PHILADELPHIA — Boston Red Sox right-hander Justin Masterson was an All-Star in 2013. In 2014 he was injured, ineffective and traded.
Signed by Boston as a free agent in the offseason, he is hoping to get back on track in the same city he began his career. And on Thursday night, he worked six effective innings to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-2.
“(The start) means ‘OK, we’ve done it once; now we need to go out and do it again — continue to be consistent,’” he said after allowing two runs and three hits, while striking out seven and walking one.
Masterson, an All-Star with Cleveland in ’13, had a career-worst 5.88 ERA last season with the Indians and St. Louis Cardinals. He also spent time on the disabled list with a bad knee.
On Thursday, however, he mixed his sinker and slider to good effect, throwing 64 strikes among his 95 pitches.
“When that sinker’s on, it’s got such depth, such unpredictability to a hitter at the plate,” Boston manager John Farrell said. “When it’s cold, it’s a very difficult pitch to lift, but the mix of his slider has been very good.”
At the plate, Masterson had the first two-hit game of his career. He drove in a run with the first of those, a single in the third inning.
“It’s not skill,” he said with a laugh. “It’s just luck.”