Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet recorded his first career complete game Saturday. He allowed just three hits while striking out nine in a 1-0 win over the Rays here at Fenway Park.
But the shutout wouldn’t have happened if not for first baseman Abraham Toro throwing out a runner at the plate in the sixth inning.
“That was incredible,” Crochet said.
The Rays bunted with runners at the corners and one out. Ha-Seong Kim laid down the bunt to the right side of the infield. Toro charged in to field it with his barehand and threw out Taylor Walls at home.
Crochet said he was “shocked” that Toro threw home instead of taking the sure out at first base.
“And was more shocked at the out call,” he said. “But it was a great play overall.”
When asked about his decision to throw home instead of first base, Toro said, “Running to the ball, I just saw the runner a little bit in my peripheral view. I saw that and I had time.”
Manager Alex Cora said infield coordinator José Flores told Toro to move in.
“(Flores) actually got his attention right before the pitch,” Cora said. “Move up a little bit. And you have to be precise and perfect. And the tag was amazing.”
Toro said Cora also was involved in anticipating the bunt.
“Right before the play he (Cora) was telling me to be aware of the bunt,” Toro said. “That gave me a little heads-up and I was able to anticipate.”
The play was close enough that the Rays challenged the call, but it was upheld after review.
“When they decided to challenge it, (catcher) Carlos (Narváez) was coming out to the mound, and he was pretty confident,” Crochet said. “I saw the video and I wasn’t super confident until they showed the next angle. But yeah, that was a very awkward, uncomfortable throw — and he put it right on the money. So it was huge.”
Toro was slightly nervous waiting for the play to be reviewed.
“I was like, ‘Oh, my God.’ I thought it was a clear out and then when they challenged it, I was like, ‘Please,’” Toro said. “Then I was happy that it was out.”
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