The news started out good though. Jacoby Ellsbury led off with a single and Shane Victorino singled him to third. Dustin Pedroia nearly killed the rally by banging into a double play, but Ellsbury scored to give the Sox a quick 1-0 lead. The lead became 2-0 when David Ortiz launched a 413 foot bomb to right field, his 16th of the season to up the lead 2-0. Mike Carp struck out but it was nice to see the Sox score first. Unfortunately they wouldn't score again until the game was out of reach.
Then it was the return of Allen Webster who the Tigers proceeded to feast on like a slab of meat. Austin Jackson and Torii Hunter greeted him with back to back singles. The dangerous Miguel Cabrera walked but Webster showed some balls by punching out Prince Fielder. Maybe he was too overconfident because his next offering was sent into the stands by Victor Martinez for a grand slam.
Jhonny Peralta struck out but Andy Dirks singled. Omar Infante struck out to end the inning. Webster strikes out the side but the game was 4-2 Tigers. Could the Sox comeback in the top of the 2nd? NO! Scherzer retired the next 3 batters in order. Brayan Pena singled to lead off the bottom of the second but Jackson grounded into a double play. Hunter singled but was thrown out trying to steal. Scherzer got 3 straight groundouts in the top of the third. Martinez worked a 2 out walk but otherwise Webster got the side without a run in the bottom of the third.
Carp got the first hit since the top of the first and advanced to third when Scherzer through the ball away with 2 outs in the top of the 4th. Unfortunately the completely slumping Daniel Nava flied out. Dirks singled and stole second but Webster got 2 outs in between in the bottom of the 4th. Jackson then slammed a single to bring home Dirks. Hunter lined out but the damage was done, 5-2 Tigers. Jose Iglesias singled with 2 out in the top of the 5th but was foolishly thrown out at second trying to stretch it into a double.
The end came for Webster in the bottom of the 5th. Cabrera grounded out and Sox manager John Farrell replaced the rookie with Franklin Morales. Webster threw 82 pitches so unless his pitch count was 80, no real reason to take him out yet. Morales ended up pouring gas on the fire as Fielder walked and Martinez doubled him home. Peralta singled home V-Mart to make it 7-2. Dirks singled as well but Infante and Pena flied out to end the inning. The game was effectively over.
Ellsbury doubled to lead off the 6th but was stranded by the next 3 batters. Morales recovered to work around a Cabrera to escape the bottom of the 6th. Scherzer got the side in the top of the 7th as well to complete a great outing. Morales walked Martinez then struck out the next 2 batters in the bottom of the 7th, but a 2 run rocket by Infante upped the lead 9-2. Morales then motioned for the trainer and his day was done...ah great.
Alex Wilson got Pena to fly out to end the inning. This is getting worse by the inning. Al Alburquerque relieved Scherzer as PU Drew walked and Iglesias single to begin the inning. The rally was snuffed out when Al got the next 3 outs to retire the side. The Tigers loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the 8th but Fielder's double play scored the 10th run. Martinez flied out and thankfully the Tigers were done beating up on the Red Sox. Luke Putkonen had mop up duty in the top of the 9th where the Sox showed signs of life for the first time since the first inning. Ortiz singled and advanced to second on the force by Carp. Nava singled Ortiz to third and Jarrod Saltalamacchia singled home Ortiz for the first run since the 1st. PU Drew grounded into a double play to end the game. Final score Detroit 10, Sox 3. BOOOOOOO!!!
THE GOOD:
Not much here. Jacoby Ellsbury was 2 for 4 with a run scored. David Ortiz was 2 for 4 including a home run. Jose Iglesias was 2 for 3 keeping his batting average at .438.
THE BAD:
Jackass of the Night is a really tough one. Both Franklin Morales and Allen Webster were integral parts of why the team lost. I'll have to go with both of them.
Webster gave up a grand slam in the first inning that effectively ended the game. He did manage to strike out the side and allow only 1 more run the rest of his outing, but giving up 5 runs in less than 5 innings isn't going to cut it. With that said Morales is equally at fault.
Morales came on with the Sox trailing 5-2 and poured poison in the team's brandy. He was tagged for 5 hits, 2 walks, 4 runs and a home run in 2 and 1/3. He turned a 5-2 game into a 9-2 laughter. Worse is he left with injury meaning he could be right back on the DL again, just great. Other stinkers tonight include Dustin Pedroia, who dropped to .305 after going 0 for 4. Alex Wilson was tagged for a run in 1 1/3 innings. PU Drew was 0 for 3 with a walk and a strikeout.
THE UGLY:
Shane Victorino and Daniel Nava were both just 1 for 4. Mike Carp was 1 for 4 with a run scored. Jarrod Saltalamacchia drove in a run with a 9th inning single.
Final Thoughts:
Well the news keeps getting worse. With Clay Buchholz likely headed to the DL and Morales with him, the Sox pitching staff is in trouble. Vigo Mortensen isn't able to come off the DL until Wednesday and the Sox have to rely on Alfredo Aceves, John Lackey, Ryan Dempster and Felix Doubront to carry them.....not good. Still, the Tigers are one of the best offenses in baseball and they started their hottest pitcher today against a struggling rookie. Tomorrow the Sox try to defeat ace Justin Verlander and counter with Doubront, hoping to tie up the series at 2 all before going home. The loss drops the Sox to 45-32, 2 games ahead of the Dirty Birds.
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