Marcelo Mayer wasn’t the only player promoted by the Red Sox on Saturday.
Boston also recalled Luis Guerrero from Triple-A Worcester ahead of its nightcap against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park. Guerrero, who hadn’t pitched for the Red Sox since April 29, was called on in a high-pressure spot, but he didn’t rise to the occasion.
The right-hander entered the game with two outs in the eighth inning when the American League East rivals were deadlocked at 0-0. Guerrero inherited a runner at first but allowed Gunnar Henderson to move into scoring position when he walked Adley Rutschman. Ryan O’Hearn then made Guerrero pay by lacing a go-ahead RBI single to right.
The ninth wasn’t much kinder to the 24-year-old, who gave up another run by walking two more and surrendering a double. Those runs proved to be all the O’s needed in their 2-1 win, and it didn’t sit well with Alex Cora that the defeat largely was produced by self-inflicted wounds.
“A little frustrating,” Cora told reporters about Guerrero’s three walks, per MassLive. “We don’t like that. So we’ll keep working with him. He’s been throwing a lot of strikes whenever he comes here. And today he was a little bit erratic. Probably a different day as far as routine and everything. But at the end of the day, he’s a good pitcher. We know he can do it at this level. Just didn’t happen today.”
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Even after Saturday’s struggles, the Red Sox likely won’t hesitate to use Guerrero as long as he’s in the majors. Boston’s primary slate of relievers is pretty taxed, and the club certainly could benefit from a fresher arm.
Walker Buehler will try to give the bullpen a break Sunday when he starts the Red Sox-Orioles series finale. NESN’s full coverage begins at 12:30 p.m. ET.
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