SPORTS

Live Tigers blog: Tigers snap 3 game skid, beat Red Sox 4-2

Al Willman
The Detroit News
Jose Iglesias of the Detroit Tigers hits a two-run home run against the Boston Red Sox during the sixth inning.

The Tigers, after losing three of four against the White Sox over the weekend, took the first of three against the Red Sox, 4-2, Monday.

Jose Iglesias hit a two-run homer over the Green Monster in the top of the sixth, putting the Tigers on the board and in the lead. The Tigers added runs in the seventh and eighth to secure the win.

Justin Verlander (10-6) got the win for the Tigers (52-48). He went six innings, allowing a run on five hits while striking out five and walking two. Drew Pomeranz (8-8) took the loss for the Red Sox (55-42), going six innings and allowing two runs on four hits, while striking out seven and walking two.

Francisco Rodriguez (28) pitched 1 1/3 perfect innings, for the four-out save.

The two teams continue their three-game set tomorrow at 7:10. Mike Pelfrey (3-9, 4.78 ERA) will pitch for the Tigers while American League All-Star Steven Wright (12-5, 2.67 ERA) will go for the Red Sox.

Top 9th: Tigers go 1-2-3

Red Sox righty Clay Buchholz, in his second inning of work, set the Tigers down 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth. He got Mike Aviles and James McCann to fly out to center field, before Andrew Romine grounded out to the former ace. Going to the bottom of the ninth, the Red Sox are sending Dustin Pedroia, Xander Bogaerts and David Ortiz to face closer Francisco Rodriguez. The Tigers lead 4-2.

Bottom 8th: Sox cut into Tigers lead

The Red Sox got to Tigers lefty Justin Wilson in the bottom of the eighth. David Ortiz singled off the Green Monster, followed by a single from Hanley Ramirez before Jackie Bradley Jr. singled to load the bases with nobody out. Pinch-hitter Bryce Brentz struck out looking before Sandy Leon knocked in Ortiz, trimming the Tigers lead to two. Wilson then struck out Brock Holt looking for the second out. Closer Francisco Rodriguez entered the game, getting Mookie Bets to ground into a fielder's choice, ending the threat. Going to the ninth, the Tigers lead 4-2.

Shane Greene threw a scoreless inning, giving up a hit and walking a batter. Wilson went 2/3 of an inning, allowing a run on four hits while striking out two.

Top 8th: Tigers get one more

Jose Iglesias singled off of Red Sox righty -- and former ace -- Clay Buchholz to lead off the eighth inning. He advanced to second on a wild pitch to Miguel Cabrera and took third when Cabrera flew out to right fielder Mookie Betts. Victor Martinez -- once a member of the Red Sox -- singled in Iglesias -- who also played for Boston -- to add to the Tigers lead. Nick Castellanos flew out to Betts for the second out. Justin Upton struck out looking -- for the second time -- to end the inning. After eight, the Tigers lead 4-1.

Kelly went an inning, allowing a run on two hits.

Bottom 7th: JV out, Greene in

Shane Greene replaced Justin Verlander to start the bottom of the seventh, and gave up a leadoff single to Sandy Leon. Brock Holt popped out to Ian Kinsler, who was on the grass in shallow right field before Mookie Betts popped out to Miguel Cabrera in foul territory. Greene then walked Dustin Pedroia, putting two on with two outs. Greene got Xander Bogaerts to pop out to Iglesias to end the threat. After seven, the Tigers lead 3-1.

Verlander went six innings, allowing a run on five hits while striking out five and walking two.

Top 7th: Tigers get insurance run

The Tigers added to their lead in the top of the seventh inning. Justin Upton led off the seventh inning with a triple on a 101 mph fastball from Red Sox reliever Joe Kelly, who replaced Drew Pomeranz to start the inning. Upton was held at third on when Mike Aviles flew out to Jackie Bradley Jr. in center field. James McCann then singled in Upton, adding to the Tigers’ lead. Andrew Romine grounded into a fielder’s choice. Kelly fielded the ball and threw to shortstop Xander Bogaerts who stepped on the bag at second base, but was off-balance and unable to complete the double play. Ian Kinsler grounded out to end the inning, but going to the bottom of the seventh the Tigers have a 3-1 lead.

Pomeranz went six innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out seven and walking two.

Bottom 6th: JV escapes jam

Tigers starter Justin Verlander worked himself into a bit of a jam in the bottom of the sixth inning. After Xander Bogaerts singled to lead off the half inning, David Ortiz then popped out to shortstop Jose Iglesias. Hanley Ramirez followed by grounding into a fielder’s choice. Iglesias flipped to Ian Kinsler at second to get Bogaerts, who was sliding head first into the bag. Verlander walked Jackie Bradley Jr. to extend the inning. Verlander struck out Travis Shaw on a fastball that got to 97 mph to end the inning. After six, the Tigers are ahead 2-1.

Top 6th: Iggy goes over the Monster

The Tigers seemed to find some offense in the top of the sixth inning. Andrew Romine singled just out of the reach of Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia to lead off the inning. The next batter, Ian Kinsler flew out to right field for the first out. Then, Jose Iglesias cranked the 0-1 pitch from Red Sox starter Drew Pomeranz over the Green Monster in left field, putting the Tigers on the board and in the lead. It was the first home run for the former Red Sox shortstop at Fenway Park, the fourth of the season and only the 10th of his career. Miguel Cabrera followed with a walk. Victor Martinez and Nick Castellanos then went down with back-to-back strikeouts - - the sixth and seventh of the night for Pomeranz. Going to the bottom of the sixth, the Tigers have a 2-1 lead.

Bottom 5th: JV holds Sox

Tigers starter Justin Verlander continued his not-so-bad outing in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, Verlander walked Brock Holt - - his first walk of the night - - before Mookie Betts lined to Jose Iglesias at shortstop. Iglesias made a bad throw to Miguel Cabrera at first, which prevented the double play. Dustin Pedroia hit a line drive right at Verlander’s glove, for the third out. After five, the Red Sox maintain a 1-0 lead.

Top 5th: Tigers go in order

The Tigers haven't been able to figure out Red Sox starter Drew Pomeranz -- getting only two hits in five innings. The Tigers went 1-2-3 in the top of the fifth, as Pomeranz rolled. He's thrown only 76 pitches, and has a 1-0 lead going to the bottom of the fifth.

Bottom 4th: JV cruises

Justin Verlander, despite the 1-0 deficit, hasn’t been pitching badly. That continued in the bottom of the fourth inning, as he struck out Hanley Ramirez and got Jackie Bradley Jr. to ground out to shortstop Jose Iglesias for the first two outs. Verlander struck out Travis Shaw to end the inning. Verlander has four strikeouts in as many innings, but the Tigers are down 1-0 going to the fifth.

Top 4th: Tigers fail to produce

Miguel Cabrera led off the fourth inning with a single that crept inside the first base line, but was erased when Victor Martinez grounded into a 5-4-3 double play. Nick Castellanos struck out swinging to end the half inning, as the Tigers’ offensive woes continued. Going to the bottom of the fourth, the Red Sox still have a 1-0 lead.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox strand two

Brock Holt singled to lead off the bottom of the third inning for the Red Sox. It was the third hit of the game for the Red Sox -- all of which were hit in that direction (two to right field, one to first base). Mookie Betts then flew out to left field, for the first out. Dustin Pedroia followed that with a single between second and short, putting runners at first and second with one out. It was the first hit for Pedroia off of Tigers starter Justin Verlander since 2013. Xander Bogaerts flew out to deep left center field, but was unable to advance the runners. David Ortiz flew out to right field, ending the inning. After three, the Red Sox are on top, 1-0.

Top 3rd: Tigers offense still absent

The Tigers continued their slow start against Red Sox starter Drew Pomeranz in the top of the third inning. Andrew Romine (shortstop) and Ian Kinsler (third base) grounded out for the first two, rather quick, outs. Jose Iglesias popped out to left field to end the uneventful half inning. Going to the bottom of the third, the Tigers trail 1-0.

Bottom 2nd: Sox score first

Tigers starter Justin Verlander nearly had his second 1-2-3 inning in a row, but Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a ball off first base for an infield single, extending the second inning for the Red Sox. Travis Shaw then singled to right field, scoring Bradley. Verlander responded by striking out Sandy Leon to end the inning. After two, the Red Sox have a 1-0 lead.

Top 2nd: Castellanos smacks double

Nick Castellanos traded his defense for a little offense in the top of the second inning. He hit a double off the wall in center field -- his 22nd of the season -- to lead off the inning. However, he was stranded as the Tigers went in order after that. Justin Upton struck out swinging -- his 119th strikeout of the year -- the first of two strikeouts for Red Sox starter Drew Pomeranz in the inning. He has four strikeouts, and the game is scoreless going to the bottom of the second.

Bottom 1st: Tigers set Sox down 1-2-3

Tigers starter Justin Verlander worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the first inning -- thanks, in large part, to third baseman Nick Castellanos. Castellanos made a pair of strong throws on ground balls to get the first two Red Sox batters, Mookie Betts and Dustin Pedroia. Verlander induced another ground ball, this time off the bat of Xander Bogaerts to Ian Kinsler at second. After one, the game is scoreless.

Top 1st: Tigers strand 2-out walk

The Tigers got off to a slow start against Red Sox starter Drew Pomeranz. After Ian Kinsler struck out swinging to lead off the game, Jose Iglesias -- batting in the two-hole in place of injured center fielder Cameron Maybin (back, day-to-day) -- grounded out to shortstop. Miguel Cabrera, the third batter, drew a walk, but was stranded at first to end the half inning. Going to the bottom of the first, Justin Verlander takes the mound in a scoreless game.

How to watch: Tigers vs. Red Sox

After a pair of heartbreaking losses to the White Sox in Chicago Sunday, the Tigers head east and open up a three-game series against the Red Sox Monday night. First pitch is 7:10 p.m.

The Tigers lost, 4-3, on Adam Eaton’s walk-off winner that scored Avisail Garcia in the completion of Saturday’s rain-suspended affair. Garcia led off the ninth inning with an infield single and easily stole second base to move into scoring position after a costly lapse in communication between Ian Kinsler and Jose Iglesias.

Then in the series finale, the Tigers were dealt another walk-off gut punch by Melky Cabrera’s RBI single in a 5-4 defeat. Cabrera’s blow came just after the Tigers hit three solo home runs in the top of the ninth to tie it.

Justin Verlander will look to erase the sting of Sunday’s sorrows and post another solid outing. In his past four starts, Verlander has given up five earned runs and 16 hits with 32 strikeouts in 27.2 innings.

Verlander is also one of several big names on the Tigers — along with J.D. Martinez, Francisco Rodriguez and Ian Kinsler — who could be on the move in the coming offseason as GM Al Avila looks to trim the payroll, writes Lynn Henning.

Cameron Maybin (back, day-to-day) is out of the lineup. Andrew Romine is replacing him in center field, batting ninth. Iglesias will move up in the batting order, batting in the two-hole.

TIGERS LINEUP

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B

2. Jose Iglesias, SS

3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B

4. Victor Martinez, DH

5. Nick Castellanos, 3B

6. Justin Upton, LF

7. Mike Aviles, RF

8. James McCann, C

9. Andrew Romine, CF

Justin Verlander, RHP

RED SOX LINEUP

1. Mookie Betts, RF

2. Dusin Pedroia, 2B

3. Xander Bogaerts, SS

4. Hanley Ramirez, 1B

5. David Ortiz, DH

6. Jackie Bradley Jr., CF

7. Travis Shaw, 3B

8. Sandy Leon, C

9. Brock Holt, LF

Drew Pomeranz, LHP

TIGERS VS. RED SOX

What: First game of a three-game series

When: Monday, 7:10 p.m.

Where: Fenway Park, Boston

Pitching matchup: RHP Justin Verlander (9-6, 3.74 ERA) vs. LHP Drew Pomeranz (8-7, 2.83 ERA)

Local TV: Fox Sports Detroit

National TV: ESPN

Internet streaming: MLB.TV (blacked out in Detroit market)

Local radio: 97.1 FM

Satellite radio: SIRI 849, XM Internet 849, Sirius XM Internet 849