BSJ Game Report: Red Sox 10, Rangers 3 -- Three things we learned

The Red Sox won their second straight in Arlington, a 10-3 victory over the Texas Rangers. Here are three things we learned:

1-Porcello went out in style

Not only was this Rick Porcello's final start of the season, but it was also, in all likelihood, the final start of his Red Sox career. Porcello is eligible for free agency and the Sox rebuffed a request in spring training for a contract extension. Given how much money the Sox have committed to other veteran starters, it's unlikely that they want to retain Porcello, especially in a season when he posted a 5.52 ERA.

But while Porcello has had a mostly disappointing season, he has finished strong. He allowed three runs in the first, then didn't allow another, retiring the final 11 hitters he faced and striking out eight. Over his last three starts, he's allowed a total of five runs in 17 innings. That's been accomplished by returning to his two-seamer, which has made him more effective. It seemed like an emotional might for Porcello, who hugged many of his coaches and teammates in the dugout when he came out of after six innings."I don't want to get too emotional or close the door on anything,'' said Porcello. "Who knows what's going to happen. But from the bottom of my heart, it's been an absolute pleasure to wear this uniform and pitch for the Red Sox organization the last five years.'' You'll not find a better pro in that clubhouse.

2-Devers piles up the milestones

It seemed like every time Rafael Devers came to the plate late in the game, he was setting or tying a club mark. In the seventh, he homered to lead off the inning, giving him 32 homers, tying him with Tony Conigliaro for the most homers by a Red Sox player in a season before turning 23. The homer also gave him 87 extra-base hits, the most in a season for a Red Sox player before turning 23, passing Ted Williams. Then, in the ninth, he slashed an opposite-field double, giving him 52 doubles, surpassing Wade Boggs for most doubles by a Red Sox third baseman. The double also gave him 195 hits, the most by a Red Sox player before turning 23, passing teammate Xander Bogaerts, who had 194 in 2015. Finally, Devers is now four hits away from 200 hits this season. To find an American League player who accumulated as many 196 hits in a season before turning 23, you had to go back to 1996, when Alex Rodriguez had 215. So in one night, Devers either tied or surpassed records held by Tony Conigliaro, Ted Williams and Wade Boggs. "It's amazing what he's doing,'' marveled Cora. "It's a joy to see him getting locked in again.''

3-Context is important when it comes to home runs.

The Sox got three homers -- Mitch Moreland, Christian Vazquez and Devers -- to give them 241 homers this year, establishing a new club record, eclipsing the previous record of 238, set in 2003. And make no mistake: 241 homers is a huge total. But it comes in a season in which everyone is hitting more homers. For the second time in three seasons, a record was set for most homers in a season. How much has the game changed? A mere five years ago, just 57 players hit 20 or more homers; this year, as of Tuesday, 57 players had already hit 30 or more homers and another five were sitting at 29. It's possible that at many as 65 players could hit 30 or more homers. Meanwhile, at Triple-A, using the same ball used as the major leagues for the first time, homers were up nearly 80 percent. Clearly, there's an issue with the ball and it's something that MLB needs to address before the numbers become cartoonish -- the way they were in the Steroid Era.