BOSTON (AP) — The Red Sox have had a chance in games whenever Garrett Crochet has been on the mound this season.
And with the exception of one pitch in Friday's 2-1, extra-inning win over the Yankees, he again proved to be the antidote to Yankees slugger Aaron Judge.
Crochet held New York scoreless over a career-high 8 1/3 innings, striking out the Yankees slugger three times while holding the rest of New York's lineup to four hits with seven total Ks.
But with Boston clinging to a 1-0 lead and Crochet back on the hill to try to finish the game in the ninth, his fourth time facing Judge proved costly. Crochet took him to a full count, but let his 99 mph fastball dip down in the strike zone — Judge's sweet spot. He jumped on it, blasting it 443 feet over the Green Monster and out of Fenway Park to tie the game.
“I’m going to live and die with my best pitch,” Crochet said afterward. "Whether it be pitch selection or execution, tough way to end it. But overall, I felt really good tonight.”
It helped that Crochet's partner throughout the night — catcher and former Yankee Carlos Narváez — helped put a happy face on the night, when he ended the game with a walk-off single in the 10th. Crochet didn't get the victory, but Narváez said it didn't diminish his masterful night on the mound.
For the season, Judge is just 1 for 7 with six strikeouts against Crochet.
“Crochet was awesome,” Narváez said. “He made a mistake a little bit. But that was a 100 mph fastball. That was impressive. ... Probably the best pitcher now against the best hitter in baseball.”
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said he has no regrets leaving Crochet in the game.
“That wasn’t fun. But our guy was throwing great," Cora said. "He was efficient toward the end. We gave him a shot. It didn’t work out. That’s why (Judge) is who he is. One of the best in world, and he got one pitch down and he hit it out of the ballpark. You tip your hat.”
Though he acknowledged he'd probably lose sleep over Judge's last at-bat, Crochet was proud of his overall outing.
“It was a special feeling jogging back out there. Standing (ovation). I could tell the fans wanted me out there,” Crochet said. "I already wanted to be out there pretty bad. But it made it mean a little bit more. It made me grab a little bit more in that inning. I wish I could have finished it out. ... If my night had to end there from a home run I’m at least glad that it was on a fastball.”
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet, center, gives the ball to manager Alex Cora, left, who removes him in the top of the ninth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)
Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet reacts after giving up a ninth-inning solo home run to New York Yankees' Aaron Judge during a baseball game Friday, June 13, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)
Hard-throwing rookie Jacob Misiorowski is a National League All-Star replacement, giving the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander a chance to break Paul Skenes' record for the fewest big league appearances before playing in the Midsummer Classic.
Misiorowski was named Friday night to replace Chicago Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd, who will be unavailable for the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Atlanta because he is scheduled to start Saturday at the New York Yankees.
The 23-year-old Misiorowski has made just five starts for the Brewers, going 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA while averaging 99.3 mph on his fastball, with 89 pitches that have reached 100 mph.
If he pitches at Truist Park, Misiorowski will make it consecutive years for a player to set the mark for fewest big league games before an All-Star showing.
Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander getting ready for his second All-Star appearance, had made 11 starts in the majors when he was chosen as the NL starter for last year's All-Star Game at Texas. He pitched a scoreless inning.
Misiorowski is the 30th first-time All-Star and 16th replacement this year. There are now 80 total All-Stars.
Carlos Rodón, Carlos Estévez and Casey Mize were named replacement pitchers on the AL roster.
The New York Yankees' Rodón, an All-Star for the third time in five seasons, will replace teammate Max Fried. for Tuesday's game in Atlanta. Fried will be unavailable because he is scheduled to start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.
The Kansas City Royals' Estévez replaces Texas' Jacob deGrom, who is scheduled to start at Houston on Saturday night. Estévez was a 2023 All-Star when he was with the Los Angeles Angels.
Mize takes the spot held by Boston's Garrett Crochet, who is scheduled to start Saturday against Tampa Bay. Mize gives the Tigers six All-Stars, most of any team and tied for the franchise record.
Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia will replace Tampa Bay’s Brandon Lowe, who went on the injured list with left oblique tightness. The additions of Estévez and Garcia give the Royals four All-Stars, matching their 2024 total.
The Seattle Mariners announced center fielder Julio Rodríguez will not participate, and he was replaced by teammate Randy Arozarena. Rodríguez had been voted onto the AL roster via the players' ballot. The Mariners, who have five All-Stars, said Rodriguez will use the break to “recuperate, rest and prepare for the second half.”
Arozarena is an All-Star for the second time. He started in left field for the AL two years ago, when he was with Tampa Bay. Arozarena was the runner-up to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 2023 Home Run Derby.
Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, a first-time All-Star, is replacing Los Angeles Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who is scheduled to start Saturday night at Arizona. Rasmussen is 7-5 with a 2.82 ERA in 18 starts.
San Diego added a third NL All-Star reliever in lefty Adrián Morejón, who replaces Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler. The Phillies' right-hander is scheduled to start at San Diego on Saturday night. Morejón entered the weekend with a 1.71 ERA in 45 appearances.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Milwaukee Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski reacts during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodon throws against the Toronto Blue Jays during first-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, June 30, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Carlos Estevez celebrates after a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Wednesday, July 9, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
