FINAL: Red Sox 6, Tigers 3 - Valdez Goes Deep Twice, Rafaela Shines Defensively

The Red Sox (30-29) have now won two in a row with a 6-3 win over the Detroit Tigers (28-30). Another great offensive output from the hitters lead to a fairly easy victory.

It is now two games in a row where a Boston player has hit multiple home runs, with today's player being Enmanuel Valdez. He went 3-4, with those hits being a double and two home runs. Rafael Devers, Reese McGuire, and Dominic Smith had an RBI each in the win as well.

Cooper Criswell got the nod today, and he did a fine job on the mound. He went five innings, giving up only one run on four hits, and he struck out five. Brenan Bernardino was credited with a hold after pitching two innings, striking out two. Brad Keller pitched the eighth and ninth, giving up a home run to Gio Urshela in the ninth, which cut the lead to three. 

My Player of the Game: Enmanuel Valdez - Another great game from a young Boston hitter. Hopefully the streak continues in tomorrow's game as well.

The series finale is scheduled for a 1:35 p.m. first pitch. Probable starters for that one are Casey Mize (1-3, 4.71 ERA) and Brayan Bello (6-2, 4.18 ERA)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             ____________________________

WHO: Detroit Tigers (28-29) at Red Sox (29-29)
WHEN: 4:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
SERIES TO DATE: 1-1
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Reese Olson (1-5, 1.92 ERA) vs. RHP Cooper Criswell (2-2, 4.19 ERA)
TV/RADIO: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7

LIVE BOX

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Jarren Duran LF
Wilyer Abreu RF
Dominic Smith 1B
Rafael Devers 3B
Enmanuel Valdez DH
Vaughn Grissom 2B
Reese McGuire C
Ceddanne Rafaela CF
David Hamilton SS

SP Cooper Criswell

OPPONENT

Matt Vierling RF
Riley Greene LF
Wenceel Perez CF
Gio Urshela 3B
Colt Keith DH
Spencer Torkelson 1B
Zach McKinstry 2B
Javier Baez SS
Jake Rogers C

SP Reese Olson

WHAT'S UP

The Red Sox defeated the Tigers last night, 7-3, to draw even in the 4-game series (1-1). Tanner Houck allowed 1 R over 7.0 IP (3 H, 2 BB, 6 SO). Ceddanne Rafaela recorded his 1st career multi-HR game, hitting a 3-run HR in the 4th inning and a 2-run HR in the 6th...His 5 RBI were his 2nd most in any career game (7 RBI on 4/27 vs. CHC).

The Red Sox recorded 6 XBH last night after not recording an XBH in their previous 2 games. The Sox rank 4th in MLB with 178 XBH...They rank 2nd in triples (16) and 5th in doubles (102).

The Red Sox are 11-2 in their last 13 games against the Tigers, beginning 4/12/22. Boston is 9-1-1 in series against Detroit since June 2017. Since the start of 2015, BOS is 6-1-1 in home series vs. DET

Last night’s starter Tanner Houck lowered his ERA to 1.85, the 2nd-lowest mark in the AL (KC’s Seth Lugo-1.72)...He also leads MLB pitchers in fWAR (2.7). Over the last 21 seasons (2003-24), the only other Sox starter to record an ERA that low through their first 12 starts was Clay Buchholz in 2013 (1.71).

Rafael Devers last night recorded his 423rd career XBH, passing Jim Rice for most in Red Sox history prior to turning 28 years old. Devers is 14 XBH shy of tying Manny Ramirez (437) for 5th-most by a Dominican-born player prior to age 28.

During May, Red Sox rookies batted .258 (59-for-229) with a .454 SLG, 11 doubles, 2 triples, 10 HR, 33 runs scored, 30 RBI, and 13 stolen bases. The Sox’ rookies ranked 1st in MLB during the month in SLG, hits, XBH, 2B, HR, R, RBI, and SB. Ceddanne Rafaela leads MLB rookies in runs scored (tied, 28) and RBI (33)...He leads AL rookies and ranks T-2nd among MLB rookies in HR (7). Wilyer Abreu leads qualified AL rookies in hits (44), doubles (13), XBH (21), total bases (79), SLG (.488), and OPS (.831)...He ranks 2nd in AVG (.272), OBP (.343), triples (tied, 2), and stolen bases (tied, 7). David Hamilton leads qualified AL rookies in AVG (.281), OBP (.347), and stolen bases (9).