Boston Red Sox Mound Notes: Rick Porcello delivers again for Sox

Boston Red Sox starter Rick Porcello contributed six solid innings in the team’s 9-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

As long as the Boston Red Sox starting rotation does what they are supposed to do, the defending World Series champions will have a chance to win a lot of games and flip a slow start to the 2019 MLB season into another playoff run.

There was no better evidence of that than Sunday afternoon in Chicago.  After delivering a masterpiece against the Oakland A’s in his previous start, Rick Porcello took the mound and gave the Red Sox another solid performance.

In giving up just two runs over six quality innings, Porcello not only kept his team in the game, but continued the momentum the Red Sox starting rotation has built up over the last few games.

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With David Price, Eduardo Rodriguez and now Chris Sale taking command on the mound, Porcello’s effort the last few times he took the mound is finally turning into wins for the Boston Red Sox, even when he isn’t particularly on.

"“I didn’t have my best stuff, but we battled.  Sandy [Leon] did a great job working me through,” Porcello said following the game, via MLB.com."

That has been the difference between the Red Sox starters through their first string of starts and how they are pitching now.  Leon behind the plate may have something to do with it, but the mindset of the pitchers to battle on the mound has been their turning point.

And as evidenced by the team’s seven-run eighth inning, when the starting pitching goes deep in games, the offense is explosive enough to eventually break through.  Rick Porcello didn’t qualify for a win in Sunday’s victory, but giving them the chance to win is what Alex Cora asks for out of his starters.

"“That’s what we want from these guys,” Cora said following the game.  “Go six, seven [innings.  Give us a chance to win.”"

The starting rotation has certainly done that, leading the Boston Red Sox back within one game of .500 at 17-18.

Josh Smith takes the mound vs. Orioles

The Boston Red Sox hope to continue their winning ways when they open a series against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards Monday.

Riding the hot bats of Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts and rookie Michael Chavis, the Sox look to continue putting it all together with solid pitching and timely offense.

The team will send Josh Smith to the mound in the first game against Orioles starter David Hess.  This will be Smith’s first start with the Boston Red Sox.  At Triple-A Pawtucket, he was 1-1 with a 3.78 ERA.

If Smith struggles, this could turn into a bullpen game, which is why the starters going deep into games the previous games were so important.