There’s pretty much no better way to come back from a tough loss than how the Red Sox did it Friday.
Boston jumped out to a four-run lead in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers and coasted into the win column behind another stellar performance from Rick Porcello, who came on and held things down against his former team.
Home runs from David Ortiz and Jackie Bradley Jr. as well as a pair of two-RBI doubles from Hanley Ramirez helped power the Red Sox to a 10-2 win.
Here’s how it all unfolded.
GAME IN A WORD
Redemption.
The Red Sox played well despite a lack of rest Thursday, and that made their 4-3 loss even more disappointing. But they struck early and often Friday to take down Michael Fulmer, who was the American League ERA leader heading into the game, and the rest of the Tigers.
IT WAS OVER WHEN …
Ramirez hit his second two-RBI double of the night to make it 10-2 Red Sox.
This game probably was over after Ramirez’s first two-RBI double made it 8-2 in the seventh, but the fans at Comerica actually started leaving after his next one in the eighth, so we’ll call it there.
ON THE BUMP
— Porcello allowed only one earned run, and it wasn’t even his best start. The right-hander continued his dominance as Boston’s unlikely ace, mowing down batters in his first start at Comerica Park in a Red Sox uniform. Porcello had an early hiccup, giving up a two-run homer to Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez, but it was smooth sailing after that.
Porcello finished his night with two runs allowed (one earned) on four hits with eight strikeouts and an uncharacteristic two walks over seven innings.
— Heath Hembree made his first major league appearance since July 23 in the eighth and enjoyed a 1-2-3 inning.
— Fernando Abad finished things out in the ninth with a 1-2-3 inning of his own, including two strikeouts.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Ortiz didn’t waste any time putting the Red Sox on the board Friday, crushing a two-run homer in the first inning. The designated hitter went 2-for-3 with a run, a walk and two RBIs.
Travis Shaw pinch-hit for Ortiz in the eighth inning and walked.
— Bradley also hit a ball out of the park in the opening frame for another two-run shot. The center fielder went 1-for-5 with a run and two RBIs.
— Hanley Ramirez continued to swing a hot bat, going 3-for-5 with a run and a pair of two-RBI doubles.
— Xander Bogaerts had a nice night, going 2-for-5 with a double. Sandy Leon also picked up a couple of hits and went 2-for-5 with a double and a run.
— Andrew Benintendi went 2-for-5 with an RBI single and a double.
— Dustin Pedroia went 2-for-5 with an RBI single in the sixth inning out of the leadoff spot.
— Brock Holt went 1-for-4 with a run. Aaron Hill replaced Holt in the bottom of the seventh and went 0-for-1.
— Mookie Betts was the last Red Sox to get a hit with a single in the seventh inning. The right fielder went 1-for-5.
TWEET OF THE NIGHT
This sums up what Ortiz’s homer looked like.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox play Game 3 of 4 against the Tigers on Saturday in another 7:10 p.m. ET contest at Comerica Park. The pitching matchup will be lefty versus lefty as Drew Pomeranz starts for Boston and Daniel Norris takes the mound for Detroit.
Thumbnail photo via Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports Images
