When Nate Eovaldi was last on the mound, he was getting victimized by a blown call by home plate umpire Laz Diaz and a ninth-inning tie game was getting away from the Red Sox.
That was Tuesday night in Game 4, a game that may well be looked back as the turning point of the American League Championship Series. Instead of winning that game and putting the Houston Astros on notice, the Sox lost, then lost Game 5, too, requiring them to win two straight at Minute Maid Park this weekend in order to win the series and the A.L. pennant.
But Eovaldi isn't worried about putting that relief outing behind him. Nor will he feel at all limited by having come out of the bullpen in between starting assignments.
"I think having the two days in between definitely helps,'' said Eovaldi. "I took (Wednesday) off, I didn't really throw. I made sure I was nice and recovered. I just got down throwing catch (Thursday morning) and I feel great, so, no, I don't think there's any limitations. My arm feels good and mentally I'm going to be prepared for this game (Friday).''
Eovaldi had a solid start against the Astros in Game 2 of the ALCS, allowing three runs in 5.1 innings and knows fully what to expect.
"They do a really good job of passing the at-bat on to each other and there's not an easy out in the lineup for sure,'' he said. "So it's going to make sure I stay ahead in the count, stay on the attack and try to keep the crowd out of the game.''
And while there's an inherent pressure when a team is facing elimination, Eovaldi is eager to welcome the challenge.
"I love it,'' he said. "I feel like this is what everybody wants to do. Every guy in the locker room wants to start tomorrow and be in this situation. I'm thankful that I get to be here and be able to do it. There's just something about when everything's on the line. I think it brings the best out of all of us.''
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It would appear that the only lineup change the Red Sox will make for Game 6 will be to have Kevin Plawecki catch Eovaldi. Plawecki and Eovaldi have paired well all season, and the Sox went with that combination in Game 2 in Houston before going back to Christian Vazquez for Games 3-5.
Bobby Dalbec hasn't gotten a start in the ALCS, with the Sox committed to Kyle Schwarber.
Dalbec started both the wild card game and Game 1 of the ALDS against Tampa when J.D. Martinez was unavailable due to an ankle injury. The Sox utilized Schwarber as the DH in Martinez's absence, with Dalbec starting at first base.
Since then, he's had some at-bats off the bench, but hasn't gotten a start.
The Sox are also ready to stay with Hunter Renfroe despite the fact that he's 1-for-14 with seven strikeouts in the series.
"We talked after the game a bit, and I was sharing my ideas of what I see with him,'' said Martinez. "I think Hunter has been even-keeled all year. I don't see him down at all. You know, he is still going up there. He puts tough at-bats. (In Game 4) he squared that ball up and (Alex) Bregman made that nice play. Could have changed the whole game. Then he comes (Wednesday) and rolls over two balls. It happens. It's life. No one is perfect. He could have easily hit the ball off the wall, hit a home run. You saw (Jose) Altuve was 0-for-12, something they were talking about, and then he hits a home run, a big one.
"t's the playoffs, man. It doesn't ... at the end of the day it's, are we winning? That's it. Whether you are 0-for-10 or going 10-for-10 is, did we win? That's all we care about. Getting on base and kind of just keeping the train moving.''
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The Red Sox Thursday announced that they had re-instated pitcher Phillips Valdez from the COVID-19-related Injured List. To make room for the return of Valdez to the 40-man roster, the Red Sox designated Franchy Cordero for assignment.
The move was something of a surprise, especially since Cordero had an option left. If he's not claimed on waivers or dealt in the next 10 days, it's possible he could be outrighted and remain in the organization, but that would seem a longshot.
Cordero was one of the pieces obtained in the deal that sent Andrew Benintendi to Kansas City right before spring training. And while Benintendi rebounded in the final two months to have a decent season -- .276/.324/.442 with 17 homers -- Cordero was a major disappointment with the Sox, slashing .189/.237/.260 in 48 games.
He had the distinction of hitting the longest Red Sox homer of the season -- measured at better than 470 feet -- in a game in Philadelphia, a tantalizing reminder of his immense raw power. But too often, as has been the case throughout his pro career, Cordero had difficulty making regular contact, fanning 51 times in 127 at-bats.
All is not lost when it comes to the return on the Benintendi trade, however. The Red Sox were impressed with the work of righthander Josh Winckowski, who pitched most of last season at Portland and is viewed as a potential back-end starter prospect.
The Sox also later acquired outfielder Freddy Valdez and pitchers Grant Gambrell and Luis de la Rosa in the deal, though all three are young prospects at the A-ball level.