July 15: Boston 8, Detroit 4
First place Boston visited last place Detroit, and things started off promisingly for the Tigers. Their first two batters of the game were quickly retired, but then Miguel Cabrera took a walk, Hank Greenberg singled, and Al Kaline grounded to Nomar Garciaparra, who couldn’t find the handle on the ball. The error allowed Cabrera to score, and Detroit kept making Boston pay. The next three batters all singled, and four unearned runs crossed the plate for Detroit.
But Lefty Grove and Koji Uehara shut out the Tigers the rest of the way, and the Boston offense got to work against a wild Tommy Bridges. Boston drew eight walks in the game, Garciaparra atoned for his error with three singles, and Bobby Doerr nailed a solo dong.
It was Grove’s second consecutive start without allowing an earned run.
R H BB BOS 003 212 000 - 8 12 8 DET 400 000 000 - 4 9 3 HR: B. Doerr (8) starters IP R ER HR BB SO L. Grove 7.0 4 0 0 3 0 T. Bridges 5.2 8 6 1 7 1 BOS 55-33, DET 41-47
July 16: Boston 6, Detroit 0
Smoky Joe Wood also made it two straight starts without allowing an earned run, while Bill Donovan…did not. Fred Lynn alone drew three walks off Donovan, and Ted Williams smacked three hits against him.
R H BB BOS 230 000 100 - 6 12 6 DET 000 000 000 - 0 4 2 HR: none starters IP R ER HR BB SO S.J. Wood 7.0 0 0 0 1 2 B. Donovan 7.0 6 5 0 5 2 BOS 56-33, DET 41-48
July 17: Boston 4, Detroit 1
Justin Verlander managed to contain the big Boston offense a little better in the finale, but the Detroit bats were nearly silent again against a complete game by Roger Clemens. The Tigers did swat 10 hits in the game (three by George Kell), but could only turn one of them into a run. While the Tigers haven’t been able to get the bats of Miguel Cabrera, Charles Gehringer, or Sam Crawford going all season, Boston gets contributions all up and down their bench, like a homer in this one from John Valentin while he gave Wade Boggs a day off at third.
R H BB BOS 010 020 001 - 4 9 5 DET 001 000 000 - 1 10 2 HR: J. Valentin (2) starters IP R ER HR BB SO R. Clemens 9.0 1 1 0 2 6 J. Verlander 8.0 3 2 1 5 3 BOS 57-33, DET 41-49
