BOSTON — So much for building a winning streak.
The Red Sox, who snapped an eight-game skid with a walk-off win Friday, fell right back into the loss column Saturday at Fenway Park. Boston never held a lead as the Detroit Tigers rolled to a 5-1 win.
The day started with second baseman Dustin Pedroia landing back on the disabled list with a hamstring injury. It ended with Boston stumbling back to 12 games under .500 (43-55).
GAME IN A WORD
Uncomfortable.
Blake Swihart was charged with four passed balls while catching knuckleballer Steven Wright. In Swihart’s defense (no pun intended), the Tigers squared up some balls to produce their offense. But the rookie’s tough day behind the plate was indicative of the Red Sox’s afternoon. Boston never stood a chance after falling behind early, which is disappointing given Alfredo Simon’s recent struggles.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Nick Castellanos plated two runs with a ground-rule double in the fourth inning.
Victor Martinez and J.D. Martinez reached via back-to-back singles to begin the fourth. Both runners advanced when Swihart was charged with his third passed ball of the contest, and both scored when Castellanos smoked a ball to center field that touched down in the triangle and bounced over the fence.
Castellanos, whose two-run double made it 4-1, extended Detroit’s lead with a solo home run in the sixth inning. It was Castellanos’ ninth homer of 2015.
ON THE BUMP
— Wright was charged with four runs (two earned) over 4 1/3 innings. He surrendered five hits, walked two and struck out four.
Swihart’s troubles were especially problematic in the second inning, when a passed ball on a third strike allowed Alex Avila to reach base as Martinez, who already advanced to second base because of a passed ball, moved to third base. James McCann grounded into a run-scoring forceout moments later.
Yoenis Cespedes hit an absolute bomb off Wright in the first inning to give the Tigers an early 1-0 edge.
— Noe Ramirez surrendered the home run to Castellanos in the sixth.
— Justin Masterson, who earned the win Friday with a scoreless 11th inning, tossed two scoreless frames. He allowed one hit, induced three ground-ball outs and struck out one.
Masterson will become an interesting player to watch if his trade stock continues to rise as a reliever over the next week.
— Craig Breslow pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Mookie Betts knocked in Boston’s only run. He grounded out softly in the fifth inning after Swihart tripled with one out.
— Hanley Ramirez was the only Red Sox hitter with more than one hit. He went 2-for-3 with two singles.
— David Ortiz doubled in the second inning and was thrown out at the plate while trying to score from second base on a single by Ramirez. Cespedes fired a rocket from left field.
It was a bad send by third base coach Brian Butterfield.
TWEET OF THE GAME
Did something more entertaining happen at Wrigley Field?
[tweet https://twitter.com/brianmacp/status/625069265054527488Â align=’center’%5D
UP NEXT
The Red Sox and Tigers will wrap up their three-game series with a nationally televised game Sunday night. Eduardo Rodriguez will face Shane Greene in the rubber match.
