Alex Cora: 'Good chance' Josh Winckowski gets another start for the Red Sox
The Red Sox needed a big outing from Josh Winckowski on Sunday, and the righty silenced the Padres bats, helping Boston to a 4-1 win and avoiding a sweep at Fenway Park.
“We needed a good start, and he has good stuff,” Sox manager Alex Cora said. “He was able to go east and west. Relying more on velo[city] than Nick and Tanner. So just make them feel uncomfortable. We turned two double plays, and [Winckowski] was good for five.”
Winckowski was strong, tossing five scoreless frames, giving up four hits with one strikeout and no walks.
This was Winckowski’s first start with the Red Sox since he was recalled from Triple-A Worcester. The right-hander was sent to the minors to work on his pitches, specifically his changeup.
“I kind of figured something out in Triple A,” Winckowski said. “I was throwing changeups that were like literally just a ball down and was like almost never, ever getting swings on it. So we kind of just started trying to throw it in the zone at all times. It’s turned into a high-percentage strike for me and then gets a lot of ground balls. So I think that in 2-0 or 2-1 counts, that’s kind of been something that’s definitely been a big help.”
Winckowski only threw five changeups in his outing on Sunday. He primarily tossed his sinker and cutter (18 times) while sprinkling in his four-seam heater and slider.
As a starter this season for the Red Sox, Winckowski owns a 1.15 ERA, allowing just two earned runs over 15 2/3 frames.
“He’s one of the best pitchers that we have,” Devers said of Winckowski to reporters after the game. “I don’t know why he was in Triple-A. I feel like he’s a very good pitcher, and I hope he keeps doing what he did today and he stays with us the rest of the year.”
“Winck helped us today,” said Alex Cora. “He might help us next week. There’s a good chance he’ll make the next start because he earned it, and the bullpen is in a good spot.”
The win on Sunday brought the Red Sox to 44-39, just two games past the halfway mark of the season. Boston enters this week just 1 1/2 games behind the Royals for the third American League wild card spot. Next up for the Red Sox is a three-game series against the Marlins in Miami, followed by a three-game series in the Bronx against the Yankees.
