Red Sox are wasting an outstanding season from Garrett Crochet

This isn't what the Boston Red Sox acquired Garrett Crochet for.

On Monday, the Red Sox spoiled another excellent start from their ace, who they added in a December trade with the White Sox, losing 3-2 to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Crochet pitched 6.2 innings, allowed two earned runs and seven base runners (five hits, two walks) with 11 strikeouts.

Despite his strong outing, Crochet was credited with the loss thanks to another poor Red Sox hitting performance during one of his starts.

Boston was 7-for-32 (.218) at the plate against the Brewers, including 1-for-9 (.111) with runners in scoring position.

The Red Sox went 1-4 in Crochet's five May starts, wasting a brilliant month from the 2024 All-Star. In 31 innings, Crochet allowed seven earned runs (2.03 ERA) with 39 strikeouts in 124 batters faced (31.5% strike out rate). 

The Sox scored two runs or less in each of Crochet's last three starts and have just 48 runs in his 12 overall appearances (four runs per game). Those numbers are lifted by two 10-run games. Take those out, and Boston has averaged 2.8 runs in Crochet's 10 other starts.

Crochet has been as good as advertised for the Red Sox after they sent four prospects, catcher Kyle Teel, outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth and right-handed pitcher Wikelman Gonzalez, to the White Sox in a blockbuster offseason deal.

Yet Boston's big push to become a contender has been for naught through the first quarter of the season. The Sox are an uninspiring 27-29 and have lost three in a row. They're currently seven games behind the New York Yankees (32-20) for first in the AL East.

It hasn't been Crochet's fault. If Boston, which entered Memorial Day tied for eighth in the majors in team batting average (.254), saved some of its hitting for Crochet's starts, it would likely be in a more favorable position.

But until the Red Sox give Crochet an assist at the plate, they'll likely remain an AL afterthought.