With a heavy heart Garrett Whitlock tosses two scoreless innings on Sunday
The Red Sox activated right-handed pitcher Garrett Whitlock off the bereavement list on Sunday. The righty spent a week away from the team after learning his younger brother Garvie Whitlock drowned in Georgia.
His younger brother fell off a dock and drowned in Lake Lanier late on the night of Sept. 2, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post.
With the Sox leading 7-3, Alex Cora called upon Whitlock in the seventh inning. Whitlock pitched two scoreless innings and recorded three strikeouts in his return.
“He was good,” Cora said. “Just to show up and be here with us and be able to compete, probably that was good enough for me. We’re here for him.
“To go two innings after all this week is impressive,” the manager added. “I’ve been saying it all along. We’re here for him.”
Whitlock told reporters before the game his brother had been on his mind all day.
“You never know how long you’ve really got with someone,” Whitlock said to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. “Just make sure to hug the ones you love and make sure to tell them.
“The relationship between any brother is a good one... He meant a lot.”
Whitlock called pitching on Sunday a “good distraction,” allowing him to focus on the game versus what he and his family are feeling following their terrible loss.
Following his outing as he walked back to the Red Sox dugout, Whitlock was welcomed by Cora and his teammates with hugs.
“We’re family here and we’re gonna keep helping him out throughout everything,” Cora said. “I’m glad that he’s back.”
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