Tigers 14, Red Sox 2

It's a dark day in Beantown . . .

Tanner Houck had a Fukushima-grade nuclear meltdown in the third inning. It wasn't pretty and it went like this: The first batter of the inning doubles, and the next two batters walk to load the bases with no outs. Then a wild pitch scores a run and advances the other two runners. They both score when the fourth batter singles to deep right, and then a fielding error lets the batter go all the way around the bases for another run. Four runs off four batters and no outs, but Cora keeps Houck in the game.   

The fifth batter hits a pop-up for the first out of the inning, but the sixth batter singles and Houck manages to hit the seventh with a pitch. The eighth batter homers, scoring three more runs. Seven runs so far in the inning and still only one out, but Cora keeps Houck in the game.

Another single, then another walk, and then yet another single by former Yankee Gleyber Torres in his second at-bat of the inning scores an eighth run, and Cora finally relieves Houck.  

Of course, reliever Sean Newcomb gives up another single and another run - scored against Houck -  before getting the two outs needed to finally end the inning.

As long and ugly an inning of baseball as I care to recall. Sure, Boston got a pair of solo homers later in the game, but that hardly matters when you give up nine runs in one inning alone.

Game 2 of the series is tomorrow - same place (Detroit) and same time (6:40). Different pitchers: Brayan Bello (2-0, 2.01) will face Tyler Holton (2-2, 3.12).  

Hopefully, different result.