Kluber finds the zone, earns 1st win of 2023

BALTIMORE -- Corey Kluber reached back Tuesday night and found the version of himself the Red Sox envisioned when they signed him in the offseason.

The veteran righty mixed speeds, displayed pinpoint location and held down a strong Orioles lineup en route to an 8-6 win for the Red Sox at Camden Yards.

While the offense erupted for a couple of big innings early, highlighted by Jarren Duran’s first career grand slam, Kluber made it stand up.

“Run support like that is always great,” said Kluber. “It’s a big confidence booster out there on the mound, having that kind of run support to work with. The guys have been swinging the bats really well recently. You get that many runs early on, it’s a lot easier to go out there and pound the zone.”

After his first four starts for the Sox -- all losses -- Kluber got the confidence-boosting performance he needed. Over six innings, Kluber scattered five hits and a run, walking none and striking out three.

“He’s a stud. He's done it for so many years,” Duran said of Kluber. “It doesn't surprise me when he goes out there and carves like he did.”

The difference?

“I think I just did a better job of executing pitches in the strike zone,” said Kluber. “Getting more counts in my favor and not trying to have to make really good pitches in hitters’ counts. I think that was probably the biggest difference for me.”

The version of Kluber who won two Cy Young Awards for the Cleveland franchise in 2014 and ‘17 isn’t going to magically re-appear, nor do the Red Sox expect that version. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been able to sign him to a modest one-year, $10-million deal in free agency.

What Boston needs is steady craftsmanship from the 37-year-old, and that’s what he provided on Tuesday.

Of Kluber’s 80 pitches, he threw 27 curveballs, 23 sinkers, 14 cutters, 11 changeups and five four-seamers. His hardest pitch of the night was 89.5 mph.

“I think the command was great,” manager Alex Cora said. “He worked on a few things. It paid off. This guy, been there, done that. He’s been hit around before and made adjustments and then he started getting people out. So it was a good one for him.”

With sub-90s velocity at this stage of his career, Kluber’s margin for error has decreased significantly, which explains why he pitched to an 8.50 ERA in his first four starts.

But Kluber was in the same boat last season and he made 31 starts, going 10-10 with a 4.34 ERA for the Rays.

The one thing Kluber won’t do at this stage of his career is panic, even if his sluggish start set off some panic in Red Sox nation.

A rough stretch at the beginning of the season always gets more magnified than at other points.

“There is nothing else to look at at this point with the start [of the season],” Kluber said. “It’s easy to get wrapped up in that. I just look at it from start to start and really just try to focus on that start. Tomorrow I’ll show up and start getting ready for the next one.”

The Orioles weren’t buying too much into Kluber’s early-season struggles.

"He's always had good stuff,” said O’s center fielder Cedric Mullins. “Good movement on his pitches, especially when all of them are working in [the] zone and making sure you're not trying to chase. He's just an all-around quality pitcher."

The start that preceded Tuesday’s outing was the worst of the season for Kluber, who was tagged for seven runs and two homers in the first three innings of a five-inning performance.

But that’s where his stoic demeanor serves him well.

“I definitely think it's something I have learned to do,” said Kluber. “I think I have gotten pretty good at it, whether it’s good or bad. Separating from start to start and not letting things snowball too long. Just realizing each start is individual to itself and trying to separate them. Each one is a new one and I think for the most part it has served me well not letting things bleed into the next one.”