All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox win over the Tigers, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Wacha rebounds nicely after first: Three batters into the game, Michael Wacha was victimized by a two-run homer by Javier Baez, who jumped on a first-pitch fastball and hit into the Monster Seats, But thereafter, Wacha was much more successful. He didn't allow another run over the next five innings and allowed just three hits from the second inning through the sixth. Whenever the Tigers had chances, Wacha seemed to find an extra gear, something he's done all season with runners on base. For the season, opposing hitters are batting just .125 (5-for-40) with runners in scoring position. The win was his third in his last four starts and marked the eighth time in 10 starts this season that Wacha has allowed two runs or fewer. Wacha has put himself in the conversation to be part of the American League All-Star staff.
Downs makes debut: It wasn't the storybook first big league game that he might have dreamed of, but Jeter Downs was still happy to make his major league debut -- even if it did result in him going 0-for-4 with strikeouts. Downs got the start at third, a position he had never before played professionally. He had two chances at the position and handled both without incident. He didn't have the same success at the plate, seeing only 11 pitches in his three plate appearances that ended in strikeouts. But he was heartened by his final at-bat, when he fouled off some tough pitches and heard the crowd chant his name, hoping to will him to his first major league hit. "One of the coolest nights of my life,'' said Downs.
Fill-in outfielders contribute: With Kike Hernandez still on the IL and Jackie Bradley Jr. sitting because the Tigers were throwing a tough lefty, Jarren Duran and Rob Refsnyder occupied the two top spots in the Red Sox lineup and each made big contributions. Duran reached base twice -- first, by forcing Baez to hurry a first-inning throw, and in the third, he doubled home two runs. Of the 11 hits Duran has collected this season, five have been for extra bases. Refnsyder, meanwhile, had a two-run homer in the third inning, then doubled and scored as part of the two-run fifth. All together, the duo produced three hits, three runs and four RBI in the first two spots in the Boston batting order -- not bad for two guys who aren't everyday contributors.
TURNING POINT
The Sox were up 4-2, having overcome a 2-0 first-inning deficit with four runs in the third. Still, that hardly felt secure. Then, in the fifth, with two runners in scoring position following a double by Rob Refsnyder and a walk to J.D Martinez, Alex Verdugo came to the plate with two out. He then sliced a single to the opposite field, stinging a liner to left, scoring both baserunners and extending the Sox' lead from two runs to a far more comfortable four-run cushion. The fact that the big hit came off a lefty (Tigers starter Tarik Skubal) made it all the more impressive.
TWO UP
Christian Vazquez: Vazquez had a multi-hit night with a leadoff double and a run scored in the third, followed by a sharp single to center to lead off the sixth inning.
Hirokazu Sawamura: The Red Sox didn't want to use too much of their bullpen to close things out, and Sawamura answered the call with two scoreless innings, retired all six hitters he faced.
TWO DOWN
J.D. Martinez: Martinez has definitely hit a cold spell after a particularly long hot stretch. He was 0-for-3 with a walk and is now hitless in his last 10 at-bats.
Jake Diekman: He turned in a scoreless seventh inning, but not before issuing a leadoff walk despite taking over with a four-run lead.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"Couple of inches, right? A lot of credit to our strength staff. Maybe those couple of extra push ups and couple of extra reps paid off right there.'' Rob Refsnyder, whose homer in third inning just barely cleared the wall in left.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* Trevor Story stole second base in the eighth and is now a perfect 9-for-9 in stolen base attempts.
* Christian Vazquez has knocked in five runs in his last four games.
* The Sox are now 16-4 in June.
* The series sweep was the third for the Red Sox this season.
* The homer by Rob Refsnyder was his first in the big leagues since May 25, 2021.
* Jarren Duran has scored eight runs in 10 games this season.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox are off Thursday before beginning a three-city, nine-game road trip Friday in Cleveland. It will be RHP Nick Pivetta (7-5, 3.31) vs. RHP Cal Quantrill (4-4, 3.77) at 7:10 p.m.