Porcello in vintage form, wins potential farewell

ARLINGTON -- The night started with the type of rough patch Rick Porcello has dealt with too many times this season. But it continued with another Porcello trait -- the ability to get back up after he's been knocked around.

What might have been the last start of Porcello's five-year run with the Red Sox ended with the righty earning the win in his team's 10-3 victory over the Rangers.

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Expected to become a free agent this offseason, Porcello got hugs and handshakes as he returned to the dugout after his 98-pitch outing was complete.

"Who knows what's going to happen, you never close the door on anything," Porcello said. "It was definitely a special night for me. Just to go out there and get a win with all these guys who have gone through a lot together the last five years, it was a lot of fun."

After giving up three runs in the first inning, Porcello zeroed in for the rest of the night. He went six innings, allowing six hits while walking none and striking out eight.

"Outstanding," said Red Sox first baseman Mitch Moreland. "Just typical Rick. Had a tough one in that first, and pulled it together and goes six strong for us, just shut the door. He's the ultimate competitor. He's a winner out there. It's been a blast playing behind him. I don't know what's going to happen, but that was a good one to go out on, for sure."

Porcello finished the year with a 14-12 record and a 5.52 ERA. He went out on a good note, notching a 2.65 ERA over his last three starts.

"We don't know what's going to happen, but we're very proud of what he's done throughout his years here," said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. "This is a guy that, for me, he means a lot, not only on the field what he did last year and the way he fought this year, but in the clubhouse.

"He's one of those guys that I rely on. It's good to see him finishing the season this way. It's kind of like a teaching moment for a lot of young guys in the clubhouse. Regardless of how good or how bad you struggle over 162 games, preparation and going about it the right way, it's very important."

It's too early to know what the offseason will bring for Porcello after these past five years with Boston, going 73-55 with a 4.43 ERA in 159 starts.

There were certainly highs (the AL Cy Young Award in 2016) and lows (most notably this season), but Porcello was a constant presence in the rotation, making every start except for a brief stint on the injured list in 2015.

"I take a lot of pride in it," Porcello said. "My body hurts. It's not easy to do. I definitely take a lot of pride in that. We have a lot of guys who go out there and play every day as position players and things like that, and that's the one responsibility and thing I can control as a starter is preparation, putting myself in position to take the ball every fifth day.

"Through some of the tough results, and some good results, that was definitely something I can hang my hat on since I've been pitching here for the Red Sox."

The Red Sox aided his cause on Wednesday with a barrage of offense.

Moreland led the charge with four hits, including a homer. Christian Vázquez and Rafael Devers also went deep on a night Boston established a franchise record for home runs in a season.

• Vázquez sets club HR mark, exits as precaution

Cora's team now has 241 dingers, surpassing the record of 238 set by the 2003 team.

The home runs were nice, but Wednesday belonged to Porcello. In the late innings, as he watched his team finish off his win, Porcello spent some time reflecting.

"From the bottom of my heart, it's been an absolute pleasure to wear this uniform and pitch for the Red Sox organization the last five years," Porcello said. "The coaching staff, all these players, it's as good a group as you're going to find. I know this year hasn't worked out the way we wanted to, but it doesn't take away from the special human beings we have in this clubhouse, and that really for me, sitting there and soaking that in, was nice."

Though the performance of Porcello has fluctuated, Cora considers him to be the epitome of how a Red Sox player should represent himself.

"We like those kind of players," Cora said. "Those are the kind of players we want in our organization as far as being a pro and prepared regardless of the situation. He's been amazing for us."