Red Sox Win Over Tigers With Five-Run Seventh

Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images

May 4, 2026

Red Sox 5, Tigers 4

The Boston Red Sox escape with a 5–4 win over the Detroit Tigers on Monday at Comerica Park. Payton Tolle pitched a gem, going seven innings allowing one hit and one walk and two unearned runs. Ricky Vanasco shouldered the loss, allowing four runs in two thirds of an inning. The Red Sox scored all five of their runs in the seventh.

Red Sox-Tigers Game Summary

The Red Sox had multiple runners on in the first and third inning, but were unsuccessful in both situations. Meanwhile, it took the Tigers until the fifth inning to record their first hit, a leadoff double from Riley Greene. However, they were unable to break the scoreless tie as well.

Tolle ran into more trouble in the sixth inning, as the rain started picking up. It got so bad that fans started finding dry spots, making the backstop look like it was 2020 all over again. With two runners on and one out, the Tigers had their best scoring chance of the game thus far. It didn’t help when Carlos Narvaez tried to pick off the runner at first base and launched it into left field, moving both runners up a base.

Matt Vierling hit a broken bat grounder to third base. Andruw Monasterio, trying to make the play at home, and perhaps worrying about the bat coming at him, threw it away. That scored both runs to make it 2–0.

Red Sox Response

The equal and opposite reaction from the Red Sox came in the seventh inning. With two runners on, they finally notched their first hit with runners in scoring position. Jarren Duran came up and hit a three-run opposite field homer to give the Red Sox a 3–2 lead.

After a misjudged fly ball led to a double from Masataka Yoshida, Wilyer Abreu came up and hit an RBI single to extend the lead. Marcelo Mayer did the same two batters later, making it 5-2 at the end of the rally.

The field crew came out in the top of the eighth and whipped out the tarp to delay the game. The Tigers sparked a comeback in the bottom half, as Dillon Dingler ripped a two-run double down the left field line to get within one off of Garrett Whitlock. Greene struck out to end the inning, however. Aroldis Chapman came in and shut the door for his seventh save on the season.

What Went Right for the Red Sox

Duran’s Power Surge

Duran has seven hits in his last four games, with three of those being long balls.

Rolly Tolle

Tolle allowed two baserunners in seven innings of work. Quite elite work for someone who wasn’t in the rotation on Opening Day.

What Went Wrong for the Red Sox

Anthony Leaving Early

Roman Anthony would be forced to leave the game due to injury in the second inning. This is eerily similar to when he suffered his oblique injury late last year.