Franklin Morales Continues Answering the Bell For the Red Sox, Overcomes Muggy Conditions

by abournenesn

Aug 5, 2012

Franklin Morales Continues Answering the Bell For the Red Sox, Overcomes Muggy ConditionsBOSTON –– Once again, Franklin Morales has stopped the bleeding.

Starting for the first time since July 13, the lefty continued to make his case to re-join the Red Sox starting rotation in Sunday's 6-4 win, surrendering just three hits and one run over six innings.

"I feel great because the team needed this one," Morales said. "With each day, I'm becoming more and more confident as I compete as a starter and I'm making the most of the opportunity. I'll always be ready, physically and mentally, to focus on what I need to do."

 

His gem came at the perfect time for the Red Sox, considering it snapped the team's four-game slide. With Sunday's performance against the Twins, the 26-year-old has limited opponents to one run or less in three of his six starts this season.

Even more impressive, Morales battled the scorching temperature at Fenway Park, one of the toughest conditions he's pitched in –– as a starter –– this season. He cited the muggy weather conditions for his lengthy, 27-pitch first inning and three walks.

"The sweat was all over my face and I was trying to stop it from affecting my grip," Morales said. "But I made the adjustments and made my pitches and I felt 100 percent on everything I was doing. Wasn't trying to overthink and I tried to throw my fastball and curveball for strikes and get the results."

That he did. After unleashing 106 pitches, he finished the game with four strikeouts, lowered his ERA to 3.14 and clinched his third victory of the season –– tying the highest mark of his career.

The length that Morales provided was also notable. Before the game, Red Sox pitching coach Bob McClure said the hurler would likely adhere to a "75 to 90" pitch count, but Morales exceeded those expectations.

Despite the heroic contributions, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine wouldn't publicly commit to starting Morales full-time.

"I like him as a starter," Valentine said. "We know that. Right now, I don’t think we have to do anything with Franklin and make any total determination. Have a tough Texas team coming in right now. Our bullpen is a little wobbly. We’re a guy short out there and all that good stuff. We’ll play it by ear."

Morales has at least one supporter who is willing to vouch for him. Shortly after providing the southpaw with three RBIs, Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez endorsed a possible move for Morales.

"It’s real impressive," Gonzalez said of the lefty's job. "Every time he’s out there in the rotation he does an incredible job. I know we’ve got a lot of good starters, but I think he’d do a good job there."

When called upon, Morales has certainly answered the bell.

Have a question for Didier Morais? Send it to him via Twitter at @DidierMorais or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

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