DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers fell to the Boston Red Sox in their Opening Day game at Comerica Park.
Detroit started the season with a 2-4 road trip, but came into Thursday’s game feeling good after defeating the World Series champion Houston Astros in a three-game series.
The home opener started on a positive note, as Jake Rogers blasted a two-run homer 414 feet to left field in the second inning against Red Sox starter Chris Sale. Then, in the bottom of the third, Miguel Cabrera left his stamp on his final Opening Day game with a two-out RBI single to center to give the Tigers a 3-1 lead.
That lead didn’t last, though, as Spencer Turnbull struggled for the second straight start coming off of Tommy John surgery. While Thursday was an improvement over his seven-run outing against Tampa Bay, Turnbull allowed five earned runs over 5.2 innings and got just one swinging strike in 72 pitches.
Three of those runs scored when Jose Cisnero came in and served up a go-ahead home run to Adam Duvall. Two of those runs were charged to Turnbull, but it was the second backbreaking home run allowed by Cisnero already this season.
Detroit’s offense, which began the game with three runs in the first three innings, went silent for the rest of the day. The 6-3 deficit ultimately proved too steep.
The team’s only other extra-base hit came from Kerry Carpenter, who doubled in the eighth while pinch hitting for Eric Haase.
Cabrera and Matt Vierling were the only Tigers to get on base twice, both hitting a single and drawing one walk.
Rule 5 draft pick Mason Englert and closer Alex Lange were the bright spots at pitcher for Detroit, combining for two scoreless innings at the end of the game, though they allowed a trio of base runners in the ninth.
Detroit and Boston will play the second game of the series at 4:10 p.m. Saturday. Joey Wentz will start for the Tigers against Tanner Houck.
