J.D. Martinez became the majors' first 20-home run hitter this season as his two-run blast against his old team helped the host Boston Red Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 6-0 to open a three-game series Tuesday night.
Martinez, a staple in the Tigers' lineup from 2014 to 2017, broke a tie for the major league lead in homers with the Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout and the Cleveland Indians' Jose Ramirez. Xander Bogaerts added a solo homer, his ninth of the year for Boston.
Steven Wright (2-0) allowed two hits over seven scoreless innings with three walks and six strikeouts in his first start this year for Boston. Nicholas Castellanos (2-for-4) had both of the Tigers' hits against Wright.
The Red Sox have won three straight games and 12 of their last 16.
Tigers starter Artie Lewicki (0-1) suffered his first major league loss in his second career start after surrendering four runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks with two strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings.
Detroit, which had won nine of 13, lost for the third time in four games.
Tigers third baseman Jeimer Candelario exited in the fourth with a jammed middle finger on his right hand that he sustained on an errant throw to first that allowed Martinez to reach. X-rays came back negative.
Martinez's estimated 431-foot blast off the light pole in left-center opened the scoring three batters into the Red Sox's first. Bogaerts' fifth-inning homer into the Tigers' bullpen in right made it 5-0.
Eduardo Nunez, Rafael Devers and Brock Holt each added an RBI for Boston.
Detroit's Leonys Martin was thrown out at home trying to score from first on Castellanos' first-inning double.
Before the game, the Red Sox placed left-hander Drew Pomeranz (left biceps tendinitis) on the 10-day disabled list and recalled righty Brandon Workman from Triple-A Pawtucket. Detroit optioned righty reliever Sandy Baez to Double-A Erie.
Tigers lefty Blaine Hardy (2-0, 2.77 ERA) opposes Red Sox southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez (6-1, 3.88) Wednesday night.
--Field Level Media