Slick Rick Dazzles, Red Sox Get Back On Track In Tampa, 8-2

Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports

Since last year's All Star Game, Chris Archer has been one of the more bizarre stories in all of baseball. The young ace was able to dazzle lineups, but has since been shelled, and it doesn't help that he plays on a terrible team (see his 4-11 record). Unfortunately for Archer, and Rays fans, if you are out there, his sorrows against the Red Sox continued. From the first pitch of the game, the Red Sox were able to make Archer work, while also hitting the baseball with some level of authority. 

While Archer did have nine strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work, he also relinquished seven hits, which resulted in four runs, which, to get to the bigger story, was more than enough for Rick Porcello last night. In desperate need of a good start, Slick Rick was able to go six innings, allowing only one run on five hits. In the fourth inning, Porcello walked in a run and it looked as if this game was going to get away from him, but Porcello was able to settle down and give the Red Sox a great opportunity to win. 

The scoring brigade started in the second inning, when Travis Shaw launched a 453-foot home run to right field. From there, the Red Sox never looked back, as they were able to put on a show behind the bats of the aforementioned Shaw, Hanley Ramirez and David Ortiz, among others. Hanley Ramirez was able to get on base five times last night, and it looks as if he has finally gotten out of the funk that had caused his batting average to drop close to .260. 

There really isn't a lot to get angry about last night, as everyone did their job. Business as usual. 

Pete Packowski
​@Pete_BBS