The Detroit Tigers’ offense finally came alive. The bottom line remained the same.
Their losing streak reached six games as the Boston Red Sox outslugged them, 11-7, at Fenway Park on Tuesday. The Tigers are 2-16 over their past 18 games.
The Red Sox, who were batting a major-league best .261 entering the series, scored eight runs in the first three innings. They clubbed four homers among their 14 hits.
JaCoby Jones had a three-run home run for the Tigers, who had scored just five runs in their previous five losses combined.
MANAGERS, FRIENDS: Hinch: Alex Cora and I don’t let scandal ‘define our relationship’
DOWN ON THE FARM: Franklin Perez injured with right shoulder capsule defect
YEAH, BOYD! To start Sunday vs. Twins after recovering from knee injury
Jones, Grossman, Reyes lift attack
A trio of Tigers had breakout performances.
Jones exceeded his RBI total (2) for the season with one swing, drilling an Austin Brice fastball over the Green Monster during the Tigers’ four-run sixth.
Robbie Grossman reached base five times for the first time in his career. He piled up three hits, two walks, two stolen bases and three RBIs.
Victor Reyes reached base four times — including three hits — while scoring two runs and knocking in another. He came into the game with just six hits for the season.
MON, OH, MANNING: How Matt Manning can put ‘a lot of pressure’ on Tigers
Cabrera can’t shake slump
Miguel Cabrera saw a lot of pitches on Tuesday but his deep slump continued unabated.
Cabrera went 0-for-5; he is hitless in his past 23 at-bats. He grounded out in his first at-bat and struck out looking at a Nick Pivetta fastball his next time up.
With two on and no one out in the fifth, Cabrera bounced into a double play. The following inning, he battled Matt Andriese in a 10-pitch at-bat but struck out looking again, this time on a changeup.
His final at-bat, with the Tigers down three runs, was even more costly. With the bases loaded and one out in the eighth, Cabrera grounded into another double play against closer Matt Barnes.
Cabrera left seven runners on base.
GREENE DAZE: With Double-A assignment, Riley Greene is on the fast track to joining Tigers
Fulmer makes quick departure
Matthew Boyd’s turn in the rotation had to be skipped due to left knee tendinitis. Manager AJ Hinch was hopeful Michael Fulmer could provide a few good innings, but the righty couldn’t get out of the first.
Leadoff man Enrique Hernandez walked on a borderline pitch. A self-inflicted wound, followed by some paper cuts, led to Fulmer’s demise.
Fulmer threw Alex Verdugo’s comebacker over the head of shortstop Niko Goodrum. The Tigers’ infield then failed to turn a double play on J.D. Martinez’s grounder as the first run scored.
Xander Bogaerts poked an 0-2 pitch into right-center for a base hit, and three of the next four batters smacked RBI singles to make it 4-0. That ended Fulmer’s night at 33 pitches.
Read more on the Detroit Tigers and sign up for our Tigers newsletter.