Kluber hit hard by Twins as struggles continue

BOSTON -- The Red Sox acquired Corey Kluber over the offseason largely for what they projected would be his dependability, pinpoint control and professionalism.

While the last trait still can’t be argued, Kluber (0-4, 8.50 ERA) hasn’t lived up to the rest so far.

The veteran righty hit an early-season nadir on Wednesday when he was hit around for seven earned runs and two long home runs over five innings in a 10-4 loss to the Twins at Fenway Park. Kluber walked two, hit two batters and struck out four.

The toughest part about it for the Red Sox is that Kluber pinned his club into an early hole, giving up a two-run homer to Edouard Julien as part of a three-run first inning and a three-run rocket by Joey Gallo as part of a four-run third.

“Early on especially, I just didn’t execute enough pitches,” said Kluber. “Left too many in the fat part of the zone or missing off the plate and getting myself in bad counts. It wasn't a good recipe for success.”

In a vacuum, manager Alex Cora likely would have taken Kluber out after three innings.

But on a night when the Sox were without their two bulk-inning relievers (Kutter Crawford and Josh Winckowski) due to recent workload, Cora needed to ride with Kluber as long as he could.

Kluber threw a season-high 103 pitches over five innings, and Cora had no choice but to go to his ‘pen for the final four innings.

“I think at the end, it’s actually the walks and all that stuff that comes before the big swings,” said Cora. “When we pitch ahead in the first inning, we do a good job. When we’re behind, we’re getting crushed. Corey will tell you. It's the leadoff walk, the hit by pitch, all that stuff before the big swing. We have to control traffic. That’s the most important thing and then after that, you avoid damage.”

The Sox had enough confidence in Kluber to give him the nod on Opening Day. In that one, Kluber was only able to get 10 outs, allowing six hits -- including two homers -- and four walks for a pitcher whose reputation has always been as a strike thrower.

Next time out, Kluber showed encouraging signs in a loss to the Pirates, giving up only one run over five innings in his team’s 4-1 defeat.

Early on in his third start of the season at Tropicana Field, Kluber looked primed to build off the previous outing. But he faltered in the fifth inning as the wheels fell off for the Red Sox in a 9-3 defeat. On that day, Kluber gave up four hits and four runs.

Then came Wednesday, an obvious step back. How does he assess the beginning of his time with the Red Sox?

“A mixed bag, I guess,” said Kluber. “A couple where I feel like I did execute pitches and a couple where I feel like I didn't. Those couple, I didn’t really give the team a chance to win. Ultimately, that’s not going to be good enough.”

As Chris Sale proved in a vintage effort on Tuesday night, it’s too early to read too much into Kluber’s small sample size.

At the same time, the Red Sox need their rotation to display consistency and place less of a burden on an overworked bullpen, which is going to require Kluber to rebound in the near future.

Things are getting competitive in Boston’s rotation. The Sox are going with a six-man rotation until the team’s next off-day on April 27.

At that point, Cora is likely to slim back to five starters. More competition will arise when James Paxton is ready to be activated, though the lefty took a step back by getting just two outs and giving up five hits and seven runs on Wednesday night in his latest Minor League rehab outing for Triple-A Worcester.

Kluber will take the ball next on Tuesday in Baltimore. He will try to make the time in between productive.

“I think more than anything after a game like today, you try to move on from it and get ready for the next one tomorrow,” Kluber said. “There are going to be times throughout the season where you’ll get your butt kicked and I had a big part in that tonight, but you’ve got to flush it and move on and have another one to be ready for.”