Opening Day at Comerica Park started off well enough. There was a nice flyover, and Miguel Cabrera got to throw out the first pitch with three Detroit sports legends. But that was the highlight as the Tigers fell to the BoSox, 6-3.
Jake Rogers hit a two-run shot to start the scoring for the Tigers. Miggy had an RBI single in the third, but that was it. Adam Duvall had the big blow for Boston with a three-run shot in the sixth inning off a struggling Jose Cisnero. That’s all it took.
The Tigers fall to 2-5. They’ll have tomorrow off before continuing this three-game set with the Red Sox on Saturday.
Final: Red Sox 6, Tigers 3
Mid 9th
Lange gets the job done. Tigers coming to bat in the ninth, down three.
Englert out, Lange in
Mason Englert exits with runners on second and third and one out in the ninth. Alex Lange comes on to try to keep the score where it’s at.
End 8th
Tigers had two on with two outs, but Jake Rogers flew out to right field. Onto the ninth.
Mid 8th
Mason Englert continues to impress. The Rule 5 pick with a 1-2-3 eighth, including a strikeout of Rafael Devers for the first of his big league career.
End 7th
Matt Vierling with a single, but nothing more. Tigers are running out of outs, down 6-3. Mason Englert coming out for the eighth.
Mid 7th
Cisnero comes back out there and retires the side in order. Austin Meadows will pinch-hit for Ryan Kreidler to start the bottom of the seventh.
End 6th
Feels like the air has been sucked out of Comerica Park. That three-run homer kiled the vibes here. Tigers down 6-3.
Chris Sale’s day comes to an end
Sale departs after five innings of three-run ball. Former Tiger John Schreiber comes in and walks Cabrera to start the bottom of the sixth.
Cisnero allows three-run homer
Jose Cisnero allows a three-run shot to Adam Duvall, and it’s 6-3 Red Sox. That’s the second three-run homer that he’s allowed this week.
Turnbull is done
Turnbull walks Masataka Yoshida, and A.J. Hinch comes out to get him. 5 2/3 innings and responsible for two runners on. Jose Cisnero in to try to clean up the mess.
Red Sox tie it up
Devers, who homered earlier, doubles in a run to tie the game at three.
Spencer Turnbull looked like he snapped his neck trying to avoid a comebacker in the sixth inning. A bit of a delay as they checked on him, but he’s staying in.
End 5th
Yeah, Sale is in a groove. He struck out the side and works around a two-out error.
Mid 5th
1-2-3 inning for Turnbull. Nice play to start the inning with a ball going off Turnbull’s glove and Baez picking it up and Torkelson scooping it out of the dirt for the out.
End 4th
Sale may be getting into a groove. That inning took just six pitches. 1-2-3 the Tigers go.
Mid 4th
Turnbull gets another double-play ball. Tigers up 3-2.
Red Sox inch closer
Rafael Devers with an opposite-field shot off Turnbull. 3-2 game now.
End 3rd
Jonathan Schoop pops out in foul territory to end the threat. Tigers lead 3-1 after three.
Miggy RBI single
Tigers have a two-out rally going. Miggy gets an RBI single during his final Opening Day. 3-1 Tigers.
Mid 3rd
Turnbull picks off Hernandez at third base, then gets Alex Verdugo to pop out. A pretty efficient 33 pitches through three innings. Tigers up 2-1.
Red Sox get on the board
A leadoff walk by Turnbull comes around to score on a groundout by Kike Hernandez. 2-1 Tigers with a runner on first and one out in the third inning.
End 2nd
Tigers lead 2-0 after two innings following the Rogers homer.
Jake Rogers two-run shot
Jake Rogers takes Chris Sale deep on a sinker down the middle. Two-run bomb to left field. 2-0 Tigers.
Mid 2nd
Turnbull works around an infield single, including an inning-ending 1-6-3 double play. Nice scoop by Torkelson to finish it off.
End 1st
The Tigers had two straight walks from Matt Vierling and Javier Baez to start the inning, but couldn’t capitalize. Greene, Torkelson and Haase all struck out.
Mid 1st
A quick 1-2-3 inning for Spencer Turnbull. Took just nine pitches. Tigers coming up to bat against Chris Sale.
First pitch
Spencer Turnbull is getting ready to throw the first pitch as the Tigers home opener gets underway.
Ceremonial first pitch
Pretty cool moment before the game as Detroit sports legends Ben Wallace, Calvin Johnson, and Nick Lidstrom call Miguel Cabrera from the dugout as they all throw out the first pitch together before Miggy’s final Opening Day.
Pregame
The Detroit Tigers will play at Comerica Park for the first time this season as they take on the Boston Red Sox in their home opener.
Spencer Turnbull will look for a bounce-back start after getting hit around by the Rays last Saturday. Maybe pitching at the friendly confines of Comerica Park will ease him in a bit.
This game also will mark the debut of Comerica Park’s new dimensions. How they affect hitters will be something to watch all season long.
Follow along here for live updates from Detroit News contributor Matthew Scheidel.
On deck: Red Sox
▶ Series: Three games at Comerica Park, Detroit
▶ First pitch: Thursday — 1:10 p.m.; Saturday — 4:10 p.m.; Sunday — 1:10 p.m.
▶ TV/radio: All three games on Bally Sports Detroit/97.1 FM
▶ Probables: Thursday — LHP Chris Sale (0-0. 21.00) vs. RHP Spencer Turnbull (0-1, 27.00); Saturday — RHP Tanner Houck (1-0, 5.40) vs. LHP Joey Wentz (0-1, 5.06); Sunday — RHP Kutter Crawford (0-1, 15.75) vs. LHP Matthew Boyd (0-0, 4.15).
Scouting report
▶ Sale, Red Sox: This will be just his 13th start since 2019. He’s endured a string of injuries, running the gamut from Tommy John surgery, to a rib injury, broken pinky and broken wrist. He only lasted three innings in his season debut against the Orioles, allowing three homers and seven runs.
▶ Turnbull, Tigers: His first start back after 19 months wasn’t exactly the dream scenario he’d hoped for. He struggled to find the feel of one of his best weapons, his slider. He didn’t get out of the third inning. That’s how it goes for most pitchers coming back from Tommy John. There’s ups and downs still to navigate through. With the added adrenaline of the home opener, expect a much more Bull-ish performance this time.
— Chris McCosky
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