GAME #5, RED SOX AT DETROIT TIGERS

[Bear]

RED SOX V TIGERS

SUNDAY, APRIL 9, 2017, 1:10 PM AT COMERICA PARK

TV:  NESN, MLBN, FS-D

BOSTON, 2-2.........................................................................DETROIT, 3-1

BOSTON:

RICK PORCELLO, RHP, 1-0, 4.26 ERA

After winning the Cy Young Award this year, Porcello began his season on a high
note, allowing three runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings versus the Pirates.  Porcello,
who faces his former team, is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in two starts vs the Tigers.

DETROIT:

DANIEL NORRIS, LHP, 0-0, -.-, ERA

The Tigers are looking for an emergent season out of Norris after he posted a 3.04 ERA
over 10 starts in the rotation down the stretch last year.  The 23 year-old lefty made a
point to try to pitch more efficiently this spring.

Porcello returns to Detroit; Norris set for '17 debut

Ian Browne

Rick Porcello has pitched at Comerica Park 92 times -- far more than any other venue in his career. But Sunday marks the first time the right-hander will step on the mound in Detroit as a Cy Young Award winner.

In a vote back in November, Porcello edged out his friend and former rotation mate Justin Verlander. A former top prospect and rotation member of the Tigers, Porcello is a co-ace on the Red Sox, along with Chris Sale.

Even after his breakthrough with Boston, Porcello -- who will be opposed by lefty Daniel Norris on Sunday -- acknowledges how much his time in Detroit helped his development.

"I think some of the older guys, watching [Max Scherzer] and [Verlander], [Anibal Sanchez], even Doug Fister, I think the biggest thing being a young pitcher for me and learning was how you have to carry yourself in between starts and what that routine is like," said Porcello. "Obviously that fifth day is your biggest day, but there's a lot of work that goes on in between that, and that can a lot of times kind of steer you in what direction you're going to go, how disciplined you are, the stuff that you do on the side."

This is the second time Porcello has pitched at Comerica Park as a visitor. On Aug. 19, 2016, he held the Tigers to one earned run over seven innings in a 10-2 win by Boston.

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS GAME

• The Red Sox are hoping to get Mookie Betts, their best all-around player, back in the lineup on Sunday. Betts is one of several Boston players who has been dealing with illness in recent days. He was cleared to fly to Detroit on Saturday morning after being out of the lineup for three straight days.

• After bouncing back and forth between Triple-A the last two years, Norris is expected to be a full-time member of Detroit's rotation this season. The key for the lefty's development this year will be consistency and efficiency. He lost his only start to the Red Sox last year, giving up eight hits and three runs over five innings.

• Red Sox righty Matt Barnes should be back in the bullpen for Sunday's game, as he returns to the team following the death of his grandmother. Barnes is one of the pitchers competing to be Boston's primary setup man in front of closer Craig Kimbrel.

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170408223065470/porcello-returns-to-detroit-norris-set-for-17-debut/?game_pk=490179

[Bear]

GAME #5, RED SOX V TIGERS

RED SOX LINEUP:

PEDROIA, 2B
BENINTENDI, LF
BETTS, RF
YOUNG, DH
MORELAND, 1B
SELSKY, CF
LEON, C
SANDOVAL, 3B

PORCELLO, PITCHER

Another makeshift lineup....not much Farrell can do.

TWITTER

[Bill-806]

  J B J, what a glove  !!!  Hope he does not kill himself running into the wall !!!  Looks like a well deserved day off today... thumb_u

[Bear]

I don't understand how they keep going. iono

[ipot]

Patchwork lineup trying to scrape runs together this weekend.....Porcello has been pretty good in spite of giving up 8 hits through 5.

[ipot]

Call overturned.  Benintendi ties it up.

[markj]

Call overturned.  Benintendi ties it up.

Shame he didn't beat that throw.

[ipot]

Porcello doing his best Clay Buchholz imitation, giving the lead back to the Tigers.   thumb_u

[markj]

Yep, not his best outing.

[markj]

Great, MLB.TV craps out and by the time I get it back, I've missed all the Sox scoring. thumb_d

[ipot]

Up 7-4.  Can the "Can't Do" pen hold onto this?  Just as Meatball gives up a 1 out double.

[ipot]

And Meatball gets it done.  Kimbrell time  :-X

[markj]

Kimbrell walks the first batter. Swell.  sigh

[ipot]

Here we go....Kimbrel can't find the plate.

[markj]

Throw strikes, you dope!!!