FINAL: Detroit Tigers 2, Red Sox 1 - O'Neill's Solo Home Run Not Enough Against Skubal

The Red Sox (70-66) lose a close one to the Detroit Tigers (69-68) 2-1, as they could only muster one run against Cy Young Award candidate Tarik Skubal.

The Sox lone run came off the bat of Tyler O'Neill, who hit a solo home run in the top of the first inning, for his 25th of the year. Boston would get only three more hits over the course of the game, with those being singles from Jarren Duran, Romy Gonzalez, and Connor Wong. O'Neill would also draw the only walk for Boston in the top of the ninth.

Nick Pivetta did great, pitching six innings and giving up just two runs, which were brought in by Trey Sweeney, who hit a double that bounced off the glove of Rob Refsnyder after he seemed to lose it in the sun. Pivetta also struck out six and walked just one Tiger. Greg Weissert would replace him in the seventh, getting two outs and allowing two hits. Rich Hill would pitch the rest of the game, throwing an inning and a third of no hit ball, striking out one.

My Player of the Game: Nick Pivetta - Pivetta did all he could in this one, keeping the game close, but the bats let him down after a good start.

Tomorrow's rubber match will begin at 1:40 p.m.. The probable starters for that one are TBD
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     _________________________________

WHO: Red Sox (70-65) at Detroit Tigers (68-68)
WHEN: 6:10 p.m.
WHERE: Comerica Park
SERIES TO DATE: 3-2
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Nick Pivetta (5-9, 4.61 ERA) vs. LHP Tarik Skubal (15-4, 2.58 ERA)
TV/RADIO: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7

LIVE BOX

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Jarren Duran CF
Rob Refsnyder LF
Tyler O'Neill RF
Rafael Devers DH
Romy Gonzalez 3B
Connor Wong 2B
Triston Casas 1B
Danny Jansen C
Ceddanne Rafaela SS

SP Nick Pivetta

OPPONENT

Parker Meadows CF
Riley Greene LF
Matt Vierling RF
Colt Keith DH
Spencer Torkelson 1B
Zach McKinstry 2B
Trey Sweeney SS
Ryan Kreidler 3B
Jake Rogers C

SP Tarik Skubal

WHAT'S UP

The Red Sox won last night's series opener over the Tigers in 10 innings, 7-5. Ceddanne Rafaela (2-run) and Jarren Duran (solo) hit back-to-back HR in the 10th inning...It was the 1st time the Sox hit back-to-back HR in extra innings since 6/18/14 vs. MIN (Ortiz/Napoli in 10th inning).

Boston last night improved to 8-8 in extra-inning games, including 5-3 on the road. BOS has played 9 extra-inning games in its last 49 games, beginning 7/4, compared to just 3 in its previous 67 games from 4/17-7/3. The Sox have won 3 of their last 4 extra-inning games after losing their previous 3.

Boston leads MLB in doubles (271) and XBH (470), while leading the AL in hits (1,210, T-2nd in MLB). The Sox also rank in MLB's top 5 in AVG (4th, .258), SLG (3rd, .437), and OPS (4th, .760).

The Red Sox have deployed an MLB-leading 162 pinch-hitters, the club's most since the American League's inception of the designated hitter in 1973 (2nd-157 in 1998). They lead MLB in pinch-hit HR (tied, 6), RBI (30), and XBH (17), while ranking 2nd in pinch hits (33). Boston's pinch-hitters rank 3rd in AVG (.244) and OBP (.358), and 4th in SLG (.459) and OPS (.817).

Liam Hendriks tossed a scoreless 8th inning for Triple-A Worcester last night vs. Toledo (1.0 IP, H, 11 pitches, 7 strikes)...He's pitched in 3 rehab games with WOR and 2 with Double-A Portland (4.0 IP. 3 H, R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO). Cam Booser made his 1st rehab appearance on Thursday with Worcester vs. Toledo, recording 3 SO in a scoreless 6th inning (1.0 IP, H, 16 pitches, 13 strikes). Trevor Story is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment tomorrow with the WooSox.