So often, you hear pitchers say they want to keep repeating their delivery or remain in the same “arm slot” – staying consistent with their windup and how they pitch the ball.

Before this season, the Boston Red Sox challenged left-hander reliever Robby Scott to repeat two different kinds of deliveries.

“There have been some bumps in the road,” he said.

But many of those bumps have smoothed out. Scott is again putting up good numbers with the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs – a 1.90 ERA and 0.98 WHIP (walks/hits per inning).

That production earned Scott, 25, a second straight invitation to the Eastern League All-Star Game, held at Hadlock Field on Wednesday.

Scott’s numbers last season (1.96/1.17) were star-quality – and he pitched in the 2014 game in Altoona. But, as we’ve written before, there was a reason for Scott’s return to the Sea Dogs.

Left-handed hitters, who should have had a harder time against Scott, batted .417 against him last year.

Thus, a second delivery was introduced. Besides coming over the top, Scott will drop down against left-handers with a sidearm fastball or slider.

That sounds easier than doing it.

“Trying to be consistent and keeping the arm slot is a challenge,” Scott said. “Dropping down and then going back and finding that consistent arm slot on top.

“I’ve gotten a lot better, going back and forth, being able to repeat the delivery from both angles.

“One thing that has led to some success.”

The numbers: right-handers are batting .299 (1.12 WHIP) against Scott. Lefties are batting .118 (.0.73).

“He has adjusted well,” Portland pitching coach Kevin Walker said.

Scott, 25, began the season not only adjusting his deliveries, but he was also called to fill in with Triple-A Pawtucket twice. Since coming back to Portland to stay (for now) on May 20, Scott has allowed only three earned runs.

“Ever since, he’s settled in and found his consistency,” Walker said. “He’s found what he did last year, while dropping down to give lefties another look. It’s coming around.”

Along with the drop-down approach to lefties, Scott said his curveball from the regular delivery is improved; all of which make him one of the best relievers in the league.

The Red Sox seem in no hurry to promote Scott, a nondrafted free agent in 2011. Boston is giving Scott time to establish his two-delivery attack.

Besides, Scott is a reliever – one of the strong points for Portland this season.

Already, three pitchers have been promoted out of Portland’s bullpen to Pawtucket – Dayan Diaz, Jonathan Aro and Pat Light.

Scott appears on deck for Pawtucket, but he knows not to stress over it.

“It’s out of my control,” he said. “I’m having a lot more success against lefties. It’s something I put time into and happy the work is paying off for me.

“At the end of the day, this isn’t where I want to be. Pawtucket isn’t where I want to be. Obviously the end goal is to be in Boston.

“I’ll continue to grind here and continue to get better.”

He gets rewarded for the grind this week, suiting up for another All-Star game.

 

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