BOSTON – Jeimer Candelario hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the 10th inning, and the Detroit Tigers stopped a six-game slide by holding off the Boston Red Sox for a 6-5 victory on Wednesday night.
Robbie Grossman began the Detroit 10th on second and advanced to third on Jonathan Schoop’s leadoff single. Candelario then went deep against Garrett Whitlock (0-1), sending a drive to right for his third homer.
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“He’s a sinker guy,” Candelario said of Whitlock. “So, I wasn’t even thinking of hitting a home run. I was just thinking to drive the run in. When you don’t try to put too much pressure on yourself and don’t try and do too much, things happen.”
Boston got two back in the bottom half. Marwin Gonzalez singled in Xander Bogaerts and eventually came around to score on an error on second baseman Willi Castro.
But Michael Fulmer, who started Tuesday and took the loss, retired Bobby Dalbec and Kiké Hernández for his first career save. He became the first pitcher in Tigers history to start one day and earn the save the next day.
The Red Sox also had a chance to win it in the ninth when Hernández walked and Rafael Devers doubled. But J.D. Martinez flied out to left, ending the rally.
The start of the game was delayed for 37 minutes by rain, which continued to fall throughout the night.
Gregory Soto pitched 1 1/3 innings for the win, allowing two runs and three hits.
“I’ve managed a lot of games in this ballpark and it never feels like it’s over, it never feels like you have enough to get to 27 outs — or more, in today’s case,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “It’s a fight and a battle right now. We don’t feel great.
“But maybe something like that can spark us.”
JaCoby Jones helped Detroit build a 3-1 lead with an RBI single in the fourth and a two-run single in the sixth. Casey Mize pitched six innings of three-hit ball, striking out three and walking four.
Martinez tied it at 3 in the sixth, hitting a two-run shot off Bryan Garcia for his 10th homer. Christian Arroyo also had a run-scoring groundout for Boston in the second.
Red Sox left-hander Martín Pérez was charged with three runs, two earned, and six hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out six and walked two.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Tigers: OF Nomar Mazara (left abdominal strain) began a rehab stint Tuesday with Triple-A Toledo, hitting a solo home run as the designated hitter, and played his usual position of right field on Wednesday. He is scheduled to play again on Friday. If all goes well, he could be activated for the weekend series against the Twins.
Red Sox: Arroyo was removed after the seventh inning with a left hand contusion. X-rays were negative. ... CF Alex Verdugo was scratched because of lower back tightness. ... Devers was back in the lineup after getting a day off on Tuesday because of a sore right shoulder.
UP NEXT
The Tigers and Red Sox meet again for the series finale Thursday afternoon at Fenway Park. Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (4-2, 3.63 ERA) starts for Boston, and right-hander Spencer Turnbull (1-2. 4.50 ERA) gets the ball for Detroit.
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