The Boston Red Sox fell to 31-45 on the season after falling to the Colorado Rockies 3-2 in the first of three from Coors Field on Monday night. Despite the loss, rookie left-hander Jake Bennett turned in what was comfortably the best start of his short major league career. 

Bennett was in control throughout his start, retiring the first seven Colorado batters in order before allowing his first hit, a single off the bat of third baseman Kyle Karros. Overall, the rookie left-hander allowed just four singles while generating 15 swing and misses, striking out nine, both career highs. The 25-year-old needed only 72 pitches to get through six shutout innings against a Colorado team that entered Monday night with a top 10 OPS when playing at home. 

Unfortunately for Bennett, his career night was for naught, as the Rockies rallied for four straight hits off closer Aroldis Chapman, including a bases-clearing three-run triple to stun the Red Sox in the bottom of the ninth inning. 

"He was awesome," interim manager Chad Tracy said of Bennett after the loss. "Pounded the strike zone, got some quick outs, was in the zone, ahead in counts, got some weak contact, you couldn't ask for more, he was tremendous," he continued. 

As noted by Red Sox Nation Stats on Twitter/X Bennett became just the third pitcher in Red Sox history to earn a no-decision in a start with six shutout innings, nine or more strikeouts, and zero walks. 

The 25-year-old Bennett was recalled on June 10 in place of Brayan Bello, who was demoted to Triple-A after a disastrous start to the season. He has made three starts in place of Bello. In those three starts, Bennett has allowed six runs on 14 hits in 16.1 innings pitched, striking out 18 and walking only one. Overall, the 25-year-old has made five starts in the big leagues, posting a 3.71 ERA in 26.2 innings.

Since being recalled, Bennett has flashed significantly better stuff, generating 40 whiffs in his last three starts, a significant jump from the 15 he generated during his first stint with Boston in the wake of the injury to Garrett Crochet. Similarly, he has seen his velocity tick up across the board, most notably on his four-seam fastball, which has jumped over a full mile per hour since his return to the majors. 

Standing 6'4", 234 lbs with an extension that ranks in the 94th percentile, Bennett is the latest big-framed, left-handed starter to see their game elevated by the Red Sox pitching lab built by Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow and pitching coach Andrew Bailey, joining fellow rookie lefties Payton Tolle and Connelly Early. The trio has combined for a 3.44 ERA in 172.2 innings, while taking on an increased role in a Boston rotation ravaged by injuries.

Boston will look to bounce back from one of the worst losses of the year on Tuesday night in game two of three in Denver. Sonny Gray (8-1, 3.12 ERA) will get the start for the Red Sox opposite rookie lefty Sean Sullivan (0-1, 10.29 ERA) for the Rockies. First pitch from Coors Field set for 8:40 p.m. ET. 

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