PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Steven Wright's start Saturday was going pretty well. Until such a point that it wasn't.
Wright didn't allow a hit over the first three innings -- though he had walked three, including two in the first inning.
"Today was probably the best I felt with my knuckleball and consistency,'' he said, "minus the first couple of walks. But once I found it, I was able to throw strikes with consistency.''
"I thought he really established a release point from the second inning on,'' said John Farrell.
But in the fourth, the wheels came off for Wright. An error by Xander Bogaerts led to a big inning, with Wright allowing the next five hitters to reach.
"They got a little more aggressive,'' said Wright. "I feel like early on they were making me show them that I could throw the knuckleball] for a strike. I don't think they really got good wood on any of them, but they were aggressive and they just started finding the holes.''
"Up until that point,'' said Farrell, "he was gaining touch and feel for the off-speed knuckleball. I'm a fan of the knuckleball because of the contrast in style.''