The Boston Red Sox defeated the Detroit Tigers, 7-5 in 10 innings, to begin their three-game series at Comerica Park on Friday night.
With the victory, Boston improved to 70-65 while Detroit fell to 68-68.
ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
The Red Sox aimed to turn the page after going 2-4 in their most recent homestand at Fenway Park, which became immensely easier once right-handed starting pitcher Tanner Houck took the mound in Detroit.
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Houck returned to pitching like a Cy Young candidate, tossing six shutout innings while holding the Tigers to 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position and holding Detroit's No. 4 through No. 6 hitters in the lineup to a combined 1-for-13 with four strikeouts. The 28-year-old received plenty of assistance throughout the six-inning trip to the bump before manager Alex Cora handed it off to left-hander Brendan Bernardino in the seventh inning.
From there, the late-game nerves began to creep in.
Bernardino ran into trouble once Detroit put runners at first and second with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Tigers designated hitter Kerry Carpenter belted a game-altering three-run home run to awaken what was a dead-silent Detroit offense, shattering Boston's chances of recording a trip to the win column in shutout fashion. Meanwhile, closer Kenley Jansen took over in the ninth inning, but failed to deliver a clean frame as Detroit knotted the score even at 4-4, sending the battle into extra innings.
Ceddanne Rafaela answered the call for heroics to begin the 10th inning after Boston advanced its automatic ghost runner by crushing a clutch two-run home run to put the Red Sox ahead and restore their multi-run lead.
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The three-run cushion was enough for Chris Martin to get the job done.
STARS OF THE GAME
-- Houck was spectacular from start to finish, giving the Red Sox six shutout innings while surrendering just three hits and two walks while striking out six Tigers hitters, improving his ERA to 3.12 this season.
-- Rafaela delivered the game-deciding swing in a timely fashion to bail out Boston's struggling bullpen performance. The 23-year-old rookie finished 1-for-4 at the plate with home run No. 14 this season.
-- Carpenter resurrected the Tigers with one swing of the bat in the eighth inning to turn a 4-0 deficit into a one-run ballgame. The 26-year-old went 1-for-4 with a walk.
