Ceddanne Rafaela put on a show at the plate, launching a home run and driving in four runs to lead the Boston Red Sox to a dominant 10-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night. It was the second straight win for the Red Sox in the Motor City, and they did it in style.
The game took a dramatic turn in the fourth inning when Tigers starter Framber Valdez (2-2) was ejected after hitting Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story with a pitch. The incident cleared both benches, but fortunately no punches were thrown. Valdez had a night to forget, surrendering a career-high 10 runs and matching a personal worst by allowing three home runs before his early exit.
Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu also went deep for Boston, which had dropped four of its previous five games before arriving in Detroit. The Red Sox are now 4-2 against the Tigers this season, showing they have Detroit's number.
On the mound, Brayan Bello (2-4) was outstanding in relief, allowing just one run on four hits over seven innings after taking over for opener Jovani Moran in the second. Bello struck out seven and walked one, bouncing back nicely after losing his last three starts.
Matt Vierling provided the lone highlight for the Tigers with a solo home run, but Detroit has now lost five of its last eight games and couldn't keep pace with Boston's explosive offense.
For the Red Sox, this win is a much-needed boost as they look to build momentum. After a tough stretch, they're finding their groove at the plate and getting solid pitching when it matters most. Rafaela's big night is exactly the kind of spark that can turn a season around.
