Final: Red Sox 5, Tigers 4

Trevor Story clubbed a three-run homer and Christian Vazquez added a solo homer as the Red Sox held off a ninth-inning charge to edge the Detroit Tigers, 5-4. The win gave the Red Sox their sixth straight series victory.

Story's blast turned a 2-1 Detroit lead into a 4-2 lead for the Red Sox. After the Tigers narrowed it to 4-3 in the fifth, Vazquez hit his fourth of the season to give the Sox a two-run cushion again in the seventh.

A leadoff homer from Jonathan Schoop pulled the Tigers within a run in the ninth off Matt Strahm before Strahm got two outs and John Schreiber came on to get the final one and record his second save.

WHO: Red Sox (37-31) vs. Detroit Tigers (26-41)
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
SERIES TO DATE: BOS 1-0
SEASON SERIES TO DATE: BOS 3-1
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Rich Hill (2-4, 4.42) vs, RHP Beau Brieske (1-5, 3.79)
TV/RADIO: NESN;; WEEI-FM 93.7 

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Duran CF
Devers 3B
Martinez DH
Bogaerts SS
Verdugo LF
Story 2B
Cordero 1B
Vazquez C
Bradley Jr, RF

TIGERS 

Grossman LF
Baez SS
Cabrera DH
Haase C
Greene CF
Torkelson 1B
Candelario 3B
Schoop 2B
Castro RF

WHAT's UP: The Sox are 6-2 in their last 8 games. They are a season-high 6 games above .500 (37-31). The Sox are 14-4 (.778) in June...That is the 2nd-best record in the AL and 4th-best in the majors this month: ATL (16-2, .889), NYY (16-2, .889), PHI (15-3, .833). They are in a stretch of 25 games in 27 days from 6/3-29 (13-4 so far), including 19 in 20 days from 6/3-22. ...The Red Sox would clinch their 6th consecutive series victory with a win tonight or tomorrow. The Sox entered this series 9-1-2 in their previous 12 series after going 1-7-1 through their first 9 this season. ...The Red Sox rank 3rd in the AL and 7th in the majors this season with a +50 run differential. The Sox’ +34 run differential in June (87-53) is the 2nd-best in the AL and 5th-best in the majors. The Sox have won 14 games by at least 5 runs, tied for 2nd-most in the AL (MIN-16, NYY-14, HOU-14). ....The Red Sox were 10-19 after getting swept by CWS from 5/6-8...They are 27-12 (.692) since 5/10, trailing only the Yankees for MLB’s best record (30-9, .769). Since 5/10, the Sox lead the majors in runs (227), AVG (.279), OBP (.348), OPS (.812), XBH (153), doubles (101), and total bases (636)...They rank 2nd in run differential (+73) and 3rd in SLG (.464).  The Sox have lost consecutive games only once since 5/10: 5/30 vs. BAL & 5/31 vs. CIN. In their last 12 games following a team loss, Sox starters are 7-1 with a 1.95 ERA (16 ER/73.2 IP). Sox pitchers own a 2.99 ERA (92 ER/276.2 IP) following a team loss this season, the 4th-best mark in the majors.. Nine of the Red Sox’ last 14 games have been decided by 2 runs or fewer, including 7 by 1 run. The Sox are 9-5 in their last 14 games decided by 1 or 2 runs, including 7-2 in their last 9...They began the season 6-12 in their first 18 decided by 1 or 2 runs. ....The Sox are in the final series of their 9-game homestand vs. OAK (2-1), STL (2-1), and DET (1-0). The Sox are 14-7 (.667) in their last 20 home games. ....The Red Sox will wear their Nike MLB City Connect Series uniforms for all three games during the current series against the Tigers. The Sox have worn the City Connect uniforms 11 times since unveiling them in 2021...They are 9-2 (.818) in those games, including 3-0 this season. : The Red Sox are nearing the end of a stretch during which only 5 of their 50 games from 5/3-6/26 are against AL East opponents (28-17 so far). From 6/27-7/24, 20 of the Red Sox’ 23 games will be against AL East opponents, including each of their last 14 leading into the All-Star break. The Sox are in the midst of a stretch during which 36 of their 42 games from 6/17-8/3 are against teams who entered today with a winning record (3-1 so far)....The Red Sox are currently tied with CLE for the AL’s 2nd Wild Card position...Entering play on 5/10, the Sox owned the AL’s 2nd-worst record (10-19) and were 6.5 games out of the final Wild Card position. The Sox worst record through their first 29 games of a season before qualifying for the Postseason was 13- 16 in 1967...They advanced to the World Series that season, where they lost to the Cardinals in Game 7. ....The Red Sox’ 5 primary starting pitchers have combined to post a 3.38 ERA (114 ER/303.1 IP) in their 55 starts (Eovaldi, Pivetta, Hill, Wacha, Whitlock). In their last 19 games, Red Sox starters have posted a 2.15 ERA (26 ER/109.0 IP) with 96 SO and only 22 BB. Sox starters lead the majors in ERA in June (2.26). The Sox are 16-5 (.762) when their starting pitcher throws at least 6.0 innings, winning each of the last 10 such games and 15 of the last 16. ...The Sox rank 3rd in the AL and 5th in the majors in ERA this month (2.73, 49 ER/161.2 IP)...They rank 2nd in the AL in opponent SLG (.344) and OPS (.629), and 3rd in WHIP (1.12) and opponent OBP (.285). Sox pitchers have allowed just 12 HR this month, tied for the fewest in the majors this month (also ATL). The Red Sox feature 5 pitchers with at least 40.0 IP and a sub-3.60 ERA this year, tied with NYY for the most such pitchers in MLB: Wacha (2.28), Eovaldi (3.16), Pivetta (3.31), Houck (3.45), and Whitlock (3.51). ...Tanner Houck has converted each of his 5 save opportunities this year, all coming in his last 5 outings...He has earned the save in 5 of the Sox’ last 7 wins. In his last 12 appearances, beginning 5/15, Houck is 2-0 with an 0.87 ERA and 5 saves (2 ER/20.2 IP). ...The Red Sox are 7-3 in their las   t 10 games without hitting a HR after going 5-17 through their first 22 such games this season. The Sox are tied for the major league lead in sacrifice flies this season (27; also NYM and SF). The Sox are 19-for-19 in stolen base attempts in their last 36 games (beginning 5/14), after going 4-for-9 in their first 32 games. Last night, they stole a season-high 3 bases (Duran-2, Bradley Jr.-1), their most since 5/20/21 (3). ....The Sox lead MLB in doubles (160) and lead the AL in AVG (.258), hits (605), and XBH (230)...They rank 2nd in runs (322) and 3rd in total bases (969). ....The Sox feature 3 players who are batting at least .300 with an .875 OPS: Bogaerts (.332 AVG, .882 OPS), Devers (.330, .988), and Martinez (.335, .944). The Sox are the only team who features multiple qualifying hitters batting at least .300...They are the only team with 3 players with an .875+ OPS...The only other team with multiple such players is MIN (2). The Sox feature an MLB-best 9 players with 20+ RBI... They also feature 5 players with 20+ XBH, tied for most in the AL (also HOU). Rafael Devers and Trevor Story have each hit 10+ HR with 40+ RBI...Only 4 other teams have multiple players who have reached those totals this season: NYY (3), HOU (2), NYM (2), and STL (2)...The only other pair of infield teammates to do so are NYM’s Alonso and Lindor and STL’s Arenado and Goldschmidt.

NOTES:

* Christian Arroyo (back) and Josh Taylor (lower back) have begun rehab assignments in Worcester. Arroyo will DH Tuesday night while Taylor is due to throw an inning. Arroyo will likely need at least one more game there playing in the field.

* Garrett Whitlock threw a simulated game at Fenway The Red Sox are waiting to see how he feels Wednesday before determining what's next.

* Chris Sale will pitch two innings Saturday in the Florida Complex League after throwing one Monday night.

* Kike Hernandez (hip flexor) had something of a setback a day after taking some swings Monday afternoon. The Red Sox are waiting to see how he responds. "He'll stay away from baseball activities (for the time being),'' said Cora. "We'll take it day by day.''

* Nathan Eovaldi (hip) has yet to be cleared for baseball acitivities.