The Boston Red Sox Sunday, September 17, 2017 * The Boston Globe Rick Porcello’s strong outing boosts Red Sox over Rays Peter Abraham ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Rick Porcello has the most losses in the major leagues and the most for a Red Sox pitcher in more than 50 years. With no more than three starts left in his season, there’s nothing Porcello can do to change that story. After winning the Cy Young Award last season, Porcello is proof of how quickly everything can fall apart for a pitcher. But what Porcello can still do is help drive the Sox into the postseason. The righthander was there when the Sox needed him on Saturday night, pitching into the eighth inning as the Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays, 3-1. The Yankees won, so the Sox remain three games up in the American League East. But every day that goes by without losing ground brings the Sox closer to the division title. “We don’t care about them,” left fielder Andrew Benintendi said. “We’re just focused on yourselves because that’s all we can do. If we go out and play the right way, it doesn’t really matter.” Porcello (10-17) pitched one of his best games of the season. He allowed one unearned run on five hits over 7⅓ innings and struck out three with one walk. It was a game that mirrored last season in that Porcello worked quickly and confidently with his fastball, both the two-seam sinker and four-seamer that rides higher. “He led the way tonight,” manager John Farrell said. “He had great tempo and attacked the strike zone. To get into the eighth as he did, just a great job.” In what was his sixth start against Tampa Bay this season — and the second in seven days — Porcello drew on his experience. “I’ve pitched against them a lot; we’ve played them a lot. We know they’re an aggressive team,” he said. “We know that they’re looking for pitches from pitch one all the way through the count. “We decided to expand the [strike] zone and use that to our advantage. We had good momentum going. The pace of the game was nice.” Porcello is competing for a spot in the postseason rotation and is slowly building a case. He has a 3.76 earned run average since July 3 and could earn a chance to pitch in a Division Series game. “We know that we’re in these final couple of weeks with something very real and tangible within our reach,” Farrell said. “Guys are putting it on the line every night. That’s the goal; that’s the driver. They all have to go out and pitch well, and tonight was a really good start by Rick.” The first five innings took 87 minutes, a relief after Friday night’s 15-inning marathon. The Sox got started in the second inning when Mookie Betts homered deep to left field off Alex Cobb. It stayed that way for a while as Cobb had retired 12 of 14 going into the sixth inning. Christian Vazquez, hitting second for the first time in his career, led off with a single. When Benintendi grounded to second, Vazquez was forced at second base. But the action was just starting. Benintendi moved up on a balk. He then took a big lead off the second base, forcing Cobb pay attention. Benintendi retreated, then took off for third when Cobb turned back around. “I was able to time him up and take a chance,” Benintendi said. The aggressive move paid off when Betts punched a single into left field with the infield in and Benintendi scored. Benintendi has made 11 outs on the bases this season, and his name inevitably comes up when the Sox are criticized for what can seem like reckless play. He enjoyed the opportunity to clap back at that. “I’ve definitely heard everything from being thrown out on the bases, being overaggressive and things like that,” Benintendi said. “But that’s what we’ve been doing the whole year, starting in spring training. “It’s part of the game. If I get thrown out at third there, it’s probably a story. I’m just trying to be aggressive and make plays.” Facing lefthander Dan Jennings, lefthanded-hitting Rafael Devers doubled to left field to drive in Betts. With a 3-0 lead, Porcello had the luxury of challenging hitters. He retired the side in order on nine pitches in the sixth inning and on 11 in the seventh. He had a four-hit shutout to that point on 82 pitches. Angel Hechavarria led off the eighth inning with a double. No. 9 hitter Mallex Smith then walked with one out, and Hechavarria went to third on a passed ball. Farrell was quick out of the dugout to bring in Addison Reed. Kevin Kiermaier grounded sharply to first base and Moreland stepped on the bag. He should have held the ball, but instead fired to second hoping for a double play. The ball hit Smith in the back and rolled away, and Hechavarria scored. Reed, unruffled, struck out Steven Souza Jr. to end the inning. Craig Kimbrel finished off the Rays for his 33rd save, striking out two. He has struck out 119 in 63 innings. Eduardo Rodriguez starts for the Sox on Sunday afternoon against Jake Odorizzi. Blake Swihart happy to get into swing of things Peter Abraham ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Red Sox used 24 players in Friday night’s 15-inning victory against Tampa Bay. It’s fair to say Blake Swihart had the most fun. The catcher was ebullient following a 13-6 victory if only because he finally was able to contribute. He caught the final seven innings and was 1 for 4 at the plate. Swihart was recalled on Sept. 1 but until Friday had appeared in only one game, as a pinch hitter on Sept. 3. “That was great. I was ready when my name was called,” said Swihart, who came into the game as a pinch runner in the top of the ninth inning for Sandy Leon. “I hadn’t played in a few weeks so even 90 [miles per hour] was looking pretty fast to me. But I felt awesome.” Sox pitchers allowed one run on four hits with three walks and 10 strikeouts with Swihart behind the plate. He had not caught since Aug. 29 “With each inning that he did catch, you could see some added comfort,” manager John Farrell said. “He hasn’t caught in a few weeks and all of a sudden jump in the game in the ninth inning and here’s Craig Kimbrel. Not an easy task to undertake.” Swihart had worked with all of the pitchers before, except for Addison Reed. That made it easier. “He did a very good job,” Farrell said. “From the game-calling to the receiving and the blocking, it was pivotal at that point of the game . that was a much-needed contribution.” Said Swihart: “I’ve been catching in the bullpen and making sure I knew what the pitchers were doing. I felt great about what I was able to do. Great win for the team.” Swihart’s performance gives the Sox more comfort to use Christian Vazquez as the designated hitter when Leon catches. “Maybe this gives us an opportunity to be more flexible with the lineup,” Farrell said. Swihart played only 62 minor league games this season because of issues with his surgically repaired left ankle. The Sox are planning to develop him as a utility player over the winter and into spring training. As part of that transition, Swihart was on the field early on Saturday taking ground balls at third base from infield coach Brian Butterfield. Nunez getting closer Eduardo Nunez missed his sixth consecutive game with a sore right knee. But he had another on-field workout before the game. “There’s no timetable for his return,” Farrell said. “But, still, to see what he’s able to endure is all very encouraging. Nunez took swings in the batting cage with a brace on his knee before throwing on the field and taking ground balls. Nunez will likely not be allowed to play until he goes through some base running drills. Hanley Ramirez was out again with left bicep inflammation. He is day to day after receiving an MRI on Friday. Tip of the cap Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier made one of the season’s best catches in the ninth inning on Friday. With runners on first and second, Jackie Bradley Jr. sent a pitch to the gap in left. Kiermaier, at a full sprint, made a diving grab as he tumbled to the warning track. “I was mad at the moment. But you definitely have to respect that play,” said Bradley, who stole a hit away from Kiermaier at Fenway Park on Sept. 8. “A tremendous play from a tremendous player. An unbelievable catch.” Rajai Davis, who was at second base, was halfway down the line and was able to get back and tag to go to third. He then scored the tying run. Long day Dustin Pedroia was 0 for 9 on Friday despite putting the ball in play seven times. His batting average fell from .314 to .306. Pedroia did score a run after reaching on error in the 15th inning. Pedroia had the first 0 for 9 in the majors since Atlanta’s Martin Prado in 2011 and the first for the Red Sox since Trot Nixon in 2006.