Boston Red Sox starter Rick Porcello has been a ground ball pitcher throughout his career, but it was the long ball that hurt him in Wednesday’s 6-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins.
Porcello gave up two home runs, bringing his total to 11 on the season. He’s allowed at least one home run in seven of his 10 starts this season.
The Red Sox gave Porcello a 2-0 lead when second baseman Dustin Pedroia hit a two-run homer in the third inning. Porcello wasn’t able to provide a shutdown inning as the Twins used two walks and three hits to take a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third. Porcello needed 37 pitches to get through the inning.
“The biggest inning is the one which follows after we score, and that’s been a little bit of a nemesis so far to date,” Red Sox manager John Farrell told reporters, via NESN’s “Red Sox Gameday Live.”
“It’s difficult to maintain momentum when it’s given right back. He gets squeezed on the 3-2 pitch to (Aaron) Hicks that beings that three-run inning, but still, there’s ample opportunities inside that inning to shut it off.”
Giving up walks is a problem against any team, but especially against a Twins lineup that leads the majors with 102 runs scored.
“They bunched some hits and walks together in the third inning, and after that, (Porcello) makes two elevated pitches that costs him three runs on two swings of the bat,” Farrell said. “We set the tone early with (Pedroia’s first two-run homer), and unfortunately, the combination of the hits and walks give it right back.”
The Twins added to their lead in the fourth inning when center fielder Aaron Hicks blasted a two-run homer to right field off an 85 mph changeup. Porcello left the ball in the middle of the plate and elevated enough where Hicks could make great contact.
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Another two-run homer by Pedroia in the fifth inning trimmed Minnesota’s lead to 5-4, but Porcello was unable to shut down the Twins lineup and gave up a second homer in the sixth inning. Red Sox catcher Blake Swihart wanted the ball up in the zone against Eddie Rosario, but Porcello missed and the pitch was low enough for the Twins left fielder to send the ball into the right field seats.
Porcello is now 4-3 with a 5.07 earned run average on the season. After an encouraging start against the Seattle Mariners in a win on May 16, he has struggled in his last two outings.
May 22 vs. LAA: 6 2/3 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 1 HR, 3 BB, 4 K
May 27 vs. MIN: 7 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 2 HR, 2 BB, 2 K
The Red Sox are only 3 1/2 games out of first place in the American League East division, but they need much better starting pitching to go on a run and gain ground in the standings. Boston entered Wednesday’s action with a 5.10 ERA among starters, which was the worst in the AL.
As arguably the best pitcher in the rotation, Porcello has to lead the way with more consistent results.
Thumbnail photo via Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports Images
