Dustin May Unveils New ‘Weapon Pitch’ In Red Sox Debut
Six days after being traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Dustin May made his Boston Red Sox debut on Wednesday night at Fenway Park.
Like many of his starts with the Dodgers this year, the results were mixed. He started well but struggled his second time through the order, leaving after 3 2/3 innings and 91 pitches (61 strikes). He allowed three runs on six hits and one walk with four strikeouts, taking the loss as the Red Sox saw their seven-game winning streak snapped in a 7-3 defeat.
While May has only been with the team a week, Boston is already trying to revamp his approach on the mound. He featured his cutter much more heavily in his Red Sox debut, throwing it 30% of the time compared to 7% of the time with Los Angeles this year.
After the game, May said Boston views it as a “weapon pitch.”
“Definitely more cutters…(the Red Sox) had the idea,” May told reporters after the game. “In LA, it was moreso just kind of use it as an influence, but they like it as a weapon pitch. I kind of agree. It can be really effective, it’s just gotta be executed.”
Between the rust (he hadn’t pitched in 10 days) and his new pitching strategy, it’s not surprising that May was a bit uneven in his first start for Boston. It may take him a few outings to get settled in and gain a better feel for his cutter.
With the Red Sox in the thick of a playoff race, they’re hoping to help May turn his season around and give them quality innings down the stretch. The 27-year-old righty has scuffled lately, losing three of his last four starts and falling to 6-8 with a 4.93 ERA.
May will seek better results in his next outing, which may come next week on the road against the Houston Astros.