G62: Tigers 8, Red Sox 3

Tigers  - 300 050 000 - 8 14  0
Red Sox - 101 001 000 - 3 12  1

Drew Pomeranz (4.1-8-6-2-2, 93) faltered in the first inning, allowing a single and two-run homer to the first two Tigers batters. He ended up surrendering four hits, walking one, throwing a wild pitch, and allowing three runs. Pomeranz departed the game with the bases loaded in the fifth. Heath Hembree faced Justin Upton: ball, swinging strike, ball, swinging strike, BOOM - opposite-field grand slam off the Pesky Pole. Detroit's lead jumped from 3-2 to 7-2. And that was that.

ESPN Stats & Information: Pomeranz failed to pitch at least five innings for the fifth time this year. Pomeranz has allowed four first-inning home runs this season, after allowing only six in his first six seasons combined (2011-2016).

The Red Sox trailed by three before anyone picked up a bat, but they immediately went to work closing the gap. Dustin Pedroia doubled with one out in the bottom of the first. With two outs, Hanley Ramirez singled to left. Pedroia scored, but Ramirez thrown out at second base. The Red Sox challenged the call - and ESPN's replays appeared to show Ian Kinsler's swipe tag missing Ramirez's leg - but the inning-ending out was upheld.

In the third, singles by Jackie Bradley and Mookie Betts put runners at first and second. Pedroia doubled to deep center, scoring Bradley. The Red Sox squandered the rest of the inning, however, as Xander Bogaerts popped to third and, after an intentional walk to Ramirez, Mitch Moreland flied to center.

The Tigers loaded the bases with no one out in the fourth on singles by J.D. Martinez, Upton, and Mikie Mahtook. Pomeranz kept the score at 3-2, though, striking out James McCann and Jose Iglesias and getting Kinsler on a fly to left.

Pomeranz was not so lucky in the following inning. Nicholas Castellanos (who hit the homer in the first) reached on Bogaerts's throwing error. Miguel Cabrera singled. Victor Martinez forced Castellanos at third. J.D. Martinez walked, loading the bases. Farrell swapped Pomeranz for Hembree. After Upton's grand slam, Hembree got the second out, but then McCann doubled, Iglesias walked, and Kinsler singled, upping the score to 8-3.

Bradley doubled with two outs in the sixth and scored on Christian Vazquez's single.

After leaving two men on base in the seventh, the Red Sox ended the game with the bases loaded.

Betts, Pedroia, Ramirez, and Bradley each had two hits. Pedroia's hits were both doubles. Pedroia and Ramirez walked twice.

Daniel Norris / Drew Pomeranz

Betts, RF
Pedroia, 2B
Bogaerts, SS
Ramirez, DH
Moreland, 1B
Young, LF
Rutledge, 3B
Bradley, CF
Vazquez, C

The Red Sox begin tonight's game 3½ GB the Yankees, who finished off a sweep of the Orioles today: 8-2, 16-3, 14-3. New York has outscored its opponents 55-9 over its last five games (which includes two games against Boston last week (8-0 and 9-1)).