Tigers Knuckled By Boston 6-3

The streaky Detroit Tigers lost their second straight game, this time by a 6-3 score to the Boston Red Sox.  Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield stymied the Tigers hitters while Rick Porcello got the bum's rush after just three innings and six Boston runs. 

One of the few bright spots for Tigers fans was the relief work of Charlie Furbush, who pitched 5 shutout innings after Porcello's hasty exit.  Jhonny Peralta was the Tiger hitting star (that's not saying much) with a solo homer off Wakefield and an RBI double of Red Sox closer Jonathan Pappelbon. 

The loss drops the Tigers to the .500 mark at 25-25, 6 games behind first place Cleveland, who also lost again tonight.

The Tigers and Red Sox will play tomorrow night at Comerica Park in Detroit, the game will be televised on Fox as a Game Of the Week.  Andy Oliver, just called up from Toledo, will get the start for the Tigers.  Oliver is left-handed, and Tiger manager Jim Leyland is hoping he can neutralize the potent Boston lineup of left-handed sluggers.

The Tigers also announced a trade of second baseman Scott Sizemore to the Oakland A's for left-handed relief pitcher David Purcey.  Sizemore was batting just .222 for the Tigers.  Purcey had given up just three runs in 12 & 2/3rd innings work for the A's this season and held opposing batters to a .193 batting average.  Let's hope he can help us.