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| (Getty Images) |
Rick Porcello pretty much has
The Empire's number. Prior to tonight, he'd held them to an ERA
under 2.00 at Fenway. Then, after giving up a solo HR on Friday, he retired twenty-one
Pinstriped Posers in a row
in a complete-game 4-1 win over New York. The one-hitter was the shortest Red Sox-Yankee game in 24 years at 2 hours and 15 minutes. Porcello needed just 86 pitches to gain his 14th win of 2018. Ironically, things started off poorly for the former
Cy Young winner—as he plunked the game's lead-off hitter on an 0-2 count. After
Mookie Betts was floored by the head-hunting Yankee starter the next inning, both benches were "warned"—leading to
Alex Cora's first ejection as a manager. Boston responded to the near-beaning of their MVP candidate by putting up three quick runs—highlighted by (who else?)
Steve Pearce's
fourth HR in two days. The only downside was the 10-day disabling of newcomer
Ian Kinsler—who left the game after scoring the fourth Red Sox run. Betts was moved to second base (his position in the minor leagues) for the balance of the game. The win pushes Boston's lead in the AL East to 7.5 games.
