BSJ Game Report: Red Sox 6, Tigers 3 - Story, bats come alive as Boston takes series from Detroit

All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Tigers, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

Sox return to win column with better bats: The Red Sox returned to the win column with Sunday's 6-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers at Fenway to finish the homestand off on a high note and take the series. Trevor Story went 4-for-4 with three doubles and two runs, and Justin Turner (2-for-5, R, RBI, 2 K) and Adam Duvall (2-for-4, R, 4 RBI, 1 K) each homered. Duvall's three-run homer in the fifth provided critical insurance.

Whitlock shows well in return to action: Garrett Whitlock picked up the win in his return from the injured list. The right-hander threw two hitless innings in relief, striking out three and giving up one unearned run after missing 32 games going back to July 3 with right elbow inflammation. Whitlock did not allow a hit nor a baserunner after his first batter faced reached on an error. He said returning to the relief role was "like riding a bike."

"Command could have been a little better, but stuff felt good," Whitlock added. "I'm just looking to contribute any way I can."

TURNING POINT

Top of the fifth: After the Tigers cut Boston's lead to 3-2 in the top of the fifth, the Red Sox tacked on a quick three-run bottom of the inning to make it 6-2. Story got it started with his second double of the day before Masataka Yoshida reached on an infield single. Duvall struck fast and quick, taking the first pitch he saw for a 403-foot, 106.9-mile-per-hour ride for a three-run blast and additional breathing room. 

FOUR UP

Trevor Story: Beginning to come alive, now a combined 7-for-11 in his last three games after going 0-for-8 in his first two. Easily stole second in the third inning before taking what proved to be a worthwhile gamble when he stole third. Scored on Duvall's single through the infield to make it 3-1. Eighth career game with three or more extra-base hits. 

Adam Duvall: Big day at the plate after a quiet start to the series. Added to Boston's lead in the third with his RBI single before knocking in the game-deciding runs with his three-run blast in the fifth inning. Second time this season with four or more RBI in a game. 

Garrett Whitlock: Had strong stuff in his return. Twice maxed out his sinker at 97 miles per hour, and all of his velocities were higher than their average on the balance of the year so far, especially his sinker (96 mph average Sunday; 93.6 on the year) and sweeper (82.3; 79.2), per Baseball Savant. 

Justin Turner: Back-to-back days with home runs for Turner. His solo home run in the third inning gave the Red Sox their first lead of the day after falling behind early. Another strong day at DH as he deals with the bone bruise hobbling him in his right heel. 

ONE DOWN

Pablo Reyes: Tough day for Reyes after a pretty solid weekend, all in all. Went 0-for-4 at the plate with a strikeout. Accounted for both of Boston's errors, which came on the same play in the top of the sixth when he couldn't make the play on a grounder before a wild throw to first, allowing Matt Vierling to take second. Vierling went on to score, and the unearned run was the only blemish on Whitlock's line. 

NOTABLE 

The Red Sox have won five of seven and 11 of their last 20. They went 5-2 to close out the homestand after a disastrous start in the three-game sweep to Toronto. 

Kutter Crawford went 4.2 innings in the start, retiring 14 of his first 18 batters. Had a two-hitter going into the fifth inning before Akil Baddoo's homer ended his day. It was his eighth start this season in which he allowed two or fewer runs. Has a 3.47 ERA over his last 10 starts.

Boston improved to an MLB-best 49-7 when scoring five or more runs. 

QUOTE OF NOTE

Alex Cora said of Story: "He's gonna run, and he's gonna put pressure on you. It's pretty good. Like, we've seen him play, the way he moves ... it can't be that easy. One of the things is like he's fast and quick. We see him running, he's very fast, but then in the infield, he's quick. His first step is amazing. Hopefully, just like offense is contagious, defense is contagious, and they see him going about it the right way, locked in on every pitch. Hopefully, we can get better in that aspect."

On Whitlock: "He was good, throwing strikes. The ability to hit the outside part of the plate against righties over and over and over and over again is really good. You saw it. Two innings today. He helped [Josh Winckowski]. He helped [John] Schreiber. He'll be down for two days and be back Wednesday. Now we can play that game, and hopefully, it works."

UP NEXT

The Red Sox are off Monday as they travel to the nation's capital for a three-game set with the Nationals to kick off a 10-game road trip, beginning Tuesday. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. RHP Nick Pivetta (8-6, 4.16 ERA) will face RHP Josiah Gray (7-9, 3.69 ERA).