DETROIT (AP) — Triston Casas homered and hit an RBI double as the Boston Red Sox swept the Detroit Tigers 4-1 on Sunday in a three-game sweep.
“This is why we came here,” said Casas. “We knew we were going to get swept in Pittsburgh in three games, and we couldn’t do that again. The offense was great, the pitching and the bullpen were great. That’s how we were able to play.
Boston starter Kutter Crawford (1-1) allowed one run and five hits in five innings. He struck out six without walking the batter.
“Kutter did what we needed, which is what we had from the starters in all three games, and the bullpen was terrific,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “Triston put two swings on the ball and helped us win the game.”
Red Sox outfielder Adam Duvall, hitting .455 with four homers and 14 RBIs, left in the ninth after injuring his left wrist, while giving Spencer Torkelson the ball for one.
Duvall, who had a hand in the same joint in 2022, had X-rays after the game. Cora said the team is still awaiting results.
Rob Refsnyder reached base three times, scored once and drove in a run for the Red Sox, who swept Detroit in the series 24-9.
Kenley Jansen placed ninth for second place. Detroit loaded the bases with one out, but Zach McKinstry ran and Akil Baddoo struck out.
“We battled that, and we had some chances late in the game,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said. “We’re still chasing a little bit and what keeps us going is coming back to the crowd. We have more balls in play.”
Matthew Boyd (0-1) allowed two runs on five hits and four walks in 4 1/3 innings as Detroit fell to 2-7.
“I could have been better,” said Boyd, who hasn’t gotten out of the fifth inning in either start this season. “I just had two flashes where I lost the number and delivery.”
The Tigers took an early 1-0 lead with some defensive help from Boston. With two outs, shortstop Kiké Hernandez drove in Javy Baez on a single at first, and Kerry Carpenter reached when the third hit by catcher Connor Wong got away. Torkelson followed with an RBI single.
Casas tied it with an RBI double in the second, and the Red Sox took the lead in the fifth when Wong doubled and Refsnyder scored on a single.
The Red Sox took a 3-1 lead in the seventh. Refsnyder walked, walked in the third with a single by Rafael Devers and scored on Justin Turner’s sacrifice fly.
The Tigers had runners on second and third against Chris Martin in the eighth, but Carpenter grounded out to first.
The long ninth building leads to the right center.
ARMY
Red Sox: LHP James Paxton (nervousness) pitched three scoreless innings in a rehab start in the second game of a triple-A doubleheader against Buffalo. He gave up two hits and two walks while striking out three.
Tigers: RHP Michael Lorenzen (groin) made a rehab start with Triple-A Toledo, allowing four runs on two hits and three walks. He will meet with the Tigers’ medical staff on Monday, but is expected to make his next start in the majors.
But the purse is bigger
Torkelson appeared to have a single pitch in the fourth inning — he clearly beat Hernandez’s throw to first — but was called out when a replay showed he missed first base.
THEN
Red Sox: Start a four-game unbeaten streak at Tampa Bay on Monday. Nick Pavetta (0-1, 1.80 ERA) will come in front of Josh Fleming (0-0, 15.00).
Tigers: Monday before the start of a three-game series in Toronto. Matt Manning (1-0, 3.18 ERA) was preceded by Alek Manoah (1-0, 4.35) on Tuesday.
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