Garrett Crochet probably could have gotten his work in on the back fields in Fort Myers, but the opportunity to face the heart of the Philadelphia Phillies lineup was a challenge he felt he couldn’t pass up.

“You don’t get too many situations like today,” Crochet told reporters following his outing, per audio posted by WEEI’s Rob Bradford. “This is the lineup that’s gotten them into the postseason the last several years, so it’s nice to get those reps versus them.”

Crochet made the three hour drive up to Clearwater for his second start of the spring, and the result was a bit of a mixed bag. Facing several of the best hitters in baseball, the Red Sox left-hander threw 1.2 scoreless innings and hit 99 mph on the radar gun. He allowed one hit and struck out three, but his command wasn’t dialed in, resulting in three walks.

Crochet also wasn’t able to complete his scheduled three innings, departing with the bases loaded after 41 pitches (22 strikes) with two outs in the bottom of the second. Following his outing Crochet called his performance “uncharacteristic” but added that he felt he executed his pitches and in a lot of instances just missed.

“That’s the only reason I’m trying so hard to take away the positive from today, because I did want this so bad, and I feel like I kind of stumbled a little bit but I also took steps forward,” Crochet said. “So it’s alright as long as we’re moving in the right direction.”

Crochet mainly stuck with his cutter and four-seamer, throwing the cutter 19 times and four-seam 18 times while limiting the sweeper and sinker to just two each. Both sweepers came against Bryce Harper, leading to a foul tip and a single, but the cutter drew five whiffs on eight swings, the majority coming in the bottom of the first.

“I felt like I was ripping some of my best bullets, especially the cutters,” Crochet said. “In the second inning they stopped swinging at them and I felt like I was executing. Even with the walks, it’s an uncharacteristic kind of day for me, but I felt like overall the execution was good.”

The Red Sox went on to lose 7-5, falling to 2-4 in Grapefruit League play.

Fitts hits 99 mph

Competing for a spot at the back of the Red Sox starting rotation, Richard Fitts made an impressive statement during Friday’s outing, hitting 99 mph on the radar gun during an at bat against Harper.

Fitts, whose fastball averaged 94.5 mph during his big league cameo at the end of last season, averaged 97.1 over the course of his two scoreless innings against the Phillies. He dialed it up to 98.1 and 99.0 during the fifth-inning at bat against the two-time MVP, and all told he recorded three strikeouts against Brandon Marsh, Johan Rojas and Alec Bohm.

The right-hander allowed two hits, no walks and threw 26 of his 36 pitches for strikes.

Mayer shows off batting eye

After going 0 for 2 on Automated Ball-Strike System challenges on Thursday, the Red Sox had much better luck with their challenges on Friday.

Catcher Seby Zavala converted the first successful ABS challenge in Red Sox history in the bottom of the second, overturning a called ball to give Garrett Crochet a strikeout over Brandon Marsh. Then later on Marcelo Mayer came out on the right side of two challenges to draw a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the top of the third.

The first challenge was initiated by the Phillies and found a called ball was indeed a fraction of an inch off the plate. Then the subsequent 3-1 pitch was called a strike, but Mayer challenged and got the call overturned for ball four. That drove in Nick Sogard to put Boston up 1-0 and helped spark what wound up being a three-run rally, with Abraham Toro following with a two-run single.

Walks on walks

Friday wasn’t a banner day for either team as far as command goes, especially early on. The two sides combined for 16 walks on the day, including 12 before the top of the fourth was finished.

The Red Sox drew three walks with the bases loaded. Mayer had the first in the top of the third, Roman Anthony drew the second in the top of the fourth, and Tyler Miller the third in the top of the ninth.

Boston led for most of the game, but Philadelphia scored six runs from the sixth inning onwards to take the lead, including four runs and two homers off Robert Stock and two runs and another homer off Grant Gambrell. The Red Sox had a chance to tie things up in the ninth but couldn’t complete the comeback.

Campbell struggling

Top prospect Kristian Campbell hasn’t gotten off to a good start this spring, and Friday was particularly difficult as the 22-year-old went 0 for 4 with four strikeouts. Campbell remains hitless through four Grapefruit League games, going 0 for 9 with seven strikeouts, two walks and a run scored.

Injury updates

Prior to the game Alex Cora provided a number of injury updates to reporters in Clearwater, per audio posted by WEEI’s Rob Bradford.

Masataka Yoshida (shoulder surgery rehab) is throwing up to 45 feet and has been cleared to play in games as a designated hitter. Rafael Devers, who is on a slower ramp-up schedule, is on track to begin playing in games by next Wednesday.

Wilyer Abreu (viral gastrointestinal illness) has been cleared for baseball activities, and Connor Wong (shoulder soreness) is playing catch and should make his Grapefruit League debut either Saturday or Sunday.

Garrett Whitlock (elbow surgery rehab) threw an up-and-down bullpen on Thursday that went well, and the hope is to stretch him out to three innings by the end of camp to prepare him for a multi-inning role similar to the one he thrived in as a rookie in 2021.

Brayan Bello (right shoulder soreness) threw a bullpen on Friday, and according to MassLive’s Christopher Smith he threw at 70-75% effort, as instructed by the club. Bello told Smith that he felt good and believes he’s still on track to be ready in time for Opening Day.

Coming up next

The Red Sox return home to Fort Myers on Saturday, when they’ll host the Minnesota Twins for the first of six Chairman’s Cup meetings. Tanner Houck is scheduled to get the start against Minnesota’s Bailey Ober, and the Red Sox are also expected to send Aroldis Chapman, Justin Slaten, Justin Wilson, Luis Guerrero and Cooper Criswell to the mound.

First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on NESN, NESN 360 and WEEI 93.7 FM.