Four Real? Red Sox vs Tigers 6-22-13

                   Pete Lepak
             RedSoxLife.com Staff Writer 
Game 77: Sox pitching fails, Tigers roar, 10-3
Tiger's pitcher Max Scherzer has a perfect 11-0 record to start 2013, and the Red Sox got a chance to see his stuff on Saturday night in Detroit. While Scherzer allowed two runs in the first inning, they couldn't finish him off. Meanwhile, Boston's pitching staff continues to struggle. Rookie Allen Webster, who induced 31 swings and misses in the game, allowed four runs in the first inning, and Detroit never looked back en route to a 10-3 win. Here are the four at bats that changed the game:

1) Early Lead. In the top of the first inning, Boston was ready to face the American League's toughest pitcher. While Scherzer has only given up three first inning runs all season, Boston has done a nice job scoring early in 2013. The Boston bats looked to come alive early today, as Jacoby Ellsbury scored on a double play ball hit by Dustin Pedroia, and then David Ortiz took a 2-1 pitch to right field for his 17th homerun of the season. 2-0 Red Sox.

2) WHAM! POP! SLAM! No, this is not a 1970's Batman TV show, it's the noises the Detroit bats made off of Webster in the first inning. The Red Sox pitcher loaded the bases off of two singles and a walk and was left to face Victor Martinez. After throwing him a fastball for a strike, he followed up with more gas, but this time V-Mart was ready, and he cleared the bases with one swing of the bat. 4-2 Tigers.

3) The swipe earns a score. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Andy Dirks leads off with a single. He then steals second base to get into scoring position. The steal pays off, because Austin Jackson then singles up the middle to drive in Dirks, and the Tigers have produced a run with smart base running. It's now 5-2 Tigers, and the way Scherzer is pitching, the lead looks a lot bigger.

4) Pitching woes With Webster gone after he retires Miguel Cabrera, Franklin Morales gets his turn to keep the game close. Unfortunately, he fares no better than Webster. After walking Price Fielder, Martinez doubles down the left field line to score a run, and then Jhonny Peralta singles to left field to score V-Mart. 7-2 Detroit and this one is just about done.

The Red Sox would not score again until the 9th inning, but by then, the game was complete. 10-3 is the final, and Boston now faces the reality of losing it's second series in a row unless they win tomorrow afternoon against Detroit. Felix Doubront faces Justin Verlander in the fourth game of the series. First pitch is a 1:08pm at Comerica Park.

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