Red Sox reactions: Sonny Gray helps Boston blank Tigers, finish off first sweep of 2026

An inning later, again with two men on, Narváez looked to have grounded out to end the inning but his ball completely ate up Colt Keith and trickled into left field. Two runs scored to make it 4-0.

The Red Sox had just four hits in the win, but walked seven times. Tigers starter Jack Flaherty struck out 10 in five innings and Boston struck out 15 times in total.

4) Gray benefited in a big way from a great, run-saving play in right field from Wilyer Abreu. Back-to-back two-out walks loaded the bases for Jace Jung, who laced a liner into shallow right. Abreu charged in and made an impressive sliding catch to preserve a scoreless tie and end the inning.

In center, Ceddanne Rafaela made an impressive diving catch of his own to end the bottom of the seventh.

5) Someone who has been quietly excellent for the Red Sox early? Lefty Tyler Samaniego, who threw two shutout innings immediately after Gray. Samaniego allowed one baserunner (on a walk) and struck out three.

In two big league stints, the rookie has now pitched 13 scoreless innings over 10 games while allowing eight hits and striking out 11. It’s the third-longest streak of scoreless appearances to begin a career in Red Sox history.

Zack Kelly and Greg Weissert preserved the shutout (the fifth of the year for Boston’s staff) with scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth.

6) The Sox continued a trend of being more aggressive on the bases in recent weeks. With three more steals Wednesday (Durbin, Jarren Duran and Rafaela), Boston finished the sweep with six in three games.

Boston now has 16 steals in its last 12 games after stealing just 13 bags in 25 games to start the year.

7) Contreras, who was 0-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and three strikeouts, had a lingering wrist injury flare up in the ninth inning but stayed in the game and is expected to be OK, according to Tracy.

7) The Red Sox will arrive in Boston well after midnight and then face a tough turnaround as they begin a seven-game, eight-day homestand. Starting Thursday, the Sox will welcome the division-leading Rays to Fenway for four games. Here’s the schedule:

Thursday, 7:10 p.m. ET — RHP Griffin Jax (1-2, 5.14 ERA) vs. LHP Jake Bennett (1-0, 1.80 ERA)

Friday, 7:10 p.m. ET — RHP Jesse Scholtens (3-1, 3.18 ERA) vs. LHP Connelly Early (2-2, 3.79 ERA)

Saturday, 4:10 p.m. ET — RHP Nick Martinez (3-1, 1.71 ERA) vs. TBD (possibly LHP Ranger Suarez)

Sunday, 1:35 p.m. ET — RHP Drew Rasmussen (2-1, 2.95 ERA) vs. TBD (possibly LHP Payton Tolle)

More Red Sox coverage

• Red Sox lineup: With Roman Anthony out, Masataka Yoshida gets second start in 11 games
• Tigers pitcher receives suspension after intentionally throwing at Red Sox’ Trevor Story
• Red Sox pitching prospect Juan Valera undergoes Tommy John surgery
• Red Sox roster moves: Sonny Gray returns to start, rookie lefty sent down after good debut
• Former Red Sox ace offers Tarik Skubal advice on dealing with injury, team doctors

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