![]() ![]() ![]() It’s not like Kopech has lacked velocity this season. “I’ve been lucky enough to stand in there in some of his bullpens, and that fastball just has another gear when it gets up close to you,” said manager Pedro Grifol, who said he was not tempted to bring Kopech back out for the ninth at 98 pitches. Aside from second baseman Michael Massey inexplicably lifting a heater below his knees for a bloop single in the sixth for the Royals’ only base runner, this looked a lot like what was promised when he was acquired during the 2016 winter meetings: Kopech blowing away a major-league lineup with his dominant fastball. ![]() 1 and 1A for much of the evening, the pitch generated 15 swings-and-misses. Despite being clearly anticipated options Nos. Hitting 99.3 mph on his second-to-last fastball of the night and averaging 96.6 mph and over 2,500 RPMs of spin on the 69 heaters he threw, Kopech’s fastball was overpowering all night. But Kopech didn’t need any extra margin for error and provided plenty to break down on his own. The Sox offense was limited to two second-inning runs and five hits, and ran into an out on the bases during its biggest rally. ![]()
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