Cabrera's HR Bounces Right For Tigers In 4-3 Win Over Boston
KEN POWTAK, Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) — Miguel Cabrera hit a tiebreaking home run in the ninth inning that bounced off the top of the wall and into Boston's bullpen, lifting the Detroit Tigers to a 4-3 victory over the Red Sox on Wednesday for a three-game series sweep.
Boston's the last major league team to be swept in a series of any length this season.
James McCann also hit a solo homer, and Victor Martinez had four singles, a walk and drove in two runs for Detroit, which has won five of seven.
Xander Bogaerts and Dustin Pedroia had solo homers for the Red Sox, who lost for the fifth time in six games to complete a nine-game homestand at 4-5.
Tigers rookie starter Michael Fulmer had another solid start, giving up three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and no walks in 7 2/3 innings.
Cabrera hit his 21st homer off closer Brad Ziegler (0-1).
Bruce Rondon (4-2) got one out for the win. Justin Wilson got the final three for his first major league save because closer Francisco Rodriguez wasn't used after working the past two days.
In the seventh, Fulmer gave up a solo homer to Bogaerts leading off and took a high-hop grounder from Jackie Bradley Jr. off the top of the right shoulder, but the 23-year-old right-hander stayed in the game.
The Red Sox knocked him out in the eighth, tying it on Mookie Betts' RBI triple when center fielder Tyler Collins took a bad route before missing a diving attempt.
McCann made it 3-1 in the sixth, hitting a drive that caromed off a billboard above the Green Monster seats.
Before his previous two starts, Fulmer had a string of eight straight when he allowed one or no runs. He mixed mostly a fastball in the mid-90s with a sharp sider to keep the majors' top-scoring team to one run over the first six innings.
Boston starter Eduardo Rodriguez allowed three runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings.
In the third, Martinez singled after Ian Kinsler singled and Jose Iglesias doubled.
Pedroia homered into the center-field bleachers.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Tigers: OF J.D Martinez (broken elbow) started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday night, going 1 for 5 with an RBI. . Minor league pitcher Drew VerHagen has been shut down for the rest of the season after a setback in his recovery from thoracic outlet syndrome. He's expected to have surgery in early August.
Red Sox: Closer Craig Kimbrel had bullpen session. Manager John Farrell said he'll have a rehab assignment Saturday with Triple-A Pawtucket. After that, it's uncertain if he'll be activated right away. "It could be as few as one," Farrell said. "It'll be dependent physically on how Craig feels." . C Ryan Hanigan was still only available on an emergency basis after being scratched Tuesday with flu-like symptoms. . 1B Hanley Ramirez had the day off.
THAT'S A STRIKE
Collins did have a nice throw, nailing Sandy Leon attempting to score on a fly ball from medium-deep center to end the third.
UP NEXT
Tigers: Off Thursday before opening a three-game home series versus Houston. LHP Matt Boyd (1-2, 4.63 ERA) is set to start against Astros RHP Collin McHugh (7-6, 4.18).
Red Sox: Begin an 11-game West Coast trip Thursday, with the first of four against the Los Angeles Angels. Boston LHP David Price (9-7, 4.51) hopes to rebound from two straight mediocre starts.
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