A long day at the ballpark proved to be poor one for the Red Sox, who lost the nightcap to the Detroit Tigers, 4-2, and were swept in their doubleheader.
The Tigers took a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning after loading the bases against Hector Velazquez and greeting reliever Marcus Walden with a bases-clearing double from Brandon Dixon.
The Sox got a run back in the seventh on a bloop single by Xander Bogaerts and puled to within one with a solo homer from Michael Chavis, the first of his career, in the eighth.
But the Tigers pushed across an insurance run against Travis Lakins, making his major league debut, in the ninth.
WHO: Red Sox vs. Detroit Tigers
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
SERIES TO DATE: Tigers won the first game, 7-4
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Hector Velazquez (0-1, 2.84) vs. RHP Spencer Turnbull (0-2, 3.43)
TV/RADIO: NESN-Plus; WEEI 93.7 FM
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS
10:24 Two doubles in the ninth -- Ronny Rodriguez and John Hicks -- produce an insurance run off Lakins.
10:08 Chavis hits one over everything in LF for his first career homer -- a fat changeup over the middle of the plate and the rookie infielder knew what to do with it.
9:50 Bloop single from Xander Bogaerts gets the Red Sox on the scoreboard. Red Sox have scored five runs in the two games today -- Bogaerts has knocked in three of them.
9:32 One major league debut follows another, as Hernandez is replaced by Travis Lakins.
9:12 Another study in composure for Hernandez, who gets out of a first-and-third mess by fanning Ronny Rodriguez. Two scoreless innings and four strikeouts.
9:01 Just a wretched night at the plate for the Red Sox -- 0-for-7 with RISP, seven runners stranded. Martinez goes down swinging to leave runners at the corners.
8:46 Impressive major league debut for , who allows a leadoff double but freezes the runner at second with two foul popups and a strikeout.
8:27 Devers has shown improved range to his left, but playing just off the line, wasn't able to make a backhand stop on Dixon's line shot down the line. Clears the bases.
8:22 Cora had hoped for 12 outs from Velazquez; instead, he got 10. Going strong until tiring in the fourth with two singles and a one-out walk.
8:12 Red Sox have already hit into two double plays, have stranded five in three innings and are 0-for-5 with RISP.
8:07 Little scary for the Sox as JD Martinez is plunked on his left elbow. Shakes it off and takes his base after brief consult with trainer.
7:58 Velazquez both effective and efficient -- 39 pitches through three innings.
7:37 Strong start from Velazquez, who fans the second in the second and has struck out four of the first six hitters he's faced. Better two-seamer/splitter tonight than in his last start.
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Benintendi LF
Betts RF
Moreland 1B
Martinez DH
Bogaerts SS
Devers 3B
Chavis 2B
Bradley CF
Vazquez C
TIGERS
Candelario 3B
Castellanos RF
Cabrera DH
Goodrum LF
Dixon 1B
Rodriguez SS
Harrison 2B
Hicks C
Jones CF
PRE-GAME NOTES:
- The Red Sox made a few roster moves prior to the second game. optioning LHP Bobby Poyner to Pawtucket and recalling RHP Travis Lakins. They also added LHP Darwinzon Hernandez as their "26th man'' for the second game. He was scratched from his scheduled start in Portland and is available to prove length out of the bullpen.
- Brock Holt is making progress, taking BP off a pitching machine. Despite some reports to the contrary, he's not wearing a new contact lense, but says the scratched cornea is improving and he expects to re-start his rehab assignment in Pawtucket soon.