All you need to know about the Red Sox' win over the Tigers, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Winning ugly: In a game that seemed more like something out of the Little League World Series (six errors, 21 runs, 30 hits, 12 pitchers used), the Red Sox managed to, somehow, come out on top. On the one hand, it shouldn't be that hard to win a game against arguably the worst team in the game; on the other, they at least came out on top. At times, they seemed intent on committing sabotage against themselves, but the Tigers were more determined to hand the Sox the game, with four errors of their own, and too many sloppy plays in a crazy bottom of the eighth to document. "That wasn't pretty, but we'll take it,'' conceded Alex Cora. "We have to address a lot of stuff, we know that. '' That long list includes poor relief work, a less-than-quality start from Nathan Eovaldi, two errors from Rafael Devers that both proved costly and countless scoring opportunities wasted. The Sox stranded 12 on base. And they also couldn't keep hold of a lead on three occasions.
Franchy breaks through: Franchy Cordero's struggles have been well-documented, with an 0-for-25, He was out of the lineup to start the game, but when Kike Hernandez strained a hamstring on the bases in the bottom of the first inning, Cordero was pressed into duty. He responded with a three-hit afternoon, busting out of a slump that was literally weeks old, and gave him some confidence that things might finally be turning around. "Obviously, I'm really happy to contribute to today's win,'' he said. "It's been tough. This is a hard game. If it was easy, then everybody would be able to do it. I just kept working. I've been speaking to the coaches and a lot of my teammates came up and would give me some advice as well. It was a team effort to try to get me right and I'm just happy I was able to have a good game today.''
Injuries mounting: The Red Sox have been remarkably injury free for the first month or so, but that has started to turn in the last two days. On Wednesday, Christian Arroyo had to come out of the game when he was again hit in the left hand. Meanwhile Alex Verdugo was scratched from the lineup Wednesday night when he felt stiffness in his lower back. He returned to play Thursday, but as he did, Hernandez came out of the lineup. After the game, Cora said he didn't think it was serious, but given the nature of strained hamstrings, the Sox will have to, at the very least, be cautious with him and almost certainly won't have him available for the start of their road trip Friday. It remains to be seen if there might be some corresponding roster moves.
Workman returns: After the game, the Red Sox announced that they had signed Brandon Workman to a minor league deal and assigned him to Triple A Worcester. Workman had been designated for assignment by the Chicago Cubs last week. He had appeared in 10 games with the Cubs, with a 6.75 ERA after signing with Chicago as a free agent over the winter. Workman, of course, was originally drafted and developed by the Red Sox, selected in the second round of the 2010 draft. He made his major league debut in 2013 and appeared in the World Series as a rookie. In six seasons with the Sox, he was 24-15 with a 3.75 ERA and 20 saves. His best season was in 2019, when he pitched to a 1.88 ERA and saved 16 games, serving as the closer in the second half of the season. But in 2020, with the Sox far out of contention, he was packaged with Heath Hembree and dealt to the Phillies at the trade deadline in return for Nick Pivetta and Connor Seabold. If Workman can straighten some things out in the minors, he could add to the Sox' major league bullpen depth, an area that's been somewhat thinned by the loss of Ryan Brasier (calf strain). Brasier is on the 60-day IL and is unlikely to be ready to contribute to the major league team until sometime in June.
TURNING POINT
The Red Sox had finally succeeded in tying the game up for the umpteenth time in the eighth inning. There were shadows across the infield, and after three hits on the afternoon, it looked like Cordero had run out of luck when he hit a slow roller to third. But pitcher Bryan Garcia screened Detroit third baseman Jeimer Candelario at the worst possible time, distracting him, and forcing an error that allowed the go-ahead run to score and the Sox were off and running.
TWO UP
Alex Verdugo: Extending his on-base streak to 25 games, Verdugo had two huge hits late in the game, including a two-run single in the four-run eighth that provided critical insurance runs.
Chrisitian Vazquez: The catcher was due for a day off, but it was all hands on deck by the end of the afternoon and as a pinch-hitter off the bench, he somehow managed to pull a ball in on his hands and keep it fair for an RBI single that brought the Sox to within a run and paced the way for the comeback inning.
THREE DOWN
Bobby Dalbec: It keeps getting worse for the rookie, who was 0-for-4 before being lifted for a pinch-hitter in his final plate appearance. His hitless streak stands at 27 at-bats.
Nathan Eovaldi: Things were going swimmingly through the first three innings, with just one baserunner allowed. But the righthander fell apart in the fourth, allowing three runs and couldn't finish the fifth inning.
Josh Taylor: Brought in to try to get Eovaldi through the fifth inning, he failed to get off the mound and cover first base, a mistake that's inexcusable for a big league pitcher.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"For all the ugly stuff that happened, we got a big league win and those are tough to come by.'' Alex Cora.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- The two teams combined for six errors in the game.
- The win was Boston's 13th come-from-behind victory
- The game marked only the third time in the last 10 seasons that the Sox scored as many as 12 runs without a homer.
- Rafael Devers leads MLB with game-tying or go-ahead RBI (63) since the start of 2019.
- JD Martinez has 10 RBI in his last 10 games.