Aug 27, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Mike Clevinger (52) delivers against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
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WhenThe adage “one pitch can make or break a game” applies to more than just walk-off home runs.
Garrett Crochet defied expectations with a taut six innings of one-run ball in a spectacular, heroic, but ultimately sad effort. However, on Opening Day, he lost, 1-0, to the Detroit Tigers.
Even worse, the rotgut special that proved to be the decisive factor in the loss was set off by the silliest of brain spasms. Opening the third inning against Javier Báez and putting him in a 0-2 hole, Crochet and catcher Martín Maldonado chose to hit a center-cut fastball that was smacked to right for a single rather than rolling the ball to the plate and hoping for an easy whiff from the infamous free-swinging clown prince. El Mago overtook Maldonado in second place.
Fans of the White Sox booed loudly. Still, the run was valid.
However, over his six frames, Crochet and only Crochet—unbearably brilliant—was the narrative of the game for Chicago. With a mocking farmer sneeze, the man who had never even begun a game while pitching in high school faced his first major league start, unfazed by the chilly weather, a strong opponent, or debut anxiety.
Crochet had never pitched more than three innings and forty-six pitches in a major league game before. As the game went on, he was able to increase his efficiency, going from 45 pitches through three to 87 through six, and he even managed to double that personal best in frames. K recorded six of his first eleven outs, and by the second, he had tapped 100 on the cannon.
And with 76 pitches under his belt and NO ONE up in the bullpen in the sixth inning, manager Pedro Grifol gave his season opener a little leash. Deivi García only got up off his ass to put on his firefighter’s gear and get ready after Crochet passed 80 pitches.
If Crochet was the hero, the poor White Sox offense was the obvious villain. Yes, Tarik Skubal, the starter for the Tigs, was solid; he matched Crochet pitch for pitch. However, in the game, the White Sox only hit six hard balls, with only one of them going for a single. Even worse, the White Sox lacked a single batter (sorry to the hitting-metrics nerds getting off on all those soft velos).
