It was looking like Saturday was going to be quite a disappointing day all the way around for the Red Sox.
Instead, the Sox pulled a dramatic three-run comeback in the ninth inning and came from behind to defeat the Tigers.
David Ortiz's dramatic walk-off three-run double capped off an eventfully uneventful day that saw the trade deadline come and go, with the Red Sox only really acquiring Jarrod Saltalamacchia from the Rangers.
But as the calendar turns from July to August, the Red Sox try to close out the Tigers on Sunday in an effort to get off on the right foot for the new month.
WHEN AND WHERE
Tigers (52-50) at Red Sox (58-45)
Sunday, Aug. 1, 1:35 p.m.
Fenway Park, Boston
HEAD TO HEAD
The Sox are 22-7 against the Tigers at home since 2003.
PITCHING MATCHUP
RHP Justin Verlander (12-6, 3.74 ERA) vs. RHP Clay Buchholz (11-5, 2.71 ERA)
While Buchholz struggled in his first start in his return from the DL in Oakland, he bounced back in his last start at Anaheim, returning to the form he had shown before his hamstring injury.
His 2.71 ERA is still good for second in the AL behind Texas' Cliff Lee. Buchholz is 1-1 in his career against the Tigers with a 3.63 ERA in 17 1/3 innings.
Verlander, who remains as one of the premier power pitchers in the game, has had a solid 2010 campaign. Although he's not quite on the same pace as he was in 2009 when he struck out an AL-best 269 hitters, the flame-throwing righty has still managed to notch 130 K's in 137 1/3 innings this season.
He's 2-2 with a 3.90 ERA in his career against the Red Sox, including an eight-inning gem last August in which Verlander surrendered only four hits while striking out eight.
LINEUPS
| Red Sox | Tigers |
|---|---|
| Marco Scutaro, SS J.D. Drew, RF Kevin Youkilis, 1B David Ortiz, DH Victor Martinez, C Adrian Beltre, 3B Ryan Kalish, LF Jed Lowrie, 2B Eric Patterson, CF |
Austin Jackson, CF Will Rhymes, 2B Ryan Raburn, LF Miguel Cabrera, 1B Brennan Boesch, RF Jhonny Peralta, 3B Jeff Frazier, DH Alex Avila, C Ramon Santiago, SS |
STAT SHEET
Red Sox
- David Ortiz's walk-off hit Saturday was the 18th of his career and first since hitting a walk-off home run to beat the White Sox on Aug. 26, 2009.
- Daisuke Matsuzaka allowed two first-inning runs Saturday, running his total for the season to 18 (17 earned).
- Adrian Beltre grounded into two double plays Saturday, the third time a Red Sox player has done so this season.
Tigers
- Saturday was the first loss for the Tigers when leading by at least four runs all year.
- Miguel Cabrera's homered Saturday at Fenway Park for the first time in his career, and how has now hit a home run in 35 different major league parks.
- Max Scherzer is now winless in his last nine road starts, going 0-6 with a 5.96 ERA in that span.
BLACK AND BLUE
Red Sox
- J.D. Drew returned to the Red Sox lineup on Saturday after missing three games with a left hamstring strain.
- Second baseman Dustin Pedroia had a CT scan Friday, which revealed significant healing in his broken left foot. He took grounders, swung aggressively in batting practice and also ramped up his running program after a few days off.
- Catcher Jason Varitek also had a CT scan on his broken foot and was able to get rid of his crutches. He will remove his protective boot Saturday and can slowly begin to incorporate more activities. Varitek remains weeks away.
- Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury was in the lineup for Triple-A Pawtucket on Saturday night as he continues his rehab assigment. He will be re-evaluated after Sunday's game and could be activated early next week.
- Mike Lowell (hip) was expected to be activated from the DL on Friday but was kept sidelined. He was 11-for-22 with four homers in just five rehab games for the PawSox.
- Righty Junichi Tazawa underwent Tommy John surgery in March. He is out for the year.
Tigers
- Left fielder Johnny Damon missed Saturday's game a day after being scratched prior to Friday night's game with back spasms.
- Second baseman Carlos Guillen is on the DL with a strained right calf.
- Right fielder/designated hitter Magglio Ordonez is out until late August or early September with a broken right ankle.
- Third baseman Brandon Inge will be sidelined for several more weeks with a broken left hand.
- Lefty Bobby Seay remains on the 60-day DL with left shoulder soreness.
- Right-hander Joel Zumaya is out for the year after suffering a broken right elbow throwing a pitch near the end of June.
- Right-hander Zach Miner had season-ending Tommy John surgery May 28.
OUTLOOK
The Red Sox are still looking to capitalize on any sort of momentum, and they're hoping that Saturday's win can provide the spark as the stretch run approaches.
It's definitely not going to be easy going against one of the game's best in Verlander, so the Red Sox will need
