Chicago – Miguel Cabrera walked into the clubhouse Thursday morning and saw Matthew Boyd grinding over the scouting reports.
“Please give us seven innings today,” Cabrera said. “Please, seven innings. Save the bullpen.”
Boyd looked up, nodded, and said he was shooting for at least that.
“OK, nine innings — be a man,” Cabrera said, laughing. “Just pitch.”
Boyd pitched. Superbly. But only for five innings. He struck out a career-high tying 13, but was at 106 pitches and, after allowing his second home run of the game, was pulled with one out in the sixth.