Detroit Tigers vs Boston Red Sox: Sunday Night Baseball Game Preview & Lineup

Jun 7, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers shortstop

Eugenio Suarez

(30) hits a home run in the fourth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Tigers (32-25) vs. Boston Red Sox (27-33) — 8:05 PM EDT

Comerica Park — Detroit, MI

TV: ESPN

Radio: 97.1 The Ticket (click for radio affiliates)

Weather: 72 degrees, clear

The Detroit Tigers finish off their six-game home stand as they look to do something they’ve never done before–in 114 years–sweep the season series with the Boston Red Sox. The sputtering Red Sox seem ripe for the picking with the Tigers’ most consistent starter, Anibal Sanchez, taking the mound. He was also the winner of the third game of the series in Boston and has pitched lights out with nothing to show for it due to little help from the Tigers’ bats or Joe Nathan.

With the victory last night, Detroit clinched its first series victory since that sweep in Boston three weeks ago.

When We Last Met

The Tigers’ bats teed off early and often against Red Sox ace Jon Lester Saturday night to earn their second straight win after dropping five straight. Lester allowed a season-high five runs on 12 hits over four innings. Shockingly, after striking out 12 batters in his previous start, the free-swinging Tigers did not strikeout at all against Boston’s starter. Leading the hit parade was rookie Eugenio Suarez who gave the Tigers what they were hoping for when calling him up by hitting a homer in his second at-bat. It was the first hit for the youngster who was making his first major league start. Max Scherzer appeared to tire later in the game, but pitched his best effort in nearly a month to pick up the win. Joe Nathan struggled again in the ninth in a non-save situation but was able to hold on to two of the four runs in the 8-6 win.

Pitching Matchup

Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

It’s hard to imagine a pitcher more unlucky with decisions than Sanchez (2-2, 2.15). In his last two outings, he’s been spectacular, allowing one run and five hits over 15 1/3 innings. There was no run support for him in either game and he left with a 1-0 lead and scoreless tie respectively. Nathan blew each of these games in Oakland on May 28 and last Tuesday against Toronto. Anibal allowed two runs (one earned) in five innings against Boston three weeks ago. Because that was his first outing off the disabled list, he was limited to five innings, but the bullpen held on to the lead and the Tigers won 6-2 back on May 18.

Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

We get to see the colorful mound antics of John Lackey (6-4, 3.28) tonight. He’s had decent success against the Tigers in his career but was swearing up a storm the last time he faced them in May. In that game, on May 17, Lackey allowed six runs (five earned) on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings. He’s pitched well since that game and followed it up with a pair of scoreless efforts against Tampa Bay and Atlanta. His last start saw him yield three runs in eight innings, but his opponents were one run better in the 3-2 Cleveland win.

Tigers Lineup
1. Rajai Davis – LF
2. Ian Kinsler – 2B
3. Miguel Cabrera – 1B
4. Victor Martinez – DH
5. Torii Hunter – RF
6. Nick Castellanos – 3B
7. Austin Jackson – CF
8. Alex Avila – C
9. Eugenio Suarez – SS