Efficient Porcello dominates, gets 21st win

BALTIMORE — Rick Porcello was the king of precision at Camden Yards on Monday night, undeterred by one of baseball’s most potent lineups and unfazed when he was issued a warning after hitting Manny Machado with a pitch in the fourth inning.

For weeks now, Porcello has had razor-sharp command and focus. But in leading the Red Sox to a complete-game 5-2 victory over the Orioles in the opener of a four-game showdown, the sinkerballer took it to another level.

Porcello (21-4, 3.08 ERA) went the distance in just 88 pitches, allowing him to become the first pitcher in the Majors this season to go nine innings in less than 90 pitches.

After suffering a 1-0 loss to Baltimore just five days ago, Porcello had a battle plan in his mind that would enable him to give Boston’s entire bullpen the night off this time.

“We knew coming into it that they’re going to be aggressive,” Porcello said. “We just saw them five days ago and that’s the way they’ve been all year. So we’re just trying to use that aggressiveness to our advantage, go beyond the strike zone. Mix up fastballs, sinkers and four-seamers. Just keep them off-balance.”

The win gave the Red Sox a season-high lead of four games over Baltimore in the American League East with 12 games left.

Over the last 30 years of Red Sox games, Porcello pitched the third most efficient nine-inning performance. Aaron …

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