Everything you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 5-1 win over the A's, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
That's more like it: A slow run-up to the season for Red Sox starters (I don't know, maybe a little more spring training work next year, huh?) was, hopefully, completed on Tuesday night when Rick Porcello turned in the best start by a Sox this season when he shut out the Athletics over eight innings — the longest outing by a starter this season and his longest since his complete-game one-hitter on Aug. 3 vs. the Yankees — on just two hits.
"It was just a bad start for everybody," said Alex Cora. "I mean, people can point out our spring training or whatever. I don’t think that’s the thing. Judge us over 162 games. See what happens. And they did struggle early. Now they found their rhythm and we’ll see where it takes us.”
Porcello was masterful. He only allowed two runners to reach second base in the game, and Porcello finished by retiring his final 10 batters. He threw 114 pitches (78 strikes), struck out eight and faced just four over the minimum. It was Porcello's second-straight win and lowered his ERA from 7.43 to 5.52. The Sox have won his last three starts. Porcello used a season-high 41 sliders to keep the A's off-balance.
"He did an outstanding job pounding the strike zone, going in and out, keeping them off balance. Great rhythm," Cora said. "Him and Sandy, they were in tune from Pitch One. He gave us something we needed."
https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1123412337610960896
Long ball offense: The Red Sox got a solo shot from Mookie Betts in the first inning and a two-run homer by Mitch Moreland in the fourth, both off starter Aaron Brooks, to give Porcello all the backing he needed.
"It was a total team effort," Porcello said. “We swung the bats well. We played good defense."
TURNING POINT
The Athletics were hanging around in this game, trailing 2-0 in the fourth when Brooks fell behind Moreland 3-1 with one on. Hello, dead center.
https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1123382841717424131
THREE UP
Porcello: He struck out a season-high eight, his most since 8/25/18 at Tampa, and it was his first start with no runs allowed, two or fewer hits, and eight-plus strikeouts. The last Sox starter with 8.0 scoreless innings and two or fewer hits allowed was Chris Sale on Aug. 8, 2017, at Tampa. The last to do so at Fenway was Rich Hill on Sept. 25, 2015, vs. the Orioles. So, yeah, good start.
Betts: Betts, who is hitting .452 in his last 11 games, has started to regain his MVP form. Betts scored his 500th career run in his 674th career game. According to Elias, the only Sox to score their 500th run within 700 career games are Ted Williams (548 games), Nomar Garciaparra (661), Johnny Pesky (668), and Betts (674).
Michael Chavis: Had two more hits to raise his average to .313. He also scored each time he reached base to get innings going.
TWO DOWN
Jackie Bradley Jr.: Went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts to lower his average to .148 — the third-worst mark in the Majors. Something might need to be done soon.
Tyler Thornburg: Took over for Porcello in the ninth and promptly gave up a 423-foot bomb to Robbie Grossman on a 3-2 pitch, and then a one-out walk forced Matt Barnes to get warm. After 24 pitches, Thornburg's ERA is now 7.71.
QUOTE OF NOTE
“They can’t shift that one." — Moreland, on his home run, which ended an 0-for-15 skid.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- The Red Sox have allowed 30 runs in their last 8 games.
- In their last 15 games since April 14, Red Sox starting pitchers have a 3.14 ERA. Red Sox starters have allowed four or fewer earned runs in each of their last 17 starts, including three or fewer in 15 of those.
- Betts extended his hitting streak to six games and his on-base streak to 11 games.