The Boston Red Sox turned Comerica Park into their personal launchpad Tuesday night, pounding the Detroit Tigers 10-3 in a game that turned chippy when benches cleared after Tigers starter Framber Valdez drilled Trevor Story and got run from the game. Ceddanne Rafaela set the tone with a three-run blast in the first, and Boston never really let up, piling up 12 hits. The tension peaked in the fourth after back-to-back homers and a pitch that nailed Story in the back, igniting a brief on-field gathering that thankfully stopped short of a full-on brawl.
Rafaela’s homer gets Boston rolling
Ceddanne Rafaela's three-run shot in the first inning staked the Red Sox to an early lead, and Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu later added solo homers as Boston kept applying pressure. According to the Associated Press, the Sox went 5-for-10 with runners in scoring position and used a walk followed by five straight singles in the third to break the game open.
Bello eats innings, quiets Detroit
After opener Jovani Morán handled the first, Brayan Bello came on in the second and slammed the door, working seven innings of one-run ball. He struck out seven, walked just one and kept Detroit from mounting any kind of serious comeback. The box score at CBS Sports shows Bello needed 94 pitches to lock down the win.
Valdez implodes, ejected after HBP
On the other side, Framber Valdez endured a nightmare outing. He was charged with a career-high 10 runs, seven of them earned, before exiting in the fourth. His night ended on a sour note when his next pitch hit Trevor Story in the back. As reported by the Associated Press, plate umpire Adam Beck and Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler quickly moved between Valdez and Story as both benches spilled onto the field. The confrontation fizzled without punches and players soon retreated to their dugouts.
Intentional or not? Managers weigh in
The debate over intent started almost immediately. Tigers coach Chad Tracy told reporters he believed the pitch was intentional, according to the Boston Herald. Valdez, speaking through a translator, insisted the hit-by-pitch "was not on purpose," the Herald notes.
Rookie relief seals it
Left-hander Alec Gamboa put a tidy bow on the night in his major-league debut, taking the ball in the ninth and retiring the side in order. He struck out two in a clean, scoreless frame to close out the 10-3 win. The CBS Sports box score credits Gamboa with the final three outs.
Series finale
The three-game set wraps up Wednesday night at Comerica Park, with both teams expected to lean on fresh arms as the homestand rolls on, per the Boston Herald. For now, Boston walks away with a statement win, some sore feelings on both sides and a bit of lingering controversy hanging over a lopsided night in Detroit.
