple, we have to play better.” pic.twitter.com/DrB6PSx5O6
— WEEI (@WEEI) April 7, 2026
Through the first 10 games, Boston hadn’t done much of that.
A team built on run prevention and defense wasn’t getting either. The rotation failed to reach five innings in six of those games, contributing to a 4.84 team ERA (25th in MLB). Defensively, they committed 11 errors, the second-most in the majors. The result was a 2-8 start, matching the worst in franchise history.
Now it’s starting to turn, and it’s showing in the win column, as the Red Sox earned their first series win of the season.
The Red Sox shutout the Brewers, 5-0, and have their first series win of 2026. pic.twitter.com/YZA5M3mdOD
— WEEI (@WEEI) April 8, 2026
On Tuesday night, Garrett Crochet set the tone. The left-hander went 6.1 innings (5 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 7 K), retiring 18 of the first 22 batters he faced before running into trouble in the seventh. From there, Zack Kelly, Garrett Whitlock, and Aroldis Chapman combined for 2.2 innings of no-hit, shutout relief.
Wednesday afternoon followed the same script.
Behind Sonny Gray’s best outing of the young season, the Red Sox secured a 5-0 shutout. Gray worked 6.1 efficient innings, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out two. He retired 19 of 24 batters and cruised through three straight 1-2-3 innings from the fourth through the sixth. Greg Weissert (0.2 IP), Tyler Samaniego (1.0 IP), and Ryan Watson (1.0 IP) finished it off, allowing just one hit while striking out five.
“We expect to pitch,” Cora said. “If we pitch like we planned — we talked about in the offseason and in spring training — and play good defense, we’re going to be okay. Those games we have to win. The 2-0 game in Cincinnati, we have to win. The 4-0 game against the Padres, we have to win. Because we’re supposed to pitch. Crochet goes deep into the game, that was good. Sonny did the same thing. Now it’s Early on Friday.”
Alex Cora:
“If we pitch like we planned — we talked about in the offseason and in spring training — and play good defense, we’re going to be okay.” pic.twitter.com/TMjZDy4Dy7
— Justin Turpin (@JustinmTurpin) April 8, 2026
The contrast has been stark.
In Boston’s four wins, its pitching staff owns a 1.00 ERA (4 ER in 36.0 IP), allowing just 17 hits with opponents hitting .137. They haven’t allowed a home run in any of those games and have issued only 10 walks.
In their eight losses, that number jumps to a 5.84 ERA (45 ER in 69.1 IP), with 79 hits allowed and opponents batting .285. They’ve surrendered 13 home runs and walked 36.
It’s not complicated: when they pitch, they have a chance. When they don’t, the margin for error shrinks fast.
“We will pitch. We are gonna be better. For this team to make it to October, we have to pitch,” said Cora. “And we will.”
The Red Sox still have plenty of ground to cover after an early hole, but they’re starting to resemble the team they envisioned, following the blueprint laid out over the offseason, led by their rotation.
“Great names over there, a lot of talent. Of course, it’s not a secret the first couple of games didn’t go our way, but we know what we’re capable of,” Carlos Narvaez said. “And those guys in the starting rotation, the first five, are amazing. That will come with time.”
Crochet and Gray have set the tone, now the rest of the staff has to carry it forward.
