Rick Porcello’s season debut was good enough for the Red Sox to earn their second win against the Toronto Blue Jays this weekend, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement from the 27-year-old starting pitcher.
Porcello gave up seven hits and four earned runs, while walking one and striking out seven on 105 pitches over six innings. All four of his runs were allowed in the first three innings, giving the Red Sox offense enough time to make another comeback and win 8-4.
Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista did all the damage with a pair of two-run homers, both of which came off hanging sliders in the first and third innings. After that, though, Porcello settled down with a 1-2-3 fourth inning.
He allowed one walk in the fifth and two hits in the sixth, but the Blue Jays weren’t able to produce any more runs.
Porcello’s ability to bounce back after a rough first three innings and shut down a high-powered Blue Jays lineup for the rest of his outing was impressive. His command also was encouraging, as evidenced by his one walk.
Overall, it was a good first start for Porcello as he tries to rebound from a disappointing first season in Boston.
— The Red Sox offense has been firing on all cylinders through five games this season. They have 28 runs on 43 hits through four games, in addition to scoring eight runs in each of the first two games of this series.
The last team to score 6-plus runs in the first four games of a season was the 2013 Baltimore Orioles.
— The Red Sox bullpen pitched six scoreless innings in Friday’s win, and this unit was equally good Saturday. Koji Uehara and Robbie Ross Jr. pitched the last three innings of the game and gave up zero hits and zero earned runs.
Boston’s bullpen has held 24 consecutive Blue Jays batters without a hit in this series.
— After going 0 for 4 on opening day against the Cleveland Indians, Dustin Pedroia has six hits in his last 15 at-bats. He was the only player on either team to collect three hits Saturday. Boston’s second baseman finished 3 for 5 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Pedroia’s defense was top-notch as well.
— Rusney Castillo also made his season debut for the Red Sox on Saturday, and he went 2 for 4 with a run scored. His defense in center field and speed on the basepaths were solid, too.
— Jose Bautista provided all of Toronto’s offense, but a bad bounce in the fifth inning that saw the ball sail over his head and toward the right field wall allowed two runs to score, giving Boston a 6-4 lead.
— Bautista’s 27 multi-HR games since 2010 lead the majors.
— The defending American League East champs are in an early-season hole at 2-4.
Thumbnail photo via Dan Hamilton/USA TODAY Sports Images
