ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It was Rick Porcello’s best start in a month, and John Farrell decided to make it Porcello’s shortest start of the season.
At just 82 pitches, the fewest he’s thrown since being pulled after a seven-inning stint in a blowout win against Atlanta last year, Porcello got the hook.
Porcello allowed just two runs while striking out seven, a productive start for the struggling Cy Young winner. His face tightened and he said nothing as Farrell took the ball out of his hands with two on and nobody out in the seventh inning, but the Red Sox bullpen has been too good to not call upon in situations like this one.