Gregory Soto got the start for the Tigers and he cruised in the top of the first inning. Mr. Mookie Betts flied out to center to begin before Rafael Devers grounded out to second. Xander Bogaerts lined out to right to end the inning. The Tigers wasted no time getting to Price in the bottom of the first inning as Victor Reyes drew a walk and Nicholas Castellanos doubled him home to put the Tigers on top 2 batters into the game. Miguel Cabrera was frozen for strike three and went berserk, getting thrown out of the game. Brandon Dixon whiffed and Jeimer Candelario flied out to center to end the inning with the Tigers up 1-0.
The Sox struck back in the top of the second inning when JD Martinez singled to left to start. Andrew Benintendi whiffed but Christian Vazquez crushed his 14th home run of the year to put Boston on top. Jackie Bradley Jr singled but Michael Chavis flied out to center. Marco Hernandez hit a routine grounder to second but Niko Goodrum went OLE! and Hernandez reached second with JBJ moving to third. Mr. Mookie popped up to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-1.
Price recovered in the bottom of the second to whiff Goodrum to start. Christin Stewart lined out to right before John Hicks looked at strike three to end the inning.
Nick Ramirez came in for the top of the third and Devers popped up to third to begin. Bogaerts and Martinez both struck out swinging to end the inning. Price got Jody Mercer to pop up to first to begin the bottom of the third before Reyes whiffed on a full count. Castellanos singled and Gordon Beckham hit for the ejected Cabrera only to take strike three to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the fourth as Benintendi flied out to left to begin. Vazquez flied out to right and JBJ grounded out to third to end the inning. Dixon walked on a full count to start the bottom of the fourth but was erased on the force by Goodrum. Stewart singled to center but Hicks flied out to right to end the inning.
The Sox iced the game in the top of the fifth although Chavis whiffed to start. Hernandez lined a base hit to left then swiped second. Mr. Mookie walked but Devers whiffed. Bogaerts stepped up with a 2 out double to clear the bases. Martinez was intentionally walked as a wild pitch sent Bogaerts to third. Benintendi made the Tigers pay by getting a base hit to score Bogaerts to ice the game. Vazquez flied out to center to end the inning but the Sox were ahead 5-1.
Price had one inning left but Mercer greeted him with a double to start the bottom of the fifth. Reyes and Castellanos both grounded out to short before Bogaerts snared a line drive by Beckham to end the inning. It was short and sweet for Price who left after 5 innings allowing just 1 run.
Jose Cisnero came in for the top of the sixth and JBJ whiffed to start. Chavis popped up to first and Hernandez grounded out to short to end the inning. Josh Taylor came in for the bottom of the sixth and Dixon looked at strike three to begin. Candelario flied out to right and Goodrum whiffed to end the inning.
Mr. Mookie stroked a single to right to start the top of the seventh but was erased on the Devers line drive double play. Bogaerts flied out to left to end the inning. Taylor cruised in the bottom of the seventh as Stewart whiffed to start. Hicks whiffed and Mercer popped up to first to end the inning. Good work Taylor.
Eduardo Jimenez came in for the top of the eighth and Martinez greeted him with a double to center. Benintendi flied out to deep center and Martinez moved to third. Vazquez grounded out to first and a wild pitch scored Martinez. JBJ popped up to short to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-1.
Ryan Brasier came on for the bottom of the eighth and crapped his pants. Reyes walked but Castellanos looked at strike three. Beckham whiffed but Dixon crushed a 9,000 foot bomb to cut the lead in half. Candelario walked and Sox manager Alex Cora had seen enough. Brandon Workman came in and got Goodrum to ground out to first to end the inning with the Tigers down 6-3.
Joe Jimenez replaced Eduardo Jimenez for the top of the ninth and Chavis whiffed to begin. Hernandez singled but Mr. Mookie took strike three. Hernandez took second on a balk but Devers flied out to right to end the inning. Heath Hembree was brought in to close out the game in the bottom of the ninth and Stewart flied out to left to begin. Hicks singled to center but Mercer popped up to first. Hicks took second on defensive indifference and Reyes whiffed on a full count to end the game. The Sox had swept the Tigers and had taken this game 6-3.
Hero of the Night is Christian Vazquez. His two run home run gave the Sox the lead they would not give up.
The Good:
JD Martinez was 2 for 3 with a walk and 2 runs scored.
Marco Hernandez was 2 for 4 with a stolen base and a run scored.
David Price got the win with 5 innings of 1 run ball while striking out 6.
Josh Taylor struck out 4 of the 6 batters he retired.
Brandon Workman retired the only man he faced.
Heath Hembree earned his second save of the season with a scoreless ninth.
The Bad:
Rafael Devers was 0 for 5 with a strikeout.
Michael Chavis was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Ryan Brasier allowed 2 runs in 2/3 of an inning.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was just 1 for 4 but walked and scored a run.
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 but made the hit count as it was a 2 run double.
Andrew Benintendi was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.
Jackie Bradley Jr was just 1 for 4.
Final Thoughts:
At least the Sox will be heading into the All-Star break feeling good about themselves. They won their last 4 games and the offense is beginning to click with the return of Marco Hernandez to shore up the bench. The problem has been and always will be pitching until Sox general manager Dave Dombrowski can FINALLY do something about it. Vazquez got the party started and the party never ended as the Sox kept coming. Price didn't last long but the bullpen picked up the pieces. The win improved the Sox to 49-41, 9 games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox are off the next four days due to the All-Star break but come back Friday night at home against their world series opponents, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Nobody knows who's pitching but the game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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