Red Sox left-hander Brandon Walter made his major league debut on Thursday, giving manager Alex Cora 6.2 innings of relief in a 6-0 loss to the Twins. Minnesota's Joe Ryan pitched a three-hit, complete game the Twins' first complete game* of the season.
Walter took over after starter Justin Garza allowed two runs in the first inning and gave up a single to start the second. He recorded 20 outs (6.2-6-3-3-2, 92), the longest debut from the bullpen for the Red Sox in nearly eight decades -- since Clem Hausmann pitched eight innings (8-7-2-4-2) in a 16-inning loss to the Philadelphia Athletics on April 28, 1944.
It was a blast obviously getting to pitch in my first big league game. . . . I just wanted to kind of keep us in the game. Give us length. Save the other bullpen guys and just try to get quick innings. . . . Fastball command was honestly terrible. Went to the cutter, went to the changeup, went to the slider and was able to get ahead with those and create soft contact . . . I learned a little bit about myself, that I can compete at this level. . . . [G]o out and give them multiple innings, give them different looks multiple times through the lineup.
The Red Sox (39-37) will have a rested bullpen for a three-game series against the White Sox (32-44) this weekend.
*: The Twins are one of 13 teams with one complete game in 2023. Texas has three (of which two belong to old friend Nathan Eovaldi; WCWGPLT?).
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