Red Sox complete three-game sweep of Tigers as Gray returns from injury
Boston clinch the series 4-0 with Sonny Gray pitching five innings, while Detroit manager A.J. Hinch serves a one-game suspension and Framber Valdez avoids a sixth-game penalty.
The Boston Red Sox have secured a three-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers with a 4-0 victory on Wednesday night. The result marks a significant return to form for Red Sox pitcher Sonny Gray, who took the mound for his first start since suffering a hamstring strain against the Tigers on April 20. Gray pitched five innings, allowing four hits and two walks while recording two strikeouts.
Detroit starter Jack Flaherty struggled in response, surrendering four runs on three hits and a walk over his five innings. The Tigers' offense managed to score twice in the fourth inning, aided by an infield single from Marcelo Mayer and an RBI double from Caleb Durbin, before Willson Contreras added a sacrifice fly.
The contest highlighted the impact of recent disciplinary actions within the league. Detroit played without manager A.J. Hinch, who was suspended for one game following a bench-clearing incident from the previous night's 10-2 loss. That altercation involved Tigers pitcher Framber Valdez, who was ejected for throwing a pitch at Red Sox player Trevor Story after a chaotic sequence of home runs by Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu.
Valdez, who was initially assessed a six-game suspension for the incident, will serve a reduced five-game penalty. The reduction occurred because the Tigers declined to appeal the decision to Major League Baseball. Home plate umpire Adam Beck and catcher Dillon Dingler had intervened to separate the players, though no physical contact occurred between Valdez and Story.
In the seventh inning, the Red Sox loaded the bases with one out. Reliever Brant Hurter entered the game and neutralised the threat by striking out Wilyer Abreu and inducing a groundout from Trevor Story. The final score of 4-0 was driven by runs scored in the fourth and seventh innings, with Masataka Yoshida and Ceddanne Rafaela contributing to the damage.
Looking ahead, the Red Sox are scheduled to return to Fenway Park to face the Tampa Bay Rays, with left-handed pitcher Jake Bennett set to start. Meanwhile, the Tigers will fly to Kansas City for a three-game series, where right-handed pitcher Keider Montero is expected to oppose Kris Bubic.
