As for the game, now that was dominance. Steven Wright made his first start of the season and turned back the clock to 2016 by tossing 7 shut-out innings against the visiting Detroit Tigers. A well balanced offense with homers from JD Martinez and Xander Bogaerts combined with the pitching of Wright guided the Sox to an easy 6-0 victory in the first game of the set at Fenway Park.
Wright got the ball in the top of the first inning and promptly walked Leonys Martin. The Sox set the tone as Nicholas Castellanos doubled off the Monster but Martin broke for home. The relay throw by Bogaerts came home.....OUT! Miguel Cabrera walked but that was as close Detroit would come to being in the game. Old friend Victor Martinez popped up to short and Jeimer Candelario was frozen for strike three to end the inning. The Sox wasted no time taking the lead off Artie Lewicki in the bottom of the first as Andrew Benintendi singled to start. A big play occurred when Benintendi broke for second as Xander Bogaerts struck out.....OUT! But wait! Sox manager Alex Cora challenged the call and New York Yankees Manag.....err head of MLB Operations Joe Torre was in the can so his assistant made the call, SAFE! Its rumored the assistant was found in the East River shortly after. JD Martinez made the Tigers pay by crushing his 20th homer of the year off the centerfield light tower to give the Sox the lead. Mitch Moreland grounded out to first and Eduardo Nunez grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
James McCann walked to open the top of the second but JaCoby Jones grounded out to third. Jose Iglesias grounded out to third and Dixon Machado grounded back to the mound to end the inning. The Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the second as Brock "Hitman" Holt grounded out to short to begin. Rafael Devers and Christian Vazquez grounded out to second to end the inning.
Martin flied out to center to open the top of the the third before Castellanos singled. Cabrera banged into a double play to end the inning. Jackie Bradley Jr singled to begin the bottom of the third but was promptly picked off...ANOTHER out on the bases. Benintendi grounded out to short and Bogaerts whiffed to end the inning.
Wright stayed tough in the top of the fourth inning as Martinez flied out to left, Candelario whiffed and McCann grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the fourth inning as Martinez hit a rocket off the bare hand of Candelario who tried to throw to first but missed it by a mile, Martinez taking second on the error. It was feared Candelario broke his finger so he left the game and was replaced by Ronny Rodriguez. Moreland singled Martinez to third and Nunez singled in Martinez. Holt walked to load the bases with nobody out but naturally Devers banged into a double play, albeit Moreland scoring another run. Vazquez and JBJ drew back to back walks to chase Lewicki. The Aussie Warwick Saupold came in and got Benintendi grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-0.
Wright didn't give an inch in the top of the 5th as Jones and Iglesias whiffed before Machado grounded back to the mound to end the inning. The Sox iced the game in the bottom of the fifth when Bogaerts smashed a solo home run into the bullpen to increase the lead. Martinez and Moreland stroked back to back singles before Nunez singled to the Monster to load the bases. Holt grounded out to second but Martinez scored. Devers was intentionally walked to set up the double play and it worked, Vazquez grounded into one to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-0.
Wright continued to dominate in the top of the sixth as Martin grounded out to first, Castellanos whiffed and Cabrera grounded out to third to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the sixth as JBJ whiffed and Benintendi grounded out to short to begin. Bogaerts drew a walk but Martinez grounded into a force to end the inning.
Wright set down the Tigers in the top of the seventh as Martinez was frozen for strike three to begin. Rodriguez grounded out to short and McCann popped up to second to end the inning. That's 14 in a row retired by Wright, he was outstanding by tossing 7 shut-out innings.
Buck Farmer came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh as Moreland lined out to left, Nunez grounded out to second and Holt watched strike three go by to end the inning.
Hector "The Insurance Policy" Velazquez came in to pitch the top of the eighth and got Jones to ground out to short to begin. Iglesias lined out to right but Machado singled. Martin grounded out to second to end the inning. Zac Reininger took over for the bottom of the eighth and whiffed Devers to start. Vazquez grounded out to short but JBJ singled to center. Benintendi whiffed to end the inning.
The returning Brandon Workman got the ball in the top of the ninth and he got Castellanos to ground out to third to start. Cabrera popped up to first and Martinez grounded out to third to end the game. The Sox had won it 6-0.
Hero of the Night is Steven Wright. He tossed a 7 inning shutout, retiring the final 14 batters he faced to earn the win.
The Good:
Xander Bogaerts was 1 for 3 with a walk including a solo home run.
JD Martinez was 2 for 4 with 3 total runs scored and a 2 run home run.
Mitch Moreland was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Eduardo Nunez was 2 for 4 with an rbi.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 2 for 3 with a walk.
Hector Velazquez pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
Brandon Workman pitched a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
None.
The Ugly:
Andrew Benintendi was just 1 for 5 but stole a base and scored a run.
Brock Holt was 0 for 3 but walked and drove in a run.
Rafael Devers was 0 for 3 but walked.
Christian Vazquez was 0 for 3 but walked.
Final Thoughts:
Nothing like an easy win to begin the homestand. The Sox caught a break by catching the Tigers after coming off a doubleheader in New York against the Yankees. Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire had to go to his bullpen early tonight and the Sox made him pay. Steven Wright looks like he has no ill effects from last year's knee injury and it comes at a great time with Pomeranz on the DL. Speaking of the disabled list, Tyler Thornberg continued his rehab so he may be joining soon. It looks like Mookie Betts will be returning soon which if Benintendi and Martinez can continue to stay hot, it would give the Sox a three-headed monster on offense. Detroit isn't exactly Houston but a good win is a good win. The win improved the Sox to 42-19, 1 game ahead of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night is the second game of the series where Eduardo Rodriguez (6-1, 3.88 ERA) takes on Blaine Hardy at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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