Red Sox starter Brayan Bello was more fired up than Brennan Bernardino after the lefty reliever escaped a no-out, bases-loaded jam vs. the Orioles in the sixth inning Tuesday.
“The whole time I was yelling at him from the dugout because he was doing such a great job,” Bello said through translator Daveson Pérez. “I had to give him his hug and his kiss for the incredible job that he did out there.”
Brennan Bernardino was the most surprising cut at the end of Red Sox camp. He's proven the Red Sox wrong
Bernardino helped the Red Sox to an 8-3 win over the Orioles here at Camden Yards.
“That’s literally what my job is,” Bernardino said. “I feel like it’s to come into situations and help my starter or whatever pitcher goes before me. So it felt great to do that.”
Bernardino inherited two runners who Bello left on base with the Red Sox ahead 4-3. The lefty walked Ryan Mountcastle to load the bases, then he got to work.
Bernardino struck out Austin Hays on a foul tip for the first out. He got Jorge Mateo to ground into a force-out at home for the second out.
The lefty completed his Houdini act by striking out 2023 AL Rookie of the Year Gunnar Henderson on three pitches. Henderson watched two called strikes (both sinkers), then swung and missed at a 92.4 mph sinker in the zone.
“In that situation you feel like, ‘OK, the game can make a big change either way here,’” Bernardino said. “Momentum could change. So it felt good to get out of it.”
Bernardino has allowed just two earned runs in 23 innings (0.78 ERA) over 20 outings for Boston after he began the season at Triple-A Worcester.
“It was tough not making the Opening Day roster,” Bernardino said. “I get the point of it and everything. Even if I did make the Opening Day roster, I’m always kind of playing with a little bit of a chip on my shoulder just being a late-round draft pick guy and the journey I’ve taken. I’m just happy to be here right now.”
The Red Sox chose lefty Joely Rodriguez over Bernardino for the Opening Day roster. Boston eventually recalled Bernardino on April 9 as the corresponding move when Nick Pivetta was placed on the IL.
The Red Sox designated Rodriguez for assignment April 28 after he allowed eight earned runs in 11 innings (6.55 ERA).
“He (Bernardino) came up here trying to probably prove people wrong,” manager Alex Cora said. “It’s not like we didn’t believe in him. It’s just at that moment we felt like giving a shot to Joely was the right move. He was going to be part of this regardless later on.”
Cora said he and Bernardino had “a tough conversation” right before the season. Bernardino — who was caught off guard by the demotion — had a clear message for Cora before heading to Worcester.
“He mentioned two things: Heart and a pair of something else,” Cora said, smiling.
Did he really say that to Cora?
“I guess,” Bernardino said, laughing.
The reliever then added, “It’s not like I just said that I’ve got balls. But it was a meeting that happened in there and it was like free to speak. So it was good.”
Bernardino has held opponents to a .123 batting average.
“Really good against lefties and righties,” Cora said. “Obviously there’s certain matchups that we try to avoid but today he was amazing. We knew they were going to use their righties. But his stuff plays regardless. He put himself in a tough spot with the walk but after that he settled down and made some good pitches. And we were lined up to use him in the next inning with their personnel.”
Bernardino retired three left-handed hitters and three right-handed hitters Tuesday. His perfect seventh inning included him striking out Adley Rutschman swinging (91.9 mph sinker) and Colton Cowser looking (79.6 mph curveball).
“He’s a big part of what we’re trying to accomplish not only between the lines but in the clubhouse,” Cora said about Bernardino. “He’s well respected. He understands the things that we like to do. And it was awesome to see him perform this way.”
