Ceddanne Rafaela had three hits and drove in four runs, including a three-run homer, and the visiting Boston Red Sox pounded the Detroit Tigers 10-3 on Tuesday night.
Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu supplied back-to-back homers while scoring two runs apiece. Abreu joined Rafaela with a three-hit game as Boston posted 12 hits for the second straight game against Detroit. Boston has won the first two games of the three-game series.
Rafaela, Andruw Monasterio, Caleb Durbin and Connor Wong each had run-scoring singles.
Following opener Jovani Moran, Brayan Bello (2-4) limited the Tigers to one run and four hits in seven innings while striking out seven.
Framber Valdez (2-2) gave up all 10 runs (seven earned) and nine hits in three-plus innings. He was ejected after hitting Trevor Story with a pitch.
Matt Vierling led the Tigers’ offense with a solo home run.
The Red Sox jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first with the help of an error. Valdez retired the first two batters. Abreu then singled and stole second. An error by third baseman Zach McKinstry, just off the injured list, allowed Story to reach base. Rafaela then smashed a changeup over the right-center-field wall to give Boston an early 3-0 advantage.
Detroit scored twice in the bottom of the inning against Moran. Vierling led off with a home run, powering a changeup over the left field wall. Jahmai Jones had a single and Riley Greene drew a two-out walk. Wenceel Perez then singled to center, bringing home Jones.
Boston made it 8-2 in the third. Contreras drew a leadoff walk and Story advanced him with a one-out single. Rafaela, Monasterio, Durbin and Wong followed with consecutive RBI singles. Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s fielder’s choice grounder brought in Durbin.
The onslaught continued into the fourth. Contreras and Abreu hit back-to-back homers, with Contreras’ long ball traveling an estimated 449 feet. Abreu clubbed a curveball over the right field wall.
A frustrated Valdez hit Story with the first pitch of the next at-bat, causing both benches to clear, though no punches were thrown.
Dillon Dingler singled in a run in the fifth.
–Field Level Media
