The Red Sox have lost 4 games in a row for the first time in 2016 and if they didn’t want that number to go to 5, they were going to need help from starter Rick Porcello. Porcello did that and then some. Porcello gave up 2 runs in his outing, but got plenty of run support from the offense and ended up pitching the full 9 innings.

Porcello gave up runs in the game first when he gave up 2 runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning.  Porcello gave up an RBI groundout to Simmons and then an RBI single to Perez.  Sox 0-2.  Thankfully those would be the only runs that Porcello gave up in his outing.  The Sox offense took no time in erasing that damage either.  In the top of the 3rd Bogaerts hit an RBI double and then Ortiz hit an RBI single to tie the game.  Sox 2-2.  In the top of the 4th the Sox took the lead when Mookie Betts hit an RBI sac fly to score Hill.  Sox 3-2.

Porcello just kept pitching too.  He wasn’t just pitching scoreless innings either, he was doing it very efficiently.  Porcello had two separate innings where he threw just 8 pitches.  The Sox gave Porcello an insurance run in the top of the 6th when Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a solo home run.  Sox 4-2.  The homer also chased Lincecum from the game.  Lincecum had some major control issues and he should probably feel lucky the Sox were only up 2 runs on him.

The Sox got two more runs in the top of the 7th when Xander Bogaerts hit a 2 run homer.  Sox 6-2.  Given how Porcello was pitching, that was well more than enough.  Porcello came back out for the 9th looking for his first complete game in a Sox uniform and he would get it with ease.  Porcello has a 1-2-3 inning and put away the Angels for good.  Porcello’s pitching line for the night was 107 pitches, 9 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB and 3 Ks.  Well done Rick, well done.

Red Sox 6  Angels 2  BOXSCORE

WP: Porcello (14-2)  LP:  Lincecum (2-5)