ARLINGTON, Texas -- Rick Porcello had quite a night in the Red Sox' 5-1 win Friday night.
The starter allowed just one run in six innings, improving to 5-0 on the season.
But after the game, Porcello's face seemingly didn't truly light up until the subject of Mookie Betts came up.
"Mookie, it's been incredible," the pitcher said. "I don't think I've ever seen anything like it. I don't think I've ever seen a player like him, so definitely glad he's on our side."
For Porcello, that's saying something.
This is a guy who played with a guy who won the Triple Crown, Miguel Cabrera, while claiming back-to-back American League MVP awards, as well as David Ortiz. But the pitcher has good reason for separating Betts from the pack.
With his major league-best 13th homer this season, the Red Sox' outfielder has now gone deep in 11 of his last 14 games, and seven of his last eight. Betts has the majors' highest batting average (.365) and OPS (1.298), all while continuing to serve as one of the best defenders in the game.
"I don't think I've seen a player do so many things so well," Porcello said. "I mean, he's the best right fielder, one of the best baserunners, he hits for average, he hits for power, he doesn't strike out. What more could you ask for in a ballplayer?"
As for Porcello, he might not be the Red Sox' MVP thanks to Betts, but he could be classified a strong No. 2. Using a variety of pitches -- throwing his changeup as many times as his four-seam fastball -- the righty dropped his ERA to 2.14 while continuing to build on a dominant strikeout-to-walk ratio. After his eight punch-outs, he has now struck out 46 while issuing just five free passes.
"It's not as predictable as last year," said Red Sox manager Alex Cora of Porcello. "Last year you could look for a fastball and pick the spot and put a good swing on it, especially early in the count. The mix wasnt there. It seems like he wasn't able to pitch down in the zone as well as he did the previous year and since Day 1 I go back to our conversations at Winterfest about being consistent in the strike zone and being able to mix up the pitches, and change speeds and become a pitcher and he's doing a great job for us."
