Tigers 5, Red Sox 0: Mike Fiers, clutch hitting lead to first win of second half

It was apparently Opposite Day at Comerica Park on Saturday evening, as the Detroit Tigers looked like contenders in an easy 5-0 victor over the Boston Red Sox. Mike Fiers carved up a hapless Red Sox lineup, Victor Martinez made multiple plays on the bases with his legs, and Jose Iglesias had two extra-base hits and four RBI in the win.

The Tigers got on the board first, giving Fiers an early cushion. A throwing error from Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers put Victor Martinez on base, and he moved to second on a sharp single from Jeimer Candelario. With two outs and two strikes in the count, Jose Iglesias lined a ball into the left field corner to score both baserunners. The double was Iglesias’ 23rd of the season, second on the team.

Both offenses stayed cold for a while until the Tigers added to their lead in the sixth. John Hicks led off the inning with a walk, and advanced to third on a single down the right field line from Martinez. A sacrifice fly from Candelario scored Hicks, and — no, we’re not lying here — also moved Martinez up to second base. Martinez then advanced to third on a wild pitch (yes, really), and jogged home when Iglesias turned on a Tyler Thornburg fastball for a two-run home run.

Meanwhile, Fiers was good enough to keep a potent Red Sox lineup at bay. He only had one 1-2-3 inning, but allowed just one hit through the first four innings. The Sox started to time him after that, though, and he had to escape jams in the fifth and sixth innings. To Fiers’ credit, the Red Sox didn’t make much hard contact, save for a Jackie Bradley fly ball that JaCoby Jones ran down in deep left-center to end the sixth. Fiers left the game after two batters reached in the seventh, but Alex Wilson got Xander Bogaerts to ground into a double play to end the threat.

Yes, those V-Mart baserunning feats happened

Not only did Martinez appear to induce a throwing error from Devers in the second inning, he also tagged up from first base and advanced on a wild pitch in the sixth, looking rather spry in the process. Had he advanced from first-to-third on Candelario’s should-be double back in the second, I would have wondered who the impostor was.

This also happened

The Tigers might have won by more were it not for Mookie Betts.

Up next

The Tigers will face old friend Chris Sale on Sunday afternoon. Blaine Hardy will start for Detroit, and he will need all the binoculared help you can offer. The Tigers will then head to Kansas City for a three-game road series.