The Boston Red Sox made a change to their pitching staff ahead of their game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday.
Boston suffered an 8-4 loss to the Rays in the first game of a four-game series on Thursday. After Thursday’s game, the Red Sox decided to bring up a fresh arm, calling up Jack Anderson and optioning Jake Bennett, according to Ari Alexander.
“Source: The RedSox are recalling RHP Jack Anderson,” Alexander wrote on X.
When asked who the corresponding move was, Alexander confirmed it was Bennett.
“Jake Bennett, after tonight,” Alexander added.
Anderson made his MLB debut earlier this season, as he appeared in 3 games in April, last appearing on April 21, going 2 innings, allowing 1 run against the New York Yankees. In the MLB, he’s 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA over 8 innings.
Bennett, meanwhile, started for the Red Sox on Thursday, going 5.1 innings, allowing 4 runs on 6 hits. In two starts this season, the rookie left-hander is 1-1 with a 4.35 ERA over 10.1 innings.
With the loss to the Rays in the series opener, Boston fell to 16-22 and remains in last place in the AL East. The Red Sox will play the second of their four-game series against Tampa Bay on Friday, with first pitch set for 7:10 p.m. ET.
Red Sox Were ‘Optimistic’ About Bennett
Boston called up Bennett for his MLB debut on May 1, and he had plenty of expectations for him.
Bennett is the Red Sox’s sixth-ranked prospect, and interim manager Chad Tracy said he expected the left-hander to have success.
“It’s a big, tall guy that can get down the mound with big extension,” Tracy said before Bennett’s first start. “So I watched him for five starts or whatever it was down in Worcester. The ball tends to jump on guys and you see a lot of weak contact. You tend to see a lot of early count outs because he’s in the strike zone so much. I think that part, that piece excites me.
‘“He has the ability to slide-step, be quicker to the plate. He has the ability to high leg (kick). There’s a lot of things to like, but the big one is this guy — you know, at least down there — he gets in the strike zone and attacks hitters. So between that and his arsenal, I’m optimistic about him.”
Bennett ended up making two starts and had mixed results, and the Red Sox decided to option him back down to Triple-A. Yet, with all the injuries to Boston’s pitching staff, the Red Sox just needed a fresh arm, which led to the decision to send Bennett down.
Boston Reliever Takes Blame for Loss
After the loss to the Rays on Friday, Red Sox reliever Greg Weissert took the blame for the loss.
Weissert entered the game in the sixth with the game tied and a runner on base, but failed to record an out. He allowed the inherited runner to score, as he issued two hits and a walk while loading the bases before giving up a two-run pinch-hit.
After the game, Weissert took the blame and admitted he’s not pitching well.
“It’s no secret, I’m pitching like (expletive). Bennett kept us in the game after the three-spot, and once again I came in and just blow it. So yeah, it sucks.”
Weissert is now 0-1 with a 5.52 ERA in 17 games this season.
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