Justin Masterson started the year at Portland. He gets the call-up to the big team & makes several starts, giving the Red Sox a dependable arm. The Sox then send him back to Pawtucket to become a reliever. Justin is now back with the Sox, helping to fill a void in crucial 7th & 8th inning situations.
Last night Masterson comes into the game in the 9th to save the arm of "Cinco Ocho" who threw 20+ pitches the night before. First pitch is a double off the green monster. Next, four pitches & a walk to the 2nd batter he faces. Not a good start. If you have ever pitched at any level, you know that losing the battle to the first 2 batters is not a confidence builder. Up comes Ian Kinsler who parked a home run off Jon Lester earlier.
Masterson got Kinsler to hit a slow chopper back to the mound. Given the situation with the first 2 batters, Justin could have gone to 3rd for a out with the lead runner. He could have gone to first for a sure out. But he made the right choice & went to second with a perfect throw, starting a 1-6-3 double play. Game over at that point.
I thought that Masterson showed great poise & calm in the face of potentially big inning. He continues to contribute to wins in a year where he was not even on the radar chart.
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