WHO: Red Sox vs. Detroit Tigers
WHEN: 1:10 p.m.
WHERE: Comerica Park
SEASON SERIES TO DATE: BOS 3-2
SERIES TO DATE: 1-1
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Martin Perez (7-7, 4.56) vs. LHP Tarik Shubal (6-10, 4.53)
TV/RADIO: NESN; WEEI-FM 93.7
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Hernandez CF
Devers 3B
Martinez DH
Bogaerts SS
Renfroe RF
Plawecki C
Verdugo LF
Dalbec 1B
Gonzalez 2B
TIGERS
Grossman LF
Schoop 1B
Cabrera DH
Haase C
Candelario 3B
Reyes RF
Short SS
W. Castro 2B
Hill CF
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
B6: Costly error by Kike Hernandez in center helps lead to a run as Akil Baddoo scores from second on a sharp single to center from Jonathan Schoop.
T6: Through the first six innings, the Red Sox have one hit from the top five spots in their lineup -- and that was an infield roller to second by Rafael Devers.
B5: Ugly. Consecutive base hits to straightaway center -- double by Jeimer Candelario and a triple from Jose Reyes -- result in three runs off Hansel Robles.
T5: Sox waste a leadoff single from Marwin Gonzalez. They're 0-for-6 with RISP.
B4: Couldn't ask for more from Valdez, who has retired all eight hitters he faced since taking over for Perez. Five of those outs have been on the ground.
T3: Red Sox leave two in scoring position as J.D. Martinez looks at a called third strike and Xander Bogaerts flies to CF.
B2: That's all for Perez, who lasts 1.1 innings and 37 pitches, leaving the bases loaded for Phillips Valdez.
B2: Tigers are being very aggressive on the bases, with Willi Castro going first-to-third on a single to left and Derek Hill, the trail runner/batter, takes second on the throw.
B1: Hunter Renfroe took a strange route to that fly ball from Grossman, attempting to catch the ball over his shoulder only to have it drop in for a double.
B1: Alex Cora said before the game that he wanted Martin Perez to elevate his fastball more. Well, he did on his third pitch of the game and Robbie Grossman clubbed it out to left for a quick Detroit lead.
WHAT'S UP: The Red Sox snapped a season-long 5-game losing streak Wednesday night...They are 9-9 since the All-Star break and 64-45 (.587) overall, the third-best record in the AL and sixth-best in the majors....The Sox’ 31-23 (.574) road record ranks tied for second in the AL and tied for fourth in the majors...The Red Sox trail the Rays by one game, the smallest gap between first- and second-place teams in any division...Xander Bogaerts played in his 1,003rd game at shortstop Wednesday night (all with the Red Sox)...His next appearance at the position would tie him with Rick Burleson (1,004) for the second-most games at SS in Red Sox history, trailing only Everett Scott (1,093). Since the start of 2018, Bogaerts ranks either first or second among MLB shortstops in AVG (first, .302), OBP (first, .373), SLG (second, .532), OPS (second, .905), XBH (second, 221), hits (second, 514), doubles (first, 135), and RBI (first, 303)....In their first nine games out of the All-Star break, Red Sox starters posted a 3.50 ERA , in nine games since, they have a 7.38 ERA .... Only 6 pitchers have started a game for the Red Sox this season, the fewest in the majors (they used 16 starters in 2020)...They have not used fewer than 8 starting pitchers in a season since 1965...Yairo Muñoz extended his hitting streak with Triple-A Worcester to 26 games Wednesday, setting a new modern day Red Sox Triple-A record...The previous record of 25 games was set by Jacoby Ellsbury in 2007. Muñoz’s streak is tied for the longest in the minors this season...During the streak, which began on July 1, he has hit .398 with a .994 OPS..In their last three games, Red Sox pitchers have allowed eight runs in 25.0 IP (2.88 ERA)...They have given up four runs or fewer in 12 of their last 15 games (each of the last three)...The Sox struck out 18 batters last night, their most in a nine-inning game since Sept. 1, 2018 at CWS (also 18)... They matched the most strikeouts by any team in a nine-inning game this season (also MIL, NYY, SEA). In their last four games, the Sox have struck out 50 batters and walked 12...In their last 32 games, Sox pitchers rank fourth in the majors in SO/BB ratio (3.23; 297 SO, 92 BB)....Red Sox relievers rank third in the AL and sixth in MLB in ERA (3.59)...Their nine active relievers have a combined 2.79 ERA for Boston this season....: In their last 11 games, the Red Sox have averaged 3.2 runs per game while batting .247 with a .705 OPS and nine HR...They have struck out 10+ times in five consecutive games, their longest streak of 2021. Overall, the Sox rank in the top 5 in the majors in runs (fifth, 536), AVG (fourth, .257), SLG (third, .440), OPS (fourth, .759), doubles (first, 229), and XBH (first, 382). The Sox own MLB’s best records when scoring four or more runs (57-8, .877) and five or more runs (48-5, .906). The Sox have hit four or more HR in a game an MLB-best 10 times.....The Red Sox have committed only three errors in their last 13 games....In that time, only the A’s (one) have been charged with fewer errors. The Sox lead MLB with 33 OF assists, nine more than any other team...Sox OFs rank T-second in the AL and T-fourth in MLB with 17 defensive runs saved (source: FanGraphs)...The Red Sox lead MLB with 33 come-from-behind wins (the Rays rank second with 32)...The Sox trailed after five innings in 12 of those comeback wins. According to Elias, the only teams that are unbeaten when holding a lead of four or more runs at any point are the Red Sox (36-0) and Cleveland (24-0).....Martin Perez Is 0-3 with a 7.64 ERA over his last four starts after going 3-0 with a 1.86 ERA over his previous four starts. The Sox have won his last eight starts when he throws at least five innings....Perez is 4-3 with a 3.40 ERA in nine road starts, compared to 3-4 with a 5.65 ERA in 12 home starts. Perez has 47 called third strikes, tied with teammate Eduardo Rodriguez for the most among MLB LHP and tied with Rodriguez for second-most in the AL (Gerrit Cole-49).
NOTES:
* The Red Sox are preparing for some different health protocols as they head to Canada for the first time since 2019. Canada only recently opened up to travelers from the U.S. and players must observe some rules that are no longer in place in the U.S. "It's a business trip,'' said Cora, who said the team would mostly remain in the team hotel when not at the ballpark.
* Cora and the Sox are remaining patient with Jarren Duran as he acclimates to major league pitching. "As far as work ethic, he's amazing,' said Cora. "He's very structured and he understands what it takes to post every day. He prepares himself. As far as on the field, he's been good defensively. He's done a good job with that. We talk about the swing and misses, but I think there's always an adjustment period. The No. 1 prospect in baseball (Tampa Bay's Wander Franco) went through struggles early on. And now you see him being comfortable doing what he's doing. (With Duran), you see the power, you see the speed. He has to make contract. But so far, it's been solid. We like what we see.''
* Christian Arroyo (groin pull) continues to run on a treadmill, but has yet to resume baseball activities.
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