BOSTON SPORTS WAVE

Red Sox’s Jonathan Arauz Broke a Record Friday Night, But Not One You Exactly Want to Break

The Red Sox were down 11-4 entering the bottom of the eighth inning Friday night. Instead of choosing to drain another pitching arm, manager Alex Cora decided to go with infielder Jonathan Arauz to pitch the bottom of the eighth.

Bo Bichette led off with a lineout to right fielder Hunter Renfroe, before Teoscar Hernandez roped a single into left.

Facing Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Arauz’s 0-1 delivery was a 36.3 MPH pitch, the slowest pitch recorded that wasn’t an intentional walk of the pitch tracking era (2008-Present), according to Foolish Baseball.

Note that slower pitches may have been thrown, but they were before the tracking era.

Gurriel Jr. doubled to put runners on second and third, and Alejandro Kirk sac flied to make it 12-4. Randal Grichuk popped out to retire the side.

Arauz, who had never pitched in the majors prior to Friday, has a career ERA of 9.00 now. The infielder was called up recently after Jarren Duran was placed on the COVID-19 injured list.

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