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Final: Tigers 6, Red Sox 2 - Detroit cashes in on long ball as Bello, offense sputter
The Red Sox' winning streak ended at three in Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Tigers at Fenway. Boston remains 3.0 games back of Toronto for the final Wild Card Spot in the American League following the Blue Jays' loss earlier. Kerry Carpenter led the way for Detroit with a pair of home runs as part of four on the day for the Tigers with one each coming from Spencer Torkelson and Eric Haase. Brayan Bello made it through just 4.2 innings, giving up nine hits and four runs (earned). Meanwhile, the Sox didn't muster a hit until the fourth inning, totaling just three going into the seventh inning and four going into the eighth. Justin Turner (2-for-4, HR, RBI, 2 R) led the way for Boston, who had just two extra-base hits on the day.
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WHO: Red Sox (61-55) vs. Tigers (52-64)
WHEN: 4:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
SERIES TO DATE: Red Sox lead 1-0 (4-0 season)
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Brayan Bello (8-6, 3.64) vs. RHP Matt Manning (3-4, 5.06)
TV/RADIO: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7
LINEUPS
RED SOX
1. Alex Verdugo RF
2. Masataka Yoshida LF
3. Justin Turner DH
4. Rafael Devers 3B
5. Triston Casas 1B
6. Pablo Reyes SS
7. Jarren Duran CF
8. Reese McGuire C
9. Luis Urias 2B
SP Brayan Bello
TIGERS
1. Akil Baddoo LF
2. Riley Greene DH
3. Matt Vierling CF
4. Kerry Carpenter RF
5. Spencer Torkelson 1B
6. Zach McKinstry SS
7. Andy Ibáñez 2B
8. Nick Maton 3B
9. Eric Haase C
SP Matt Manning
WHAT'S UP
The Red Sox have won three straight and four of five between the lowly Tigers and Royals. Boston took Friday's series opener with Detroit, 5-2, thanks to Triston Casas' three-run homer, Chris Sale's strong return and a three-inning save from Chris Murphy.
The Sox are 3.0 games out of the final Wild Card spot.
Boston is going for 10-straight wins against Detroit, looking to pad their 10-4 record against the Tigers at Fenway over the last five years. The Sox have won 13 of 18 at home.
Casas leads the AL with 10 home runs since the break.
Bello is coming off 6.2 innings in a 6-2 win against the Royals on Monday that saw him allow one run on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts. He's hoping to be clear of an up-and-down patch that got him coming out of the break. Bello has never faced Detroit in his career.
Manning has given up at least four earned runs in three straight appearances and six or more in two of his last three. He went 5.2 innings in a loss at Tampa on Sunday, allowing eight runs (six earned) on nine hits (two homers) with a walk and three strikeouts. In one career appearance against the Sox, he gave up one run over six innings.
The current plan is Tanner Houck "most likely comes back as a starter," Alex Cora said pregame. He will make one more rehab start before joining the Red Sox on their upcoming road trip. Houch could return during the series in Houston, which begins a week from Monday.