On Monday, the first-time All-Star faces an easier challenge as the Detroit Tigers come to town in the opener of a three-game series at Fenway Park.
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Despite the losses, Detroit (51-48) remains in striking distance of Cleveland in the AL Central, trailing the Indians by six games. The Boston Red Sox offense continues to produce at an elite level, and they’ve won six of their last seven games when scoring more than three runs.
Victor Martinez and James McCann also drove in runs for the Tigers. “I think we settled with them pretty good in between starts”. “You tend to string starts together, occasionally”.
Last time out, Verlander gave up one run on two hits and two walks with nine strikeouts in an eight-inning no-decision Wednesday against the Twins. The Red Sox are 6-0 in their last 6 during game 1 of a series and 10-4 in their last 14 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Francisco Rodriguez earned his 28th save. The Red Sox staff allowed a total of 18 runs on Saturday and Sunday but managed to pull out an 8-7 win in the finale behind three home runs and the first save from right-hander Brad Ziegler, who is taking over closing duties with Craig Kimbrel and Koji Uehara on the disabled list. Both hits were home runs – one game-winning, the other game-tying.
Pomeranz entered Monday’s start looking to bounce back from his dismal Boston debut last week against San Francisco, in which he gave up five runs in just three innings.
David Ortiz has hit Verladner particularly well, going 11-for-29 (.379) with two home runs and four RBIs, but has nine strikeouts against him.
Jose Iglesias hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning, Justin Verlander pitched six solid innings and the Detroit Tigers beat the Red Sox 4-2 on Monday night to spoil Pomeranz’s second start at Fenway.
It was the first career homer in Fenway for Iglesias, who started his career in Boston before being traded to Detroit in 2013.
Pomeranz has never started against the Tigers, but has made one relief appearance against them, pitching a scoreless inning.
Iglesias scored his second run of the game in the eighth, trotting across home plate on Martinez’s single off reliever Clay Buchholz to make it 4-1. I am saying he’s quite good, and a damn sight better than we saw on that night. Red Sox LH Drew Pomeranz (8-7, 2.83) Verlander allowed two or fewer runs in each of his last four starts and is coming off the best of the bunch. “I made some bad fastball-location pitches, and they made me pay for it”.
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Boston loaded the bases on three straight singles off Justin Wilson to begin its half of the eighth.
