Live Tigers blog: Tigers hold on for much-needed win
FINAL: TIGERS 4, RED SOX 3
With the way things have been going for the Tigers, this was one of their more improbable wins in some time.
The Tigers found themselves trailing 3-1 heading into the eighth inning, but they were able to get to the Boston bullpen and pull out the 4-3 win with a three-run eighth. Andrew Romine had the biggest at-bat of the day, coming back from a 1-2 count to draw the bases loaded walk with two outs that scored the winning run.
Matt Boyd was good on the mound today. He tossed six strong innings, giving up five hits and one run. He walked two and struck out four.
In the ninth, Francisco Rodriguez picked up his 34th save of the season, but it wasn't without a little bit of drama. After issuing a leadoff walk to Travis Shaw, Andrew Benintendi grounded into a fielder's choice. That's when the earth started shaking as David Ortiz came off the bench to pinch-hit, and he did his job, singling to center field to put men on first and second. Xander Bogaerts grounded into a fielder's choice, moving the runners up to second and third with two outs. That left Rodriguez one-on-one with one of the best hitters in baseball, Mookie Betts, who lined out to second base to end the game.
This was a much-needed win for the reeling Tigers in their first of four with the Red Sox, one of the teams they're chasing for an American League Wild Card spot.
Bottom 8th: Tigers 4, Red Sox 3
Junichi Tazawa got the call for the eighth inning and it didn't go well.
Ian Kinsler singled to leadoff the inning, Erick Aybar doubled down the right field line and Miguel Cabrera singled to center field to cut the Tigers deficit to 3-2 with nobody out in the eighth.
Tazawa was given the hook.
Brad Ziegler came into the game and didn't fair much better, giving up an RBI single to Victor Martinez that tied the game, 3-3. With nobody out and men on first and second, Tyler Collins came in to pinch-run for Cabrera and J.D. Martinez drew a walk to load the bases. Casey McGehee grounded into a fielder's choice, with Boston getting the out at home plate. Justin Upton then entered the game, pinch-running for Victor Martinez at third base. With one out and the bases still loaded, Jarrod Saltalamacchia struck out swinging. Luckily for the Tigers, Ziegler couldn't find the strike zone against Andrew Romine, walking in the go-ahead run.
The Tigers are now facing a situation where they need to avoid extra innings at all costs with both Cabrera and Victor Martinez out for the rest of today's game.
Top 8th: Red Sox 3, Tigers 1
Xander Bogaerts notched a leadoff, infield single to get things started against Alex Wilson, who came back out for a second inning of work. Mookie Betts kept it going with a bloop single into right field to put runners on the corners. Hanley Ramirez drove in the go-ahead run with a single through the middle of the infield, making it 2-1.
That was the end of the road for Wilson, who was replaced by Justin Wilson.
The Tigers were able to turn a double play after the switch when Jackie Bradley grounded into a fielder's choice. Erick Aybar, however, picked the ball up and stared down the runner on third, keeping him in place. He chased back Ramirez coming up the second base line. After throwing over to first for the out, Miguel Cabrera threw back to second base where a late Ramirez was thrown out.
That could have been a big sequence in minimizing the damage, but Justin Wilson threw a wild pitch behind the Sandy Leon, scoring the runner from third to make it 3-1.
Bottom 7th: Tigers 1, Red Sox 1
Despite having thrown just 81 pitches through six innings, Clay Buchholz was lifted from the game for Boston in favor or reliever Robbie Ross. The result was no different for the Tigers, however, as they were set down in order.
Jarrod Saltalmacchia flew out to left field, Andrew Romine flew out to center field and Alex Presley flew out to left field to end the inning.
Top 7th: Tigers 1, Red Sox 1
Alex Wilson got the call for the Tigers in relief of Matt Boyd. He set Boston down in order in the seventh, giving his offense another chance to try and take the lead.
The pinch-hitting Travis Shaw struck out swinging, Andrew Benintendi flew out to left field and Aaron Hill flew out to shallow right field to end the inning.
The Tigers have scored just four runs in the past 33 innings. The bullpen can't afford to give up any runs late in this one.
Bottom 6th: Tigers 1, Red Sox 1
Miguel Cabrera was hit by a pitch to start the sixth inning but the Tigers couldn't do anything with the big man on base, as the next three hitters went down in order.
Victor Martinez popped out to shortstop, J.D. Martinez struck out swinging at a ball up in the zone and Casey McGehee struck out looking at a ball that appeared to be out of the strike zone.
Top 6th: Tigers 1, Red Sox 1
Matt Boyd did his job today after setting Boston down in order in the sixth inning. Boyd gave up just one run on 106 pitches through six innings and has given his team a chance to win today.
Jackie Bradley grounded out to second base, Sandy Leon flew out to center field and Bryan Holaday did the same.
Boyd has been very good over the past month for the Tigers. Given his stellar outing against the Rangers last week and a solid start today against the Red Sox, two of the best lineups in MLB, the future looks bright for the young starter.
Bottom 5th: Tigers 1, Red Sox 1
Alex Presley notched a one-out single but the Tigers couldn't do anything with it, stranding their fifth runner of the afternoon. Ian Kinsler lined out to left field and Erick Aybar grounded out to second to end the inning.
Andrew Romine struck out swinging to leadoff the frame.
Top 5th: Tigers 1, Red Sox 1
Aaron Hill tagged Matt Boyd for a leadoff single, but once again, the Tigers young starter was able to navigate the murky waters that is the middle of the Boston order.
Xander Bogaerts flew out to left field, Mookie Betts grounded into a fielder's choice and Hanley Ramirez struck out swinging, Boyd's fourth punch out of the day.
Boyd's pitch count is a little elevated at 85, but if he can give the Tigers one more good inning, he will have done his job today.
Bottom 4th: Tigers 1, Red Sox 1
Clay Buchholz had a nice and tidy inning for Boston, setting the Tigers down in order in the fourth.
J.D. Martinez grounded out to third, Casey McGehee grounded out to shortstop and Jarrod Saltalamacchia flew out to left field to end the inning.
Top 4th: Tigers 1, Red Sox 1
Sandy Leon led off the fourth inning with a big fly, going down in the zone and drilling a Matt Boyd offering over the wall in left field to tie the game, 1-1.
Boyd was able to put the mistake behind him, however, setting the next three Boston hitters down in order.
Bryan Holaday flew out to right field, Deven Marrero lined out to third and Andrew Benintendi struck out looking to end the inning.
Bottom 3rd: Tigers 1, Red Sox 0
Miguel Cabrera notched a two-out single through the right side of the infield but the Tigers weren't able to do anything with the man on base, as Victor Martinez flew out to end the inning.
Ian Kinsler flew out to center field and Erick Aybar tried to lay down a bunt but was thrown out with ease to leadoff the frame.
Top 3rd: Tigers 1, Red Sox 0
Matt Boyd showed some rust after a long half-inning on the bench but he was able to dial it in against the middle of the Boston order to get out of the third inning unscathed.
Andrew Benintendi got things started with a leadoff single through the right side of the infield and Aaron Hill drew a walk to put the first two men on for Boston. Boyd bounced back to strike out Xander Bogaerts before getting Mookie Betts to fly out to center field, which allowed Benintendi to move up to third. With runners on the corners and two outs, Boyd walked Hanley Ramirez to load the bases for Jackie Bradley, who flew out to left field to end the threat.
Bottom 2nd: Tigers 1, Red Sox 0
J.D. Martinez notched a one-out single through the left side of the infield and that's when things got a bit bizarre. Casey McGehee drilled a ball to right center where, for a second, it appeared that Jackie Bradley may have a chance to make a diving catch. Well, the catch was never made, but the umpire anticipated and call McGehee out, forcing Martinez to run back to first base. After a lengthy conversation with both mangers, the umpires finally put on the headphones and had the play reviewed. The Tigers were awarded first and third base, giving them runners on the corners with just one out.
During the next at-bat, Red Sox third base coach Brian Butterfield was thrown out of the game for arguing from the dugout. At first, it appeared manager John Farrell was the one who got tossed. After all of that went down, Jarrod Saltalmacchia drove a ball deep enough to center field to score Martinez on a sacrifice fly.
Andrew Romine followed with a two-out single to put men on first and second for Alex Presley, who was making his first plate appearance of the season for the Tigers. Presley grounded out to first base to end the inning.
Victor Martinez grounded out to second on the first pitch he saw to leadoff the frame.
Top 2nd: Tigers 0, Red Sox 0
Matt Boyd bounced back from a sketchy first inning to set the Red Sox down in order in the second.
Sandy Leon grounded out to second, Bryan Holaday flew out to left field and Deven Marrero grounded out to shortstop to end the inning.
After a 19-pitch first inning, Boyd threw just 12 in the second frame.
Bottom 1st: Tigers 0, Red Sox 0
Erick Aybar notched a one-out single to right field but grounded into an inning-ending double play on the first pitch he saw.
Ian Kinsler flew out to center field to leadoff the inning, also on the first pitch from Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz.
Top 1st: Tigers 0, Red Sox 0
Matt Boyd won the first battle of the day, striking out Aaron Hill after an eight-pitch at-bat to leadoff the game. Xander Bogaerts flew out to center field for the inning's second out, but Mookie Betts was able to notch a two-out single through the middle of the infield and Hanley Ramirez singled to center field to put the young Tigers' pitcher in a jam early on.
Boyd was able to escape the jam just one pitch later, however, getting Jackie Bradley to ground out to first to end the inning.
TIGERS LINEUP
1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Erick Aybar, SS
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. J.D. Martinez, RF
6. Casey McGehee, 3B
7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
8. Andrew Romine, CF
9. Alex Presley, LF
Matt Boyd, P
RED SOX LINEUP
1. Aaron Hill, 3B
2. Xander Bogaerts, SS
3. Mookie Betts, RF
4. Hanley Ramirez, 1B
5. Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
6. Sandy Leon, DH
7. Bryan Holaday, C
8. Deven Marrero, 2B
9. Andrew Benintendi, LF
Clay Buchholz, P
TIGERS VS. RED SOX
When: Thursday, 1:10 p.m.
Where: Comerica Park, Detroit
Pitching matchup: LHP Matt Boyd (4-2, 4.16 ERA) vs. RHP Clay Buchholz (4-9, 5.66 ERA)
Local TV: Fox Sports Detroit
National TV: MLB Network
Internet streaming: MLB.TV (blacked out in Detroit market)
Local radio: 97.1 FM
Satellite radio: SIRI 212