BALTIMORE (AP) — Garrett Crochet gave the Boston Red Sox an immediate return on their investment.
In his first start since agreeing to a $170 million, six-year contract, the left-hander pitched a career-best eight innings as the Red Sox shut out the Baltimore Orioles 3-0 on Wednesday night. Crochet also threw 102 pitches, one shy of his career high.
“My first start in college I went eight, and I haven't sniffed it since,” Crochet said.
Crochet (1-0) allowed four hits and a walk while striking out eight in his first victory since the offseason trade that sent him from the Chicago White Sox to Boston.
“That’s the reason he’s here,” manager Alex Cora said after the game. “That’s the reason we committed to him.”
Before Wednesday's game, Boston reached a $60 million, eight-year deal with infielder Kristian Campbell, and he went out and doubled twice.
Crochet went 6-12 with a 3.58 ERA last season, a bright spot on a Chicago team that lost 121 games. He threw 146 innings, which was double his previous career total since his debut in 2020.
Then Crochet was dealt to the Red Sox, and they made their long-term commitment to the 25-year-old lefty earlier this week.
“Going back to when the trade went through, we knew Boston was a place where we would love to be long term,” Crochet said. “Credit to the front office for staying diligent, and my agency as well.”
Now the question is less about where he'll pitch and more about how well. He's off to a nice start in that regard.
“I can't think of the last time I played baseball for pride. In college you're playing to get drafted, and once you're in the big leagues, you're playing to stay in the big leagues,” Crochet said. “So to have this security and feel like I'm playing to truly just win ballgames, it takes a lot of the riff-raff out of it.”
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Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
LEICESTER, England (AP) — Jacob Murphy scored twice in the first 11 minutes and set Newcastle on its way to a 3-0 win over a hapless Leicester in the Premier League on Monday.
Murphy’s goals were the main talking point, along with the second-half appearance of Jeremy Monga, who at 15 years, 271 days, became the second youngest player to appear in the Premier League.
Monga replaced Bilal El Khannouss for Leicester 16 minutes from time wearing a different, logo-less shirt from his teammates because he is too young to advertise the betting firm that sponsors the home side.
Murphy scored the opener after two minutes when he stole in at the back post to convert a low cross from Tino Livramento. Leicester had six men inside the six-yard box but the ball went past them all and Murphy made no mistake.
The well-travelled winger scored a breathtaking second nine minutes later thanks largely to the audacity of Fabian Schär.
Schär’s attempt from inside his own half bounced back off the crossbar with goalkeeper Mads Hermansen well beaten but Murphy followed up to slam home the rebound with the Leicester defence AWOL.
Former Leicester winger Harvey Barnes scored the third after 33 minutes when he poked home a Joelinton shot that the keeper parried.
It was a damage limitation exercise from then on for Leicester, which became the first league team to lose eight consecutive home matches without scoring. It remained second to last, three points behind Ipswich and five behind Wolves.
“It’s hard to describe, to be honest, with how it’s been and it makes us feel awful right at the moment," Leicester defender James Justin said. “You feel disconnection and disappointment when you step off the pitch ... it’s not been good enough for a couple of months now.
“I don’t know how many games it’s been since we last picked up a point. It’s a horrible moment for the club with how we’re playing on the pitch and trying to regain any confidence. There were bright spells from the lads who came off the bench and that’s the one positive to take.
“There is still a chance for us and we have to fight and claw for it but we aren’t showing it on the pitch.”
Newcastle moved into fifth, equal on points with the team above it, Chelsea.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy during the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Newcastle United at the King Power Stadium, Leicester, England, Monday, April 7, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
Newcastle United's Jacob Murphy, left, celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Newcastle United at the King Power Stadium, Leicester, England, Monday, April 7, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
Newcastle United's Jacob Murphy, center, celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game with teammate Alexander Isak during the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Newcastle United at the King Power Stadium, Leicester, England, Monday, April 7, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
Newcastle United's Harvey Barnes celebrates scoring their side's third goal of the game with teammate Dan Burn during the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Newcastle United at the King Power Stadium, Leicester, England, Monday, April 7, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
