Red Sox at Tigers
Right-hander Rick Porcello had a ready response after the Boston Red Sox posted their 26th comeback win Thursday in Toronto, telling reporters: “It means we need to do a better job of pitching and not giving up runs early.” Porcello will get a chance to lead by example when Boston resumes a three-game set at the Detroit Tigers on Saturday afternoon.
Xander Bogaerts (four RBIs) broke open a tight game in the series opener with a three-run homer as the Red Sox scored at least six runs for a major league-best 44th time Friday night. Rafael Devers continued his torrid stretch with a two-run shot that extended his hitting streak to nine games and gave him four homers and 11 RBis in the last four contests. Jeimer Candelario collected a pair of hits and two RBIs for skidding Detroit, which has dropped 16 of 19 overall and 10 of its last 11 at Comerica Park. Catcher John Hicks is 5-for-13 with a homer and five RBIs during a three-game hitting streak after going deep and driving in two runs Friday.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NESN (Boston), FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Rick Porcello (5-7, 5.07 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Jordan Zimmermann (0-5, 5.36)
Porcello will look to erase the memory of a forgettable trip to London after he was battered for six runs and five hits in only one-third of an inning in a no-decision versus the New York Yankees last weekend. He also had a rocky outing in his previous turn versus Toronto, giving up five runs on eight hits over six innings. Porcello is 2-0 with a 2.77 ERA in four starts against the Tigers since leaving them for Boston, but he has been unable to solve Gordon Beckham (15-for-34).
Although Zimmermann is in search of his first victory of the season, he is coming off an encouraging effort against Washington, settling for a no-decision despite yielding one run on four hits over six innings. It marked only the third quality start of the season for Zimmermann, who lasted only three innings in a losing effort at Boston on April 25 and was knocked around for five runs on five hits. He has struggled against Mookie Betts, who is 4-for-6 with a homer off him.
WALK-OFFS
1. Red Sox INF Michael Chavis has hit safely in 10 straight road games.
2. Tigers RF Nicholas Castellanos had his 10-game hitting and 27-game on-base streaks halted in the series opener.
3. Red Sox LF Andrew Benintendi, who did not start again due to an 0-for-12 slump over his previous three games, will rejoin the lineup Saturday.