BOSTON -- What an amazing contrast between starting pitchers on Wednesday night at Fenway Park.

On one side, you had Cincinnati’s 22-year-old rookie fireballer Hunter Greene topping out at 101.4 mph and averaging 99.5 with his fastball on the radar gun.

On the other side, you had a less spectacular -- but more effective -- performance from Garrett Whitlock.

Boston’s 25-year-old righty, who led his Red Sox to a 7-1 victory, had a start that seemed like a throwback from a bygone era.

Over six frames, Whitlock allowed five hits and no earned runs while walking none and striking out … none. 

That’s not a misprint. That really happened. Whitlock, who isn’t the stats type, loved it. So, too, did the Red Sox. 

“It’s rare,” said Red Sox pitching coach Dave Bush. “In today's game, very rare. He was throwing a lot of strikes. It doesn't always look pretty with a lot of strikeouts nowadays. I like games like that, where he keeps the ball on the ground, and gets double plays.”

The last Boston pitcher to go six innings with no earned runs and no strikeouts was Aaron Cook a decade ago -- on July 16, 2012, against the White Sox.

Before that? Curt Schilling pulled off the unique feat on Aug. 12, 2007. That’s it for the 21st century.

Bret Saberhagen did it for the Sox on July 31, 1998.

Prior to Saberhagen, you have to go back to when Roger Clemens was at the height of his greatness in Boston, throwing a two-hit shutout with no K’s against the Angels on July 21, 1987.

In this era of strikeout mania, a defender savors an effort like this one by Whitlock, whose performance was helped greatly by three double-play grounders.

“Amazing,” said Red Sox left fielder Alex Verdugo. “It feels like any time a guy is on first base, it’s like, ‘Hey, a double-play ball is coming up, right?’ He’s unbelievable throwing bowling balls up there. It’s fun to watch. I’m out there in left field wondering if I’m going to get a ball.”

As spectacular as Greene was in his first three innings, allowing just one hit while punching out seven, the veteran-laden Red Sox lineup made the necessary adjustments the second time around.

They put up a four-spot that was jump-started by Rafael Devers belting a 99.6 mph heater at an exit velocity of 98.3-mph for a double off the Monster. The big hit was delivered by Verdugo, a two-run double on a changeup that was hammered off the bullpen wall in right-center.

“I mean, it’s a 91, 92-mph changeup,” said Verdugo. “That’s a fastball for some guys.”

Greene, so dominant in the first three innings, didn’t make it out of the fourth. He threw 73 pitches over 3 2/3 frames, giving up all four runs in that fateful fourth inning.

Then there was Whitlock, who threw 70 pitches over his six frames, 50 of them for strikes.

Interestingly, Whitlock’s velocity on his sinker was 93.6-mph, nearly two mph lower than his season average of 95.4.

“It’s neither encouraging nor concerning,” said Bush. “It just is for today. We continue to watch. If it continues to go down, it would be more concerning. But some days, you're not going to feel great every day you go out there as a starter. He’s still learning how to go through the five-day routine, six-day routine. Some days are great, some days aren’t.

“On a day he didn’t have great velo, he commanded the ball really well, had a ton of movement on his fastball, and that's probably the big step in his development, not always relying on velo.”

Whitlock was the best relief pitcher the Red Sox had in his rookie season of a year ago. Though Boston’s bullpen has been its weakest link this season, the club moved Whitlock to the rotation on April 23. Over eight starts, Whitlock is 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA. His last two outings have been his best, as he’s gone six innings each time and allowing a total of two earned runs.

When the Red Sox get their rotation back to full strength when Chris Sale and James Paxton return from injuries, Whitlock could again be a reliever. For now, the progress he’s making in the rotation is beneficial in both the short and long term.

“As a reliever, they get a minute and 30 seconds to game-plan for you, whereas a starter, they have all day,” said Whitlock. “That’s the biggest thing I’m trying to learn is, ‘OK, how are they trying to get ready to attack me and that chess match of, ‘Hey, you don’t have the advantage because it’s just a minute and 30 seconds.’ They’re ready for you so now you need to go in with a certain game-plan.”

Whitlock’s game-plan worked to perfection Wednesday, even if he lost the battle of the radar gun significantly to his opponent.