BOSTON — For the most part, pitch counts have done a better job of slowing down Michael King’s audition as a starter than opposing lineups.
But the Yankees’ right-hander continues to make a case for cracking the rotation full-time next season.
Making his fifth straight start on Thursday afternoon, King was solid once again, giving up one run across 4 ²/₃ innings, though he got no support as the Yankees fell to the Red Sox 5-0 in the first game of a split doubleheader at Fenway Park.
King was not quite as efficient as he had been lately, but struck out eight and gave up one walk and six hits while building his pitch count up to a career-high 87.
Over his past five starts — the last four of them coming on a regular starter’s rest — King has given up just three earned runs across 21 ¹/₃ innings (1.27 ERA) with 29 strikeouts and four walks.
Depending on what moves the Yankees make this offseason, King could have a shot to continue starting next season.
“Probably technically to be determined, but I think we all believe he could be a starter,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I think he’s probably, in a lot of ways, confirming that in what we’re seeing as he continues to build up here these last few weeks.
“We’ll see where the next few weeks take us. We’ll see where the winter takes us and how we look going into next season. But right now, he’s putting himself in that starter mix.”
King should be close to fully built up for his next start next week. He lines up to have three starts left this season, which will likely allow him to surpass the 100-inning and 100-pitch thresholds.
“I’ve been feeling great,” King said. “It’s nice to be on that [five-day] routine. I think that’s the main part of my body recovery that I missed out of the bullpen.”
The Red Sox only got to King in the first inning with a trio of singles — two of them hit weakly, but well-placed to make it a 1-0 game.
They doubled the lead in the seventh inning, when rookie Ceddanne Rafaela sliced a Pesky Pole home run off Greg Weissert, before Trevor Story hit a three-run shot off Matt Bowman in the eighth.
Entering the nightcap, the Red Sox (74-72) inched back ahead of the Yankees (73-73) for sole possession of fourth place in the AL East.
The Yankees had their chances to take Game 1 but went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
That included Aaron Judge (0-for-4) leaving four men on base and Everson Pereira (0-for-4) leaving five men on.
Pereira struck out twice, lowering his OPS to .427 with 31 strikeouts in 79 plate appearances since making his debut in August.
“That pitch he’s getting within the course of an at-bat, it’s a foul ball or swinging through it,” Boone said. “Those are the pitches you gotta take advantage of. That’s the separator from having success here and not.”
