McAdam: In Rick Porcello, Red Sox may have the perfect pitcher to close out Yanks

NEW YORK -- He doesn't have Chris Sale's intimidation factor or wipeout slider. He doesn't have Nathan Eovaldi's triple-digit heat.

But as he and Red Sox go for the American League Division Series clincher Tuesday night, Rick Porcello has something they don't: a track record as a Yankee killer.

In four years with the Red Sox, Porcello sports a 2.61 ERA against the Yankees across a dozen starts.

Included in that run is what was arguably the best-pitched game of the season by any Red Sox pitcher. On August 3, Porcello tossed a complete-game one-hitter in a 4-1 victory over New York at Fenway. A solo homer by Miguel Andujar in the third inning was the only thing standing between not only a shutout, but potentially a perfect game.

(When you invite comparisons to Pedro Martinez's one-hit masterpiece in 1999 -- also against the Yankees; also spoiled by one solo homer -- you know you must be doing something right.)

That wasn't the only strong performance by Porcello against the Yankees in 2018 -- he made three other starts and finished with a 2.31 ERA against them in 2018. But it was clearly the best, not just this year, but perhaps, in his career.

Porcello made it a point that night to attack the strike zone and his aggressiveness paid off. He hopes to use that same approach Tuesday at Yankee Stadium to send the Red Sox into an ALCS date with the Houston Astros.



"I just think attacking their hitters,'' said Porcello Monday when asked what made him so successful that August night in Fenway. "That's the biggest thing. These guys are very good hitters. They're very well coached. They have a solid approach. If you fall behind guys, you give them the opportunity to see pitches in the strike zone. That's the only way you can get back into the count because they're disciplined and they don't chase a lot.

"I think attacking (their lineup) and being aggressive...and go from there.''

Porcello has a reputation for a bulldog approach on the mound. He works quickly, doesn't nibble and mostly avoid walks, averaging just 2.3 per nine innings.

If there's an element of Porcello's resume that could balance out Porcello's success against the Yankees, it's his difficulty in the postseason. Like teammate David Price, he's never won a start in the playoffs, with a career 5.33 ERA. In four postseason starts, he's 0-2 with a 5.85 ERA.

Still, he looks forward to getting an opportunity to change all of that. And for someone who grew up in New Jersey, there's no better place to begin his turnaround than the Bronx.

"This is what it's all about,'' Porcello said. "You get an opportunity to have the ball in Yankee Stadium, Game 4. This is the culmination of the entire season. So I'm definitely looking forward to that and giving us a chance to win.''

He'll face a desperate Yankee team which was embarrassed 16-1 in Game 3 in the front of its restless fans. New York can expect to come out swinging to try to force a deciding Game 5 back at Fenway on Thursday night.

But the Red Sox like their chances of ending the series Tuesday with Porcello leading the way.

"Rick's a bulldog,'' said Andrew Benintendi. "He'll go out there and compete. He doesn't care what situation he's thrown in. You saw it the other night (in Game 1) — he came in in the eighth inning. He just wants to win. We're confident in him. He goes out there and attacks. He's going to take it right to them.

"Hopefully, we can put up a good number of runs (Tuesday) and get out of here with a win.''