Steven Wright tossed seven two-hit, shutout innings and got all the offensive backing he would need from a two-run first-inning homer from J.D. Martinez as the Red Sox cruised to a 6-0 win over the Detroit Tigers.
Wright, making his first start of the season, overcame some early wildness and allowed just two baserunners after the first inning, striking out six and lowering his ERA to 1.57 for the season.
The Sox tacked on two more runs in the fourth on an RBI single from Eduardo Nunez and a groundout. An inning later, Xander Bogaerts led off with a solo homer and the Sox added another run on a bases-loaded double play.
WHO: Red Sox vs. Detroit Tigers
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
WHAT'S UP: Following their brief road trip in Houston, the Red Sox return home for a six-game homestand, beginning with three against Detroit. Boston is 11-4 in its last 15 games. This is the first meeting of the season with the Tigers, who, though they have a losing record, are in second place in the A.L. Central, two and a half games behind first-place Cleveland. They split a double-header at home with the Yankees on Monday.
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Steven Wright (1-0, 2.25) vs. RHP Artie Lewicki (0-0 3.60).
TV/RADIO: NESN/WEEI 93.7 FM
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
9:06 After some early command issues, Wright has really gotten locked in. Since he issued a leadoff walk in the second, he's retired 14 of the last 15 hitters he's faced, all but one on either a strikeout or a groundout.
8:50 At the start of the year, Xander Bogaerts was the player who seemed most capable of improving on what he did a year ago. Last year, passive at the plate and hampered by a hand injury in the second half, he had just 10 homers in 148 games. Tonight, in his team's 61st game and his own 48th game, he hit his ninth homer.
8:23: Solid single to center by Mitch Moreland. Earlier today, Alex Cora was promoting Moreland as a deserving choice for the All-Star Game next month.
7:44 As often happens with knuckleballers, Steven Wright is struggling with his ability to control his signature pitch tonight. He's walked three of the first six hitters, but thanks a nice relay from the outfield to cut down a potential run at the plate and some weak contact on knucklers in the zone, he's escaped any damage so far.
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Benintendi LF
Bogaerts SS
Martinez DH
Moreland 1B
Nunez 2B
Holt RF
Devers 3B
Vazquez C
Bradley CF
TIGERS
Martin CF
Castellanos RF
Cabrera 1B
Martinez DH
Candelario 3B
McCann C
Jones LF
Iglesias SS
Machado 2B
NEWS AND NOTES:
- The Red Sox placed LHP Drew Pomeranz on the DL with biceps tendinitis, retroactive to Saturday. Alex Cora said Pomeranz didn't bounce back physically from last Thursday's start and needs a little time to recover.
- For now, that means Steven Wright, making his first start of the season tonight, will remain in the rotation, taking Pomeranz's spot.
- To take Wright's spot on the roster, the Red Sox called up RHP Brandon Workman.
- In order to give the other starters two extra days of rest -- the idea behind plugging Wright into the rotation in the first place -- the Sox will plug in another spot starter Thursday, which would have been Pomeranz's spot. Among the candidates: Hector Velazquez, Brian Johnson and Jalen Beeks.
- Mookie Betts is scheduled to take some swings off a tee and swing against some soft tosses Tuesday and continues to feel improvement as he recovers from an abdominal strain.