Tigers-Red Sox preview
BOSTON -- Drew Pomeranz is looking for a do-over after his rocky Boston Red Sox debut last Wednesday. The former San Diego Padres southpaw was all but sharp in his first start after being traded to Boston July 14, giving up five runs on eight hits in three innings against San Francisco. "I was going along pretty good there through the first three (innings)," Pomeranz said. "I made some bad fastball-location pitches, and they made me pay for it." On Monday, the first-time All-Star faces an easier challenge as the Detroit Tigers come to town in the opener of a three-game series at Fenway Park. Pomeranz (8-7, 2.83 ERA) would certainly like to borrow some of the run support Boston gave Rick Porcello in Sunday's 8-7 win over Minnesota. Porcello wasn't at his best, giving up five runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings, but three-run homers from Hanley Ramirez and Travis Shaw helped him improve to 10-0 at home this year. Boston (55-41) couldn't gain any ground on American League East-leading Baltimore, which earned a 5-3 win over Cleveland to remain 1 1/2 games up in the standings. The Red Sox have been the majors' hottest team in July, going 13-5 in the month while homering in 15 consecutive games. Pomeranz has never started against the Tigers, but has made one relief appearance against them, pitching a scoreless inning. No current Detroit batter has more than five at-bats against Pomeranz, with Justin Upton going 2-for-5 with two walks and a pair of punch outs. Detroit lost not once, but twice Sunday after dropping a pair of one-run contests against the Chicago White Sox. The Tigers fell 4-3 in the conclusion of a suspended game earlier Sunday before losing 5-4 on Melky Cabrera's walk-off single in the second game, 5-4. Meanwhile, Tigers star Miguel Cabrera was hitless in six at-bats in the last two games against Chicago. "It's nothing different than what happens to other hitters," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said, "it just happens to Miguel Cabrera less often than it does with other hitters." Despite the losses, Detroit (51-48) remains in striking distance of Cleveland in the AL Central, trailing the Indians by six games. In the wild card race, the Tigers face only a four-game deficit, with three teams -- Boston, Toronto and Houston -- ahead of them. Justin Verlander (9-6, 3.74 ERA) counters Pomeranz for the Tigers and hopes he can reignite the Fenway magic he experienced last season. Verlander threw eight one-run inning in a no-decision at Fenway last July 24, and he's been strong ever since, posting a 14-11 record with a 3.11 ERA in 231 2/3 innings dating back to that outing. Last time out, Verlander gave up one run on two hits and two walks with nine strikeouts in an eight-inning no-decision Wednesday against the Twins. Prior to that, Verlander notched his fourth 10-strikeout game of the season in a win at Kansas City, lasting seven innings while surrendering two runs -- one earned -- on four hits and two free passes. The former AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner is 3-5 with a 3.16 ERA in 13 career starts against Boston. At Fenway, Verlander is 2-3 with a 3.56 ERA in eight starts. David Ortiz has hit Verladner particularly well, going 11-for-29 (.379) with two home runs and four RBIs, but has nine strikeouts against him. Aaron Hill is 5-for-16 (.313) with two RBIs lifetime against Verlander, while Dustin Pedroia has struggled to the tune of a 1-for-18 (.056) clip vs. Verlander. |