Fister again overcomes first inning problems and dominates

NEW YORK – For the last three starts, it’s been the same, familiar pattern for Doug Fister: get knocked around a little in the first inning, then settle in enough to shut out opponents the rest of the way.

History was repeated again Friday night at Yankee Stadium, where Fister gave up two hard-hit doubles to the first two hitters he faced, then yielded only two more hits to the next 24 hitters who faced him.

Not even Fister can explain why it is he struggles in the first inning then gets locked in from the second inning on.

“I don’t really know,’’ said Fister, after limiting the New York Yankees to that single run in the first in a 4-1 Red Sox victory. “I’m approaching the game the same way every inning, every hitter. I try to keep it as simple as possible, and that’s inning-by-inning, pitch-by-pitch. And I try to keep my focus the same.

“Unfortunately, I keep giving up a hit or run or whatever it may be in the first inning, but maybe that just knocks some sense into me. I’ve got to clean that up and give us a chance for a clean inning right out of the gate.’’

It may be nothing more complicated, as John Farrell suggested, than needing a little time to find his release point in the early going. At six-foot-seven, Fister has long limbs and could need time to begin successfully repeating his delivery.

Either way, the contrast is stark. In the last three outings, hitters are a combined 6-for-15 with five extra-base hits against him and four earned runs scored; from the second inning on in the last three starts, they’re a mere 4-for-62 (.065) with no runs scored.

In those three starts, Fister has a 1.57 ERA . In 10 starts for the Red Sox this season, he sports a 3.87 ERA – not bad for any starter, but especially good for a No. 5 starter who spent the first half of this season at Triple A for the Los Angeles Angels.

“He’s been such a boost to this team and to our rotation,’’ said Farrell. “He pitches with such conviction. You see it in his body language, you see it in his attack plan. He’s got a clear understanding of what he’s trying to do on the mound. That’s a testament to the work he puts in, the preparation he goes through.’’

Farrell traces Fister’s turnaround to the team’s West Coast road trip in late July when he worked out of the bullpen twice, and in between appearances, made some adjustments to his stride which better enabled him to keep his two-seam fastball down in the zone.

“It got him back to a consistent place where he was (when he was) in Detroit and Washington,’’ Farrell said, “and consistent execution. That’s what it comes down to. He’s got ways to get people out, whether it’s east and west, north and south – he’s got a number of different weapons he can go to.’’

On Friday night, of the 16 balls that were put in play against Fister that resulted in outs, 11 came on the ground – evidence that his two-seamer was doing what it’s supposed to do.

The only two hits he gave up after the first two batters were both ground ball singles and only one of them actually left the infield.

Fister is currently acting as a placeholder for David Price, whose spot he assumed when Price went on the DL in late July. The Sox still are unsure what – if anything – they’ll get from Price the rest of the way. But they know what they’ve gotten from Fister, who wasn’t in their organization – much less their plans – only a few months ago.

“He’s a guy who doesn’t take anything for granted,’’ Farrell said. “He’s kind of a got a second life here this year after being in Triple A . He’s taken this opportunity and run with it.’’

Especially after he gets through the first inning.