Crochet Carves Up Judge, Red Sox Claw Closer to Wild Card
Published on: September 15, 2025
The air hung thick with late-season tension at Fenway Park Sunday night. Under a sky the color of bruised plums, the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees locked horns in a game that felt like October had arrived early. It was a battle not just for a single victory, but for a leg up in the increasingly frantic American League Wild Card race. And on this night, the mound belonged to Garrett Crochet, the young lefty with the million-dollar arm and the ice-water veins. He delivered a performance for the ages, outdueling the reigning AL MVP, Aaron Judge, and propelling the Sox to a crucial 6-4 victory.
The narrative surrounding Crochet this season has been one of quiet dominance. Acquired from the White Sox in the offseason and promptly locked down with a contract that will pay him handsomely for years to come, the 26-year-old has blossomed into a true ace. His performance against the Yankees, however, transcended even his already lofty standards. He mowed down the Bronx Bombers with surgical precision, racking up 12 strikeouts over six innings of work. Two solo shots by Judge were mere blemishes on an otherwise pristine canvas, testament to the raw power of the Yankee slugger rather than any faltering by Crochet.
The history between these two titans of the diamond adds another layer of intrigue. Crochet has consistently held the upper hand against Judge, winning 12 of their 15 career matchups and fanning him 11 times. It’s a David and Goliath story for the modern age, with Crochet, the crafty southpaw, consistently finding ways to outwit the gargantuan power of Judge.
“Facing him is always a challenge,” Crochet admitted after the game, a slight grin playing on his lips. “He’s staring down the barrel of another MVP award, and for good reason. He’s one of the best, if not the best, in the game right now. Every at-bat against him is intense, a chess match. You know he can leave the yard at any moment, so you’re just trying to keep him in the park, execute your pitches, and hope for the best.”
The electricity in the Red Sox dugout every time Crochet retired Judge was palpable. “It definitely juices the guys up,” Crochet confirmed. “Getting a guy like that out gives everyone a lift.”
But this wasn’t just the Crochet show. The Red Sox offense, often prone to inconsistency, exploded in the first inning against Yankees starter Will Warren. Before Warren could even blink, the Sox strung together five consecutive hits, turning the scoreboard into a pinball machine. Jarren Duran, defying his minuscule .010 expected batting average on the leadoff triple, ignited the rally. Then came the onslaught: Alex Bregman, Trevor Story, Nathaniel Lowe, and Romy Gonzalez all chipped in with RBIs, culminating in a towering 403-foot blast by Carlos Narváez. The six-run outburst in the first proved to be more than enough cushion for Crochet and the bullpen.
While Warren managed to stabilize himself after the disastrous opening frame, the damage was done. He stranded five runners over the next four innings, a testament to his resilience, but the early deficit proved insurmountable. Crochet, meanwhile, was in cruise control. He carved up the Yankees lineup with a devastating mix of fastballs, breaking balls, and off-speed pitches, keeping them off balance and guessing throughout his six innings of work.
Judge's solo shot in the fifth, his 48th of the season, briefly threatened to spark a Yankee comeback. He added a single in the eighth, but it was too little, too late. Amed Rosario and Jose Caballero also managed to go yard for the Yankees, but their efforts were merely consolation prizes.
With Crochet's pitch count climbing after six dominant innings, manager Alex Cora turned to his trusted relievers. Garrett Whitlock, inheriting a three-run lead, slammed the door shut in the eighth, striking out the side with his trademark efficiency. Then came Aroldis Chapman, the Cuban Missile, to finish things off in the ninth. He unleashed a 101.5 mph fastball past Caballero for the final out, sealing the victory and sending the Fenway faithful home happy.
Crochet's performance not only secured a vital win but also etched his name into Red Sox lore. With his 16-5 record, 2.63 ERA, and now over 230 strikeouts in just 30 starts, he joins an exclusive club alongside pitching legends Chris Sale and Pedro Martinez as the only Red Sox hurlers to achieve such a feat within a 30-start span while allowing fewer than 60 runs.
Cora acknowledged the importance of managing Crochet’s workload throughout the season, particularly after the All-Star break. “We knew we needed him fresh for the stretch run,” Cora explained. “He’s a special talent, and tonight he showed the world just how special he is.”
The victory keeps the Red Sox firmly in the Wild Card hunt, breathing down the necks of the Yankees and Astros. The Yankees, meanwhile, head west for a three-game series against the Twins, licking their wounds and pondering how to solve the Garrett Crochet riddle. One thing is certain: as the season races towards its climax, the Red Sox have a bona fide ace in Garrett Crochet, a young pitcher who’s not afraid of the spotlight, and who, on this night, outshone even the brightest star in the baseball universe.
The narrative surrounding Crochet this season has been one of quiet dominance. Acquired from the White Sox in the offseason and promptly locked down with a contract that will pay him handsomely for years to come, the 26-year-old has blossomed into a true ace. His performance against the Yankees, however, transcended even his already lofty standards. He mowed down the Bronx Bombers with surgical precision, racking up 12 strikeouts over six innings of work. Two solo shots by Judge were mere blemishes on an otherwise pristine canvas, testament to the raw power of the Yankee slugger rather than any faltering by Crochet.
The history between these two titans of the diamond adds another layer of intrigue. Crochet has consistently held the upper hand against Judge, winning 12 of their 15 career matchups and fanning him 11 times. It’s a David and Goliath story for the modern age, with Crochet, the crafty southpaw, consistently finding ways to outwit the gargantuan power of Judge.
“Facing him is always a challenge,” Crochet admitted after the game, a slight grin playing on his lips. “He’s staring down the barrel of another MVP award, and for good reason. He’s one of the best, if not the best, in the game right now. Every at-bat against him is intense, a chess match. You know he can leave the yard at any moment, so you’re just trying to keep him in the park, execute your pitches, and hope for the best.”
The electricity in the Red Sox dugout every time Crochet retired Judge was palpable. “It definitely juices the guys up,” Crochet confirmed. “Getting a guy like that out gives everyone a lift.”
But this wasn’t just the Crochet show. The Red Sox offense, often prone to inconsistency, exploded in the first inning against Yankees starter Will Warren. Before Warren could even blink, the Sox strung together five consecutive hits, turning the scoreboard into a pinball machine. Jarren Duran, defying his minuscule .010 expected batting average on the leadoff triple, ignited the rally. Then came the onslaught: Alex Bregman, Trevor Story, Nathaniel Lowe, and Romy Gonzalez all chipped in with RBIs, culminating in a towering 403-foot blast by Carlos Narváez. The six-run outburst in the first proved to be more than enough cushion for Crochet and the bullpen.
While Warren managed to stabilize himself after the disastrous opening frame, the damage was done. He stranded five runners over the next four innings, a testament to his resilience, but the early deficit proved insurmountable. Crochet, meanwhile, was in cruise control. He carved up the Yankees lineup with a devastating mix of fastballs, breaking balls, and off-speed pitches, keeping them off balance and guessing throughout his six innings of work.
Judge's solo shot in the fifth, his 48th of the season, briefly threatened to spark a Yankee comeback. He added a single in the eighth, but it was too little, too late. Amed Rosario and Jose Caballero also managed to go yard for the Yankees, but their efforts were merely consolation prizes.
With Crochet's pitch count climbing after six dominant innings, manager Alex Cora turned to his trusted relievers. Garrett Whitlock, inheriting a three-run lead, slammed the door shut in the eighth, striking out the side with his trademark efficiency. Then came Aroldis Chapman, the Cuban Missile, to finish things off in the ninth. He unleashed a 101.5 mph fastball past Caballero for the final out, sealing the victory and sending the Fenway faithful home happy.
Crochet's performance not only secured a vital win but also etched his name into Red Sox lore. With his 16-5 record, 2.63 ERA, and now over 230 strikeouts in just 30 starts, he joins an exclusive club alongside pitching legends Chris Sale and Pedro Martinez as the only Red Sox hurlers to achieve such a feat within a 30-start span while allowing fewer than 60 runs.
Cora acknowledged the importance of managing Crochet’s workload throughout the season, particularly after the All-Star break. “We knew we needed him fresh for the stretch run,” Cora explained. “He’s a special talent, and tonight he showed the world just how special he is.”
The victory keeps the Red Sox firmly in the Wild Card hunt, breathing down the necks of the Yankees and Astros. The Yankees, meanwhile, head west for a three-game series against the Twins, licking their wounds and pondering how to solve the Garrett Crochet riddle. One thing is certain: as the season races towards its climax, the Red Sox have a bona fide ace in Garrett Crochet, a young pitcher who’s not afraid of the spotlight, and who, on this night, outshone even the brightest star in the baseball universe.
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