Duvall had 4 RBIs that include 3-run homer and Red Sox beat Tigers 6-3 to take series
BOSTON — Adam Duvall had four RBIs that included a three-run homer, Justin Turner added a solo shot and the Boston Red Sox won their series against the Detroit Tigers with a 6-3 victory on Sunday.
Trevor Story went 4 for 4 with three doubles and two stolen bases for Boston, Connor Wong had an RBI triple and Duvall added a run-scoring single.
“It feels good knowing with that wall at 310, that its going to go,” said Duvall of his drive over the Green Monster. “I feel like I've been seeing the ball pretty good lately, and, as a hitter, that's one of the hardest things to do.”
Boston went 5-5 on a season-high 10-game homestand and wore their City Connect uniforms of bright yellow and power blue for the seventh straight game. The Red Sox improved to 11-2 in their alternate uniforms this season and 26-6 since they were introduced in 2021.
Boston scored six runs over five innings against former Red Sox lefty Eduardo Rodriguez (8-6) and took two of three from the Tigers, winning for the fifth time in seven games.
Akil Baddoo hit a solo homer over the Green Monster for the Tigers, their fifth solo drive over Fenway Park’s left-field wall in two days. Miguel Cabrera got a nice hand before his final at-bat and tipped his helmet.
“Awesome,” a smiling Cabrera said of the ovation. “That'll be in my memory my whole life. I really appreciate the fans in Boston doing that. It was pretty awesome. I didn't expect that. They love baseball here. They love sports here in Boston.”
The 12-time All-Star and 2012 Triple Crown winner, Cabrera announced last fall this will be his last season.
“These people get it,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “It was one of the cool moments at this historic ballpark.”
Coming off the injured list, Garrett Whitlock (5-3) allowed an unearned run in two hitless innings and Kenley Jansen worked around a leadoff single in the ninth for his 27th save in 30 chances.
A member of the Red Sox for six years, including the World Series champs in 2018, Rodriguez went 64-39 with Boston before signing a $77 million, five-year deal with the Tigers following the 2021 season.
“I tried to be on the corners as much as I can, but I made some mistakes and I paid for it,” he said.
Duvall hit a 403-foot shot completely out of Fenway to make it 6-2 in the fifth inning after Story reached on a double when Baddoo lost his fly to left in the sun and Masataka Yoshida singled.
“He's been swinging the bat better,” Cora said of Duvall. “He made some adjustments this week.”
Turner’s 401-foot drive pushed Boston ahead 2-1 in the third. Duvall added his RBI single in the inning after Story singled and stole second and third.
HIGHLIGHT PLAYS
Detroit made nice back-to-back defensive plays in the fourth. Second baseman Zach McKinstry dove to his right to snap Triston Casas’ grounder before getting up and throwing to first. Then, Rodriguez came off the mound, barehanded Wong’s bunt and got him on a close play at first.
Boston third baseman Luis Urías made a backward falling tag on Riley Greene, trying to stretch a double in the eighth.
CLOSE IT OUT
Boston improved to an MLB-best 48-3 when leading after six innings.
ROUGH ONE AGAIN
In Rodriguez’s only other career start against his former team, he gave up seven runs, two earned, in 3 2/3 innings on April 13 last year.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Tigers: Shortstop Javier Báez went on the bereavement list as planned after he was scratched due to right knee soreness Saturday. Isan Díaz was recalled from Triple-A Toledo to take his roster spot.
Red Sox: Story returned to lineup after getting Saturday off, his first after playing four straight games in his return from offseason elbow surgery. … Cora said right-hander Tanner Houck would start Wednesday for either Triple-A Worcester or Double-A Portland. Houck has been out since mid-June after a facial fracture caused by a line drive off the bat of the Yankees’ Kyle Higashioka.
UP NEXT
Tigers: RHP Alex Faedo (2-4, 5.80 ERA) starts Tuesday in the opener of two-game series at Minnesota. RHP Bailey Ober (6-6, 3.40) is slated to go for the Twins.
Red Sox: A bullpen game is likely Tuesday in the start of a three-game series at Washington. RHP Josiah Gray (7-9, 3.69) is in line for the Nationals.