The Detroit Tigers looked every bit the part of a team that flew into town late after playing a doubleheader, as their offense was shutdown and they dropped the first game on their mini road trip to Boston.
Steven Wright, who has struggled in the past facing the Tigers, looked shaky to start the game. He gave up a leadoff walk to Leonys Martin and a sharp double to Nicholas Castellanos off the Green Monster, but a perfect throw home nailed Martin at the plate. The Tigers would draw another walk in the inning, but that would be their best chance to score off Wright, as he found his groove and dazzled the Tigers hitters the rest of the night with his filthy knuckleball.
Yes, it was truly filthy. I mean, look at this! Spin rate = 1/2. It’s so slow you can read the words on the dang ball.
Good luck touching this knuckleball. pic.twitter.com/vJdbRhCV2H
— MLB (@MLB) June 6, 2018
Meanwhile, Tigers starter Artie Lewicki did about as well as one would expect against the potent Red Sox lineup. In the bottom of the first, former Tiger and still-fan-favorite J.D. Martinez crushed a two-run home run off the light tower in left for his league-leading 20th home run. Honestly, it was one of those things that, given the people involved, was hard to even feel the slightest amount of unpleasantness over. It was just fun to watch a master at his craft.
NO doubt about No. 20.@JDMartinez14 is worth every penny. pic.twitter.com/8BOF5HV0lw
— MLB (@MLB) June 5, 2018
Lewicki actually would make it though the next three innings on pure grit before command issues caused him to be lifted with two outs in the fourth. Warwick Saupold came on to finish the inning. He gave the Tigers two more innings but also gave up a couple more runs. Buck Farmer and Zac Reiniger would each pitch scoreless innings in mop-up duty if you’re looking for positives from this game.
Perhaps the most painful moment of the night came leading off the bottom of the fourth inning. J.D. smoked a liner at Jeimer Candelario, who jammed his finger on the play and uncorked a wild throw to first. Candelario left leave the game after that play, although initial reports said x-rays came back negative. He is simply listed as day to day.
The Tigers will get a good night’s rest and go for a win tomorrow as they send Blaine Hardy to the mound to face Eduardo Rodriguez.
Poll
Who was the player of the game?
This poll is closed
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21%
Nicholas Castellanos: 2-4, 2B, 1K
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78%
J.D, Martinez: 2-4, 3R, 2RBI, HR