Matt Manning rebounds, Riley Greene shines in Detroit Tigers' 7-1 loss to Red Sox

Jeff Seidel, Detroit Free Press
·4 min read
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FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Detroit Tigers lost, 7-1, to the Boston Red Sox on Monday at JetBlue Park.

The Tigers fell to 5-6 in Grapefruit League play.

What happened

The feeling of this game was dominated by one scary, unfortunate moment.

Matt Manning made the start for the Tigers and had a rough beginning.  He gave up a single to Kike Hernandez, walked Rafael Devers and then hit Justin Turner in the face. A Boston trainer ran to home plate and held a towel over Turner’s face, as Tigers pitching coach Chris Fetter went to the mound to settle Manning down.

“I definitely want to apologize,” Manning said. “Wasn’t intentional for sure.”

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Boston Red Sox Justin Turner reacts after being hit in the face on a pitch by Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Matt Manning in the first inning of their spring training baseball game in Fort Myers, Fla., Monday, March 6, 2023.
Boston Red Sox Justin Turner reacts after being hit in the face on a pitch by Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Matt Manning in the first inning of their spring training baseball game in Fort Myers, Fla., Monday, March 6, 2023.

The trainer held a towel to Turner’s face, as they walked slowly off the field to an exit.

“Nobody wants anything like that to happen and it kind of shook everybody,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said.

The Red Sox released a statement late in Monday’s game: “Justin Turner was taken to a local hospital after being hit in the face by a pitch. He is receiving treatment for soft tissue injuries and is being monitored for a concussion. He will undergo further testing, and we’ll update as we have more information. Justin is stable, alert and in good spirits given the circumstances.”

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At the plate

Boston lefty Chris Sale made his first start of the spring — and the Tigers came out swinging against a pitcher who has just 11 appearances since the end of the 2019 season.

Matt Vierling singled to center, Riley Greene got on by a fielder’s choice and Javier Baez crushed a ball to the center field warning track for an out.

Other tidbit of note: Greene ripped off a steal with ease.

Detroit Tigers center fielder Riley Greene steals second base as Boston Red Sox third baseman Enmanuel Valdez covers in the first inning of their spring training baseball game in Fort Myers, Fla., Monday, March 6, 2023.
Detroit Tigers center fielder Riley Greene steals second base as Boston Red Sox third baseman Enmanuel Valdez covers in the first inning of their spring training baseball game in Fort Myers, Fla., Monday, March 6, 2023.

Greene was one of the bright spots on this day, homering in the sixth inning. He pointed to right field as he rounded the bases.

"When he hits the ball line to line, that's when he's at his best," Hinch said. "Obviously the balls to center field have been rocketed."

Baez started the game at short, his normal position on the Tigers.

But in the fourth inning, he switched to second base — the position he will be playing in the World Baseball Classic for Puerto Rico.

After the game, Baez left the Tigers to join the Puerto Rico team, which will actually train in Fort Myers and play a scrimmage against the Red Sox on Wednesday night.

“What does it mean to you to represent your country?” Baez was asked.

“It's incredible to be honest,” Baez said. “It's an honor to play for them and we get connected. That little island gets together to just watch you and support us is pretty incredible.”

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On the mound

Midway through the first inning, Manning was taken out after throwing 22 pitches, and Hinch wanted to give him a rest.

Not just physically but mentally.

Manning had given up three hits, one walk and four earned runs. Hinch took him out and put in Dario Gardea to end the damage.

And give Manning rest.

“It was volume,” Hinch said.

In the second inning, Manning re-entered the game — a spring training rules quirk — and looked like a different pitcher, recording two strikeouts and a fly ball.

“I've been really trying to push myself and get myself back into baseball shape,” Manning said. “It just kind of got away from me on that one and try to get back in the zone for a second inning.”

On a day when the Tigers gave up five runs through four innings, Chasen Shreve pitched outstanding for the Tigers. He faced four batters and struck out three.

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Three stars

  1. Greene; 2. Vierling; 3. Shreve.

Next up

Tuesday (1:05 p.m.) vs. St. Louis Cardinals in Lakeland.

Contact Jeff Seidel at jseidel@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @seideljeff.

To read Seidel's recent columns, go to freep.com/sports/jeff-seidel.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Matt Manning rebounds, Riley Greene shines in Detroit Tigers' 7-1 loss