Sean McAdam: Finally, run prevention works in Red Sox’ favor

“That’s pitching right there, that’s pitching,” said Alex Cora in appreciation. “Against a good lineup, right? I’ve been saying for three weeks: ‘If we pitch, we’re going to win.’ And that was really, really good.”

Indeed it was, enough so that Suárez, after a highly inauspicious start to his Red Sox career, has now been masterful in each of his last two starts, stitching together 14 consecutive scoreless innings in the process.

Basking in the post-game glow, Suárez was asked if the Red Sox’ pitching-and-defense approach would be frequently utilized to win games as they did Friday.

“I hope that’s not the case,” said Suárez, “Although today, it was a low-scoring game, I think we’re going to be able to score more runs in the future and I don’t think that’s going to be the rule, to have a lot of 1-0 games. That’s just (due to) some of the things we’re going through right now. But I think in the future, we’re going to be able to score more runs and these 1-0 games are going to be very (rare).”

That’s how a pitcher would think, of course. Few want to pitch with such a small margin for error, where yielding even a single run over eight innings in his start would have resulted in a loss. It’s much easier to compete with more generous run support.

And it’s logical to assume that the Red Sox’ offense will produce more, if for no other reason that they almost have to do better than they’ve done. Surely, warmer weather in the coming months will help toward that goal.

Left uncredited was the clean game played behind him. The Sox didn’t commit an error and turned in a few standout plays, from Ceddanne Rafaela’s almost casual but successful pursuit of a hard-hit ball in front of the bullpen wall in the fourth to an alert throw from Willson Contreras to cut down the lead runner at second on a ground ball in the ninth.

The Sox’ error total has been alarmingly high in the early going, but Cora believes that’s somewhat misleading, as the team’s defensive efficiency — the percentage of balls in play converted into outs — reflects an improved infield defense.

And while planning to routinely win games 1-0 is probably not a successful long-term strategy, for the Red Sox, it’s nice to know that they can win them when they must.

More Red Sox coverage

• ‘Lucky’ Red Sox hero Masataka Yoshida: ‘You never know when my number gets called’
• Red Sox reactions: In extras, Masataka Yoshida wins it in a pinch
• Red Sox injuries: Kutter Crawford (elbow) likely to have MRI; key reliever slow in return bid
• Alex Cora explains changes to Red Sox lineup
• Red Sox’ Garrett Crochet on what happened in disastrous start — and how he plans to get on track

Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here.