Porcello more confident, effective

BOSTON — There is a confident look to Rick Porcello these days. His sinker is back, and he has a new catcher in Christian Vazquez. That combination has Porcello feeling more comfortable than he did at any point during his disappointing first season with the Red Sox.

Porcello improved to 3-0 on Wednesday night by going seven strong innings (six hits, three runs, nine strikeouts) in a 7-3 win over the Rays.

The truth is that he was better than that line would indicate. Porcello took a two-hit shutout into the sixth, by which time he had a 6-0 lead. He was in complete command, thanks to the sinker and a changeup that led to several strikeouts.

“I’m getting good results with my weapons,” said Porcello. “I’m doing what I know how to do, and in a comfortable fashion. I’m not really trying to get the strikeouts. If I get to two strikes, we’re taking our shots, but we’re really just trying to execute pitches and see what happens. That’s all we can do. I can’t really control anything after I let go of the ball.”

Porcello actually looks to be in control, and Vazquez has …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com