Red Sox
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Alex Cora says he and the Red Sox is not going to negotiate a brand new contract through the season
BOSTON (AP) — Ceddanne Rafaela hit two home runs and scored five runs in his first multi-home run game, Tanner Houck got off to a solid start and the Boston Red Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 7-3 on Friday night.
Houck (5-5) pitched seven innings, allowing one run on three hits and two walks and recording six strikeouts. The right-hander was hit within the throwing arm by Zach McKinstry's comebacker with only one out within the fifth inning. Houck held on and threw McKinstry out at first base.
“He's one of the best pitchers in the major leagues,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “Every game he gives us a chance to win. I hope people start paying attention to what's happening. He's been fun to watch, and it feels like every game it's 'let's see what goes well tonight.'”
Rafaela missed his profession high in RBIs, set on April 27 against the Chicago Cubs, by two points.
“It's a tough game and it's even tougher at such a young age,” Houck said of Rafaela, who leads his team and all major league rookies with 33 RBIs. “He's 23 years old and he's playing in the major leagues. You see the talent and you know it's there. All you can do is keep pushing him in the right direction and just trust that his talent will pay off. For him to have a game like tonight is great. I'm sure it gives him a huge confidence boost. He's a good player and I'm excited to see where he can be one day.”
Right-hander Kenta Maeda (2-2) pitched 4 2/3 innings for Detroit, allowing five runs on a season-high eight hits, two walks and a season-high six strikeouts.
“It was encouraging that we got out of it early, but if you give them too many chances to get a big hit, it's going to come back to haunt them,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said. “It was tough for him because the home runs and the extra-base hits did so much damage.”
Boston scored 4 runs within the fourth inning. Rafael Devers led off with a double and scored on Dominic Smith's double with one out. After Vaughn Grissom hit a single, No. 9 batter Rafaela hit a house run with two outs over the Green Monster in left field, scoring Smith and Grissom.
“It's definitely frustrating to allow that many runs, especially in that inning,” Maeda said through a team interpreter. “The first run was tough, but to keep scoring runs after that is less than ideal.”
The Red Sox scored one other run in the subsequent inning on doubles from Connor Wong and Rob Refsnyder, ending Maeda's appearance by bringing in left-hander Joey Wentz.
After David Hamilton hit a single with one out within the sixth inning, Rafaela hit his seventh home run of the season to provide Boston a 7-1 lead.
Detroit opened the scoring when Riley Greene hit a single with one out in the primary inning, stole second base and scored on Gio Urshela's two-out single.
Detroit's Colt Keith hit a two-out home run against Greg Weissert within the eighth inning.
TRAINING ROOM
Tigers: The injury to OF Kerry Carpenter, who was placed on the injured list Wednesday, was reclassified from lumbar spine inflammation to a lumbar spine stress fracture.
Red Sox: OF Tyler O'Neill, who has been on the injured list since May 26 due to right knee inflammation, received a cortisone shot Thursday and will return to the lineup on Wednesday, his first day of play. … LF/DH Masataka Yoshida, who has been on the injured list since April 29 due to a strained left thumb, began hitting off the tee Thursday and will take part in live batting practice Saturday. … RHP Isaiah Campbell, who has been on the injured list since April 12 due to right shoulder impingement, should pitch two innings on Saturday in a rehab task.
NEXT
Tigers RHP Reese Olson (1-5, 1.92 ERA) was scheduled to begin on Saturday against RHP Cooper Criswell (2-2, 3.96).
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