Boston Red Sox right-hander Rick Porcello didn't have his best stuff on Tuesday night against the Minnesota Twins, allowing six runs on eight hits - including a pair of home runs - and two walks before being yanked after four innings of work.
He was saddled with the loss in Boston's 6-5 defeat, and afterward he shouldered the blame.
"It's entirely on me," Porcello said, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive. "I don’t know what else to say besides I'm frustrated, embarrassed. That's it. I’m working hard and putting everything into it. But effort level doesn’t get you wins in the big leagues. It’s executing pitches."
The 2016 AL Cy Young Award winner is in the midst of what could end up being his worst season in the majors. He's 12-11 with a 5.63 ERA over 28 starts, and Tuesday was the sixth time he's allowed six or more earned runs in an outing.
It was a discouraging setback after Porcello put together a decent August, during which he allowed three or fewer runs in four of five starts. And with the loss, the 74-64 Red Sox now trail the second AL wild-card spot by 5 1/2 games.
"I sucked. That's the bottom line," Porcello added. "Six runs in four innings, not going to get it done. We need to win every game right now. And that's the part that hurts the most, is going out and giving it up like that."
Overall, Red Sox starters have posted an inflated 5.03 ERA this season after recording a 3.77 mark in 2018.