KANSAS CITY -- Big Game James Shields was no match for May Rick Porcello. The way Porcello pitches when the calendar turns from the season's opening month, few opponents are.While the Tigers roughed up Shields for five extra-base hits, including Alex Avila's game-breaking two-run home run in a three-run fourth, Porcello delivered seven innings of two-run ball, becoming Detroit's first four-game winner in an 8-2 win on Friday night at Kauffman Stadium.In the process, Porcello turned what looked like the Tigers' one unfavorable pitching matchup of the series into an easy evening for them. For whatever reason, though, Porcello in May always looks like a different pitcher than the April version. 
The splits are so vast that they border on bizarre. Even after going 3-1 with a 3.96 ERA in the season's opening month, Porcello's career numbers for April stood at 9-12 with a 6.12. Even with last April's nine-run first inning against the Angels taken out of the equation, his 9-11 record and 5.57 ERA for his other April outings don't look vastly improved.By contrast, Friday's win improved Porcello to 14-6 with a 3.13 ERA in 26 career May outings. He averages better than six innings a start for his career in the month.While his long-term success in May defies explanation, his formula for victory on Friday night was simple: Get ahead of hitters, then finish them off. He threw first-pitch strikes to the first nine batters he faced, and 20 out of 25 for the game.Porcello (4-1) retired 12 straight batters after Billy Butler's first home run of the year -- and his first ever off Porcello -- led off the fourth inning. By then, the Tigers had five runs off Shields, and Porcello -- who paid for a 3-0 count against Butler -- had every reason to pound the strike zone from them.Much of the damage off Shields came early. Back-to-back RBI doubles from Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez moved Detroit in front in the third inning, then Avila followed J.D. Martinez's leadoff double in the fourth with a 392-foot drive to right-center field.Victor Martinez added an RBI single in the seventh before Austin Jackson's ensuing single chased Shields from the game. J.D. Martinez put the game away with a two-run double off Kelvin HerreraJason Beck / MLB.com
The splits are so vast that they border on bizarre. Even after going 3-1 with a 3.96 ERA in the season's opening month, Porcello's career numbers for April stood at 9-12 with a 6.12. Even with last April's nine-run first inning against the Angels taken out of the equation, his 9-11 record and 5.57 ERA for his other April outings don't look vastly improved.By contrast, Friday's win improved Porcello to 14-6 with a 3.13 ERA in 26 career May outings. He averages better than six innings a start for his career in the month.While his long-term success in May defies explanation, his formula for victory on Friday night was simple: Get ahead of hitters, then finish them off. He threw first-pitch strikes to the first nine batters he faced, and 20 out of 25 for the game.Porcello (4-1) retired 12 straight batters after Billy Butler's first home run of the year -- and his first ever off Porcello -- led off the fourth inning. By then, the Tigers had five runs off Shields, and Porcello -- who paid for a 3-0 count against Butler -- had every reason to pound the strike zone from them.Much of the damage off Shields came early. Back-to-back RBI doubles from Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez moved Detroit in front in the third inning, then Avila followed J.D. Martinez's leadoff double in the fourth with a 392-foot drive to right-center field.Victor Martinez added an RBI single in the seventh before Austin Jackson's ensuing single chased Shields from the game. J.D. Martinez put the game away with a two-run double off Kelvin HerreraJason Beck / MLB.com
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