Castellanos’ HR, 3 RBIs leads Tigers past Red Sox 5

Bogaerts’ single up the middle off Blaine Hardy in the 11th inning drove home the winning run, and the Red Sox snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night. “I was watching the inductions. It was very emotional”. After Wright retired the first two batters, former Red Sox left fielder Yoenis Cespedes hammered his 15th home run of the season to left center, setting the tone for the afternoon.

Manager John Farrell had no doubt at the time Ortiz would return to his usual self. 216 with six home runs and 18 RBIs and the designated hitter was benched for the first two games of a series in Texas with the hope of finding his swing. “Pedro was special”, Ortiz, who joined Martinez in ending Boston’s 86-year title drought in 2004, said before the game. Ortiz went on to pass Rogers Hornsby and Harmon Killebrew, who each had 1,584 RBIs.

“It was a lot closer than you would have imagined just watching the play live, but really we had nothing to lose by checking it”, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. “But he was fine tonight”.

The Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox meet up as both teams are under fire with the trade deadline quickly approaching. Ian Krol allowed no hits or walks in one inning with one strikeout.

Greene has allowed five runs or more in five of his last six starts and at least four earned runs in seven straight starts. But if Greene had been approaching disaster for the first four innings, he stepped over that line in the fifth.

J.D. Martinez (2 for 4) was wiped out on Nick Castellano’s double-play groundout in the fourth, and Porcello struck out four over his final three innings in his longest stint since June 3.

“Nothing changed”, Greene said.

But, even with everything that has taken place this season, Sunday was all about Ortiz and he showed why he still is one of the best hitters in the game, despite what happened the first two months of the year. The Tigers then intentionally walked Pablo Sandoval, and after a seven-pitch at-bat, Napoli blooped an RBI ground-rule double down the right field line to make it 5-1 Sox.

The Red Sox offense came from more than just Ortiz on the day though, as the team combined for a season-high 20 hits on the evening.

Tigers fifth. Castellanos homered to center on a 1-0 count.

The Red Sox looked like they were about to turn things around right before the All-Star break, going 9-3 before dropping two of three in their last series before the break to the Yankees.

1B Miguel Cabrera remains on the disabled list with a left calf strain.

Asked about Ortiz, Ausmus said, “I don’t know if he’s slowing down or not, but he was fine tonight”. RHP Alfredo Simon, who left Saturday’s win with a slight groin injury, will work on the bike instead of jogging as he gets ready for his next start.

The ESPN Sunday Night crew called the game from the Monster seats, and Ortiz’s second homer sailed a few feet from their spot. They finally capitalized in the fourth, with Hanley Ramirez reaching on a leadoff single, Mike Napoli working a nine-pitch walk and Blake Swihart doubling just inside the first base bag to score Ramirez from second and give Boston a 1-0 lead. The Tigers continue their 10-game road trip in Tampa Bay on Monday as they desperately try and stay relevant in the American League.