Baseball's very important mental health conversation
For those players not familiar with the Red Sox' Patriots Day game, the entire scene can be a bit unsettling. There is the Boston Marathon-induced buzz. There is the Boston-Marathon-induced traffic. And there is the Boston Marathon-induced rowdiness.
And then there is the Boston Marathon-induced starting time for the Red Sox' series finale. Getting ready for Major League Baseball games that start at 11:10 a.m. is not the norm.
"Since high school, yes," said rookie Kristian Campbell when asked if Monday marked the first time he had gotten a hit before noon.
Campbell figured it out, as his two hits (which included a third-inning, two-run single), suggested.
But it was another newbie to the Red Sox' unique one-day existence that seemingly found the sweet spot when it came to shining in a game that ended before lunch time was over. That would be Walker Buehler.
It wasn't as if the Red Sox starter didn't have any experience when it came to late-morning starts, having faced off with his former Dodgers teammate Jack Flaherty during a May 17, 2017 tilt between the Tulsa Drillers and Springfield Cardinals.
"We had a SpongeBob SquarePants Day that we pitched against each other in," Buehler recalled. "I was thinking about that earlier, so I think that's it."
He did better this time around.
After mapping out his upside-down schedule for his fifth start of the season - securing a hotel room for him and his family Sunday night in order to take not chances with traffic - Buehler turned a memorable performance.
The seven-inning outing saw the righty give up just one run and four hits while striking out nine. It was the most innings he had pitched since May 8, 2022.
Buehler has now allowed two or fewer runs in each of his last three starts after giving up four or more runs in his first two. The current streak of going five innings with two earned runs and four or fewer hits is his longest since a three-game stretch from Sept. 28, 2021-April 8, 2022.
"I mean, from my end, I've always been a fan," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "I learned the hard way in ‘18 but just talking to him, it's not only pitching, it's the overall thing. Just talking to him. Alex, Justin Wilson, these guys, they're proven winners. When they come to the ballpark, they expect clean games, play well and be consistent. And he's been solid for us. He's getting there. He's not there yet, but like I said, in spring training, in a bad day, he'll go five give us a chance to win. Today was solid. He gave us seven."
"I got all my stuff done," Buehler said. "I took an iPad home and ended it last night when I typically do three or four guys on game day, but, had to scout their whole lineup and every guy on the bench. So, which is kind of part of it. But yeah I don't really like going out there unless I'm prepared. And I felt good today."
Alls well that ends well ... And it ended well earlier than ever for the Red Sox.