Seattle – Red Sox pitcher Walker Buehler faced a challenging outing on Tuesday, allowing eight runs on eight hits and four walks over just 3 ⅓ innings, leading to an 8-0 defeat against the Mariners at T-Mobile Park. With this performance, Buehler’s earned run average rose to 5.95 across 12 starts, comprising 59 innings pitched and 38 earned runs.
Buehler expressed his frustration after the game, admitting disappointment in his performance during a time when the Red Sox had recently experienced a surge, winning six straight games and nine of their last 11. “At the end of the day it sucks to fail on that kind of level with where our team’s at and how we’ve been feeling about ourselves and starting to play really good baseball,” he said, noting the pressure he feels as a veteran expected to lead the team.
Manager Alex Cora acknowledged Buehler’s difficulties, particularly in finishing off hitters after he gained an advantage in counts. “He wasn’t able to finish hitters,” Cora stated, highlighting the fact that five of Buehler’s eight hits were surrendered after holding two-strike leads, along with a single given up on a 2-2 count. Notably, the grand slam hit by Cal Raleigh in the second inning came on a first-pitch changeup.
Both Buehler and Cora emphasized the need to improve on closing out at-bats, especially when in favorable positions. “We’ve got to figure it out because when you’re that ahead in counts, 1-2, 0-2, we have to be able to finish them,” Cora added, indicating a focus on rectifying these issues before the team’s upcoming games.
Buehler’s statistics showed he only managed to throw 58.1% strikes (54 out of 93 pitches), which he acknowledged was well below his usual standards. “Obviously throughout my career I’ve thrown strikes,” he said, reflecting on the importance of addressing his control issues moving forward.
Despite the setback, there is potential for Buehler and the Red Sox to bounce back, especially as they work to refine their approach. Improvement often follows challenging performances, providing an opportunity for growth and renewed focus as the season progresses.