Porcello off mark as impressive streak ends

CLEVELAND — It was a situation Rick Porcello hadn’t endured for more than two months, and the timing couldn’t have been worse for the Red Sox.

For the first time since July 24, Porcello didn’t deliver a quality start, and it hurt the Red Sox en route to a 5-4 loss Thursday at Progressive Field in Game 1 of their American League Division Series against the Indians.

The right-hander, one of the leading candidates for the AL Cy Young Award, turned in his shortest start of the season, lasting just 4 1/3 innings. The five earned runs allowed tied a season high. And it snapped Porcello’s impressive streak of 13 straight quality starts.

Game Date Time Matchup TV/Highlights Gm 1 Oct. 6   CLE 5, BOS 4 Gm 2 Oct. 7 4:30 p.m. BOS @ CLE TBS Gm 3 Oct. 9 4 p.m. CLE @ BOS TBS *Gm 4 Oct. 10 TBD CLE @ BOS TBS *Gm 5 Oct. 12 TBD BOS @ CLE TBS *- If necessary | All times listed ETShop for postseason gear: Red Sox | Indians • Complete Postseason coverage

“It’s tough,” Porcello said. “You go out there and give up five runs. That’s never how you want to start a playoff series off. The good thing is we’ve got tomorrow and there are four games left in this thing, so we’ll bounce back [Friday] and get after it.”

The one thing manager John Farrell made sure not to do was spend his bullpen. Drew Pomeranz won’t be available on Friday after going 2 1/3 innings and throwing 50 pitches. Two other relievers — …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com