Garrett Crochet falls short of no-hitter against former team

In the United States on April 14, 2025, Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet faced his former team, the Chicago White Sox, in what was an intriguing matchup. Crochet, having been traded from the White Sox to the Red Sox in December 2024 for a package of four prospects, including Chase Meidroth, was determined to make a statement against his old club. Starting strong, Crochet retired the first 15 batters he faced, showcasing his talent and endurance on the mound. However, his bid for a no-hitter came to an abrupt end in the eighth inning when Chase Meidroth hit a one-out single, leading to Crochet being lifted after he had struck out 11 batters and walked one. Crochet had thrown a remarkable 65 strikes out of 96 pitches up to that point, demonstrating his pitching prowess. The game concluded with the Red Sox leading 2-1 after eight innings, marking a pivotal moment in Crochet’s return to the major leagues after a significant surgery in 2022 that sidelined him for over a year. This match was part of a three-game series in which the Red Sox won only one game, indicating ongoing struggles for the team. Despite Crochet's standout performance, the Red Sox committed five errors in the series, with one game resulting in a lopsided 11-1 loss to the White Sox. This performance from Boston further highlighted their ongoing challenges this season, as they currently lead the majors with numerous fielding errors. Additionally, the Red Sox are looking to recover from a disappointing start to their seven-game road trip. However, Boston did display some signs of improvement, with shortstop Trevor Story notably stepping up at the plate and driving in all three runs during the final game of the series. The stark contrast between the White Sox's previous performance—having lost eight straight games—compounded the disappointment for the Red Sox, who were expected to perform better against a struggling team. Crochet’s performance, while impressive, emphasizes the inconsistency of the Boston team, which has struggled with timely hitting this season, often failing to capitalize on scoring opportunities. In the wake of this upsetting series, the Red Sox face pressing concerns about their fielding and batting, which they must address if they hope to turn their season around as they progress further into the schedule.