BOSTON — The Red Sox are about to get away from Fenway Park for a while, and that might be a good thing.
The Red Sox battled the Detroit Tigers in another close game Wednesday but came up short for the third consecutive time, as Miguel Cabrera’s go-ahead home run in the ninth helped Detroit walk away with a 4-3 win and a series sweep.
Boston came back from a two-run deficit to help starter Eduardo Rodriguez escape with a no-decision, but the club now has lost five of its last six games heading into an extensive road trip.
Here’s how this one went down.
GAME IN A WORD
Waste.
Detroit spoiled Boston’s hopes of a comeback for the second time in as many games. The Red Sox plated a run each in the seventh and eighth innings to erase a two-run deficit, only to watch Cabrera hit a go-ahead homer in the ninth to help the Tigers earn the sweep.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Cabrera came up clutch in the ninth.
With the game tied 3-3, the Tigers first baseman blasted an opposite-field shot to right field that hit the top of the fence and bounced into Detroit’s bullpen. Cabrera went 3-for-4 on the day.
ON THE BUMP
— Rodriguez didn’t have his best stuff Wednesday, but managed to escape a few jams to keep the game within reach.
The 23-year-old left-hander allowed four consecutive runners to reach in the third inning and gave up a two-RBI single to Victor Martinez to cough up a 1-0 lead. Rodriguez recovered to strike out three of the next five batters, but a James McCann solo homer and a Tyler Collins walk chased him from the game with one out in the sixth.
Rodriguez allowed three runs on nine hits over 5 1/3 innings, striking out nine and walking three (one intentional). The homer to McCann was the 12th long ball he’s allowed this season and marked the eighth consecutive game he’s been taken deep.
— Matt Barnes recorded the final two outs of the sixth inning and allowed a single in a scoreless seventh frame.
He allowed zero runs on one hit in 1 2/3 innings of work and recorded one strikeout.
— Clay Buchholz needed just six pitches to retire the side in the eighth inning.
— Brad Ziegler came on for the ninth and recorded the first two outs with ease before Cabrera took him deep.
He finished the inning with one run allowed on one hit while striking out one and walking one.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Dustin Pedroia blasted his 11th homer of the season to dead center in the first inning to put Boston up 1-0. He went 1-for-4 and now has reached base in 30 consecutive games.
— Xander Bogaerts plated the second Red Sox run with a solo homer in the seventh inning. It was his 12th deep ball of the season.
— Mookie Betts came up huge in the eighth inning with a two-out, game-tying RBI triple to center field off Tigers starter Michael Fulmer that scored Travis Shaw. Pedroia struck out to end the frame and strand Betts at third, however.
— Sandy Leon (1-for-3) hit a leadoff double in the third inning but was thrown out at home plate by Collins while trying to score on a Betts fly out.
— Aaron Hill went 1-for-3 and snapped a 0-for-9 skid with a one-out double in the fifth.
— Double plays were Boston’s downfall in the middle innings, as the Red Sox hit into three twin killings between the third and sixth frames that each stopped potential rallies in their tracks.
TWEET OF THE DAY
Welcome to Boston, David Backes.
David gets a warm welcome @RedSox fans! pic.twitter.com/AvHN2Hikc2
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) July 27, 2016
UP NEXT
Boston embarks on an 11-game West Coast road trip, beginning Thursday with a four game set in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels. David Price will get the start Thursday, with first pitch set for 10:05 p.m. ET.
Thumbnail photo via David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports Images
