Major League Debut A Dream Come True For Eduardo Rodriguez
BOSTON (CBS) -- The plan was for Eduardo Rodriguez to make one start, giving the Red Sox starting rotation an extra day of rest, and then head back down to Triple-A.
But the 22-year-old made adhering to that plan very difficult with a stellar MLB debut on Thursday night.
Rodriguez shut down the Rangers over 7.2 innings, allowing just three hits and striking out seven in Boston's 5-1 victory. The rookie also played the role of stopper, as the win snapped a three-game losing streak for Boston.
The southpaw said it took just a few pitches to calm down, despite making his debut against a lineup that has been the best in baseball over the last two weeks.
"I wasn't nervous after the first couple of pitches," Rodriguez told reporters after his outing. "I went out and saw the lights and saw the stadium, and said, 'This is what it's like.'"
For most of the evening, Rodriguez made things look easy. He set the Rangers down in order in the first, striking out Prince Fielder to end the frame, and after surrendering a double to Josh Hamilton in the second inning, retired the next 10 batters. He walked Elvis Andrus in the bottom of the fourth, but ended up striking out the side in the inning.
Rodriguez had another 1-2-3 inning in the seventh inning, and went back out for the eighth inning. He struck out the first two batters but ran into some trouble after walking Robinson Chirinos (Texas' No. 9 hitter) and surrendering a single to Delino Deshields.
That ended his night, but the seven shutout innings by Rodriguez were the most by any Red Sox starter this season.
"He was outstanding,'' manager John Farrell said after the win. "Very impressive. He was poised. (He threw) a lot of quality fastball strikes in the strike zone, particularly down...To see the middle of their order, the way they reacted to his fastball - it's got good life, he's got deception to his delivery. Just a very impressive outing all the way around.''
What about the rookie's future? Called upon to serve as a sixth starter on Thursday, can the Red Sox send him back down to Pawtucket after such a dominant debut?
"He's done nothing to hurt that cause, I can tell you that,'' said Farrell. "He gave us exactly what you'd hope to see and more. There's no decision at this point whether or not he makes his next start with us. I certainly hoped he would.''
Rodriguez, who Boston acquired from Baltimore at the trade deadline last season for Andrew Miller, said he got a good night's sleep on Wednesday, and actually had a dream about his debut. As it turns out, the reality that took place Thursday night was even better than what he had dreamed about the night before.
"The game was way better,'' said Rodriguez. "(In the dream) I gave up one or two runs. But the game was way better.''
The rookie's debut was a dream come true for Boston as well, with the team struggling with inconsistency from their rotation all season. Rodriguez entered the game with sky-high expectations, and for one night, he certainly lived up to them.
And most important, the 21-year-old had a lot of fun doing what he had always hoped to do.
"It was a really fun,'' said Rodriguez. "First time in the big leagues, first time being in a big league field. Really, really fun.''