Lucas Giolito Struggles in Rainy Fenway Debut vs Rangers: What Went Wrong?

Early May in Boston can be a total weather gamble. One day you’re walking around in shorts and shades, the next you’re digging through your closet for a rain jacket. Unfortunately for Lucas Giolito, his long-awaited Fenway Park debut landed squarely in the wet and windy column.

After a promising first start back from injury in Toronto, the Red Sox right-hander was looking to build some momentum. But the baseball gods—and the Texas Rangers—had other plans.

How Did Giolito’s Return to Fenway Begin?

Giolito’s first outing of the season on April 30 in Toronto had Red Sox fans feeling hopeful. He made it through five strong innings before running into a bit of trouble in the sixth, finishing the night with three earned runs. Not bad for a guy returning from an internal bracing procedure on his elbow.

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Tuesday night, however, was a different story. The rain was coming down hard at Fenway, causing a 31-minute delay before first pitch. And when the game finally got going, things went off the rails quickly.

Was the Rain Really That Big of a Factor?

Let’s be honest—wet weather isn’t exactly ideal for pitchers. Slippery mounds, soggy grips, unpredictable footing… it’s not a great mix.

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Giolito certainly had to deal with it all. In between innings, he slipped while warming up. And even though the rain started to ease up later in the game, Giolito said he actually felt better throwing in the heavier stuff. Go figure.

Still, he didn’t use the weather as an excuse. “Didn’t have command,” he admitted bluntly after the game. “That was probably what did me in.”

Where Did It All Fall Apart?

The fourth inning was where things really unraveled.

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Giolito had already dodged some early trouble in the first, but the Rangers lit him up in the fourth with a five-run inning. It started with back-to-back ground-rule doubles, followed by a string of singles and a sac fly. He just couldn’t find the rhythm.

Five of the six hard-hit balls he allowed came in that one inning. Ouch.

Manager Alex Cora summed it up: “Just a tough one. Turn the page, be ready for the next one.”

What Was Missing From Giolito’s Arsenal?

Here’s the thing—Giolito is mostly a two-pitch guy. Fastball and changeup. That combo worked well in Toronto. Blue Jays hitters couldn’t do much with the four-seamer, and five of his seven strikeouts came off it.

But this time? Not so much.

On Tuesday, he threw 72 of his 74 pitches as either a fastball or changeup. Eight of the 10 hits he gave up came off the heater. The Rangers were sitting on it, and they made him pay.

After the game, Giolito said maybe he should’ve leaned on his slider more. Hindsight is 20/20, but it’s something he plans to work on before his next start.

Did Anyone Step Up For Boston?

Actually, yes.

Even though Giolito’s short outing put pressure on the bullpen, the relievers came through in a big way. Brennan Bernardino came in and immediately handled business, striking out Corey Seager and then cruising through the fifth.

Then came Sean Newcomb. And wow, did he deliver.

In his first appearance since April 27, Newcomb gave the Red Sox four scoreless innings. He changed speeds, hit his spots, and basically saved the bullpen from total burnout.

“Newcomb was excellent,” Cora said. “He gave us more than enough.”

What’s Next for Giolito?

This wasn’t the Fenway return Giolito had hoped for, but it’s not time to panic either.

He’s still finding his footing after elbow surgery, and sometimes you’ve got to take your lumps. The focus now shifts to cleaning up the fastball command and mixing in that slider more often.

Red Sox fans should be encouraged that he’s owning the mistakes and already thinking about adjustments. That’s what professionals do.

Can the Red Sox Bounce Back in This Series?

Absolutely. With Bernardino and Newcomb helping to preserve the bullpen, Boston is in decent shape for the rest of the series against Texas.

Cora’s crew will need to shake off this one quickly, but the effort from the relievers gave them a fighting chance to win the next two. That’s the beauty of baseball—there’s always another game right around the corner.