Matt Turner Throws Out First Pitch, Red Sox Score 20 Runs

The slumping Boston Red Sox turned to a new starting pitcher yesterday and the team responded with one of its best games of the year in a 20-run outburst against the Tampa Bay Rays.

New England Revolution and United States goalkeeper, and former high school baseball player, Matt Turner threw a perfect strike for the game’s ceremonial first pitch before giving way to Nathan Evoaldi seven innings of one run ball thanks to Rays 2B Brandon Lowe’s solo homer in the 6th to make it 14-1. We’re not going to talk about the 9th inning aside from Turner would’ve closed it out better.

For you Red Sox fans who have found this, welcome, we’re the Bent Musket and we cover the Revolution of Major League Soccer. They’re in first place this year, Matt Turner is the starting keeper, and he just helped the USA with the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the regional tournament for North and Central America and the Caribbean. The US beat Mexico and Rogelio Funes Mori in the final, hence the reference from Jose above. Turner started all six games in that tournament, recorded 5 shutouts, and only allowed one goal all tournament on a penalty kick. Basically this:

I’m not going to add in all the Turner should’ve pitched the 9th tweets, there were too many and they all were great, proud of everyone who contributed to that last night.

Matt Turner was a late bloomer into the game of soccer and played it more as a way to keep in shape for baseball season in high school but eventually went full time into goalkeeping, got the starting job for the Fairfield (CT) University Stags, and an undrafted rookie tryout and contract with the Revolution in 2016. He got the starting nod for the season opener back in 2018 and is now playing so well for club and country this year he gets to hang out at Fenway Park.

Turner also did some warmup tosses with Brandon Bye at Revs practice, showing off some behind the back transfers which seems far too natural for a guy who hasn’t played baseball competitively in a decade. Good decision to throw off the mound too. Turner’s teammates were also in attendance and enjoyed an different kind of impressive attacking display in Boston.

Brandon Bye, DeJuan Jones, Tajon Buchanan, Adam Buksa, and Matt Polster were all spotted at what I think is the suite/box level and we’ll be petitioning OptaStats for them to all get assists added to their season totals for helping the Red Sox get to 20 runs as well.

Special shoutout to Joe Giza at WBZ Boston for a lot of the footage from last night and letting the soccer hashtag in on the fun of Turner’s first pitch at Fenway.

Now if we can only get the Revs to support Matt Turner with goals the way the Sawx score runs for him...

The first place New England Revolution return to MLS action this weekend with a road trip against Toronto FC at BMO Field this Saturday, August 14th at 8pm EST.