Tigers' Valdez ejected, benches clear in loss to Red Sox

TL;DR

Framber Valdez was ejected during the Tigers' 10-3 loss to the Red Sox, marking the worst outing of his career. The Tigers continue to struggle with injuries and poor performance.

Key points

Framber Valdez ejected during the game
Tigers lost to the Red Sox 10-3
Valdez had the worst outing of his career
Tigers dealing with multiple injuries
This was the second consecutive loss to the Red Sox

Detroit TigersBoston Red SoxFramber Valdez

Detroit – These are not the best of times for the Tigers.

Dealing with a rash of injuries, including three-fifths of the original starting rotation, they were hoping lefty Framber Valdez could provide a brief oasis after deploying back-to-back bullpen starts.

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Nope.

Instead, he responded with the worst outing of his nine-year career. And got himself ejected in the process, as the Red Sox beat the Tigers for the second straight night at Comerica Park, 10-3.

Valdez had already allowed eight runs when he came out to start the fourth. He was victimized by five straight singles in a 31-pitch, five-run third inning. Had the Tigers’ relievers not had to cover 13 innings the last two nights, he would’ve been pulled then.

But he was at 56 pitches and manager AJ Hinch tried to squeeze at least one more inning out of him.

The Red Sox stopped hitting singles. Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu greeted him with monster-sized, back-to-back homers in the fourth. Contreras’ blast went 449 feet. Abreu’s flew 396 feet. Both admired their work leaving the box and took their time around the bases.

Valdez’s next pitch was straight into Trevor Story’s back. There was little doubt of his intent. It was a four-seam fastball. He hadn’t thrown a four-seam fastball all season.