Red Sox 10, Tigers 3: Framber Valdez is a spineless scoundrel

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 05: Framber Valdez #59 of the Detroit Tigers walks to the clubhouse after being ejected from the game during the fourth inning of the game against the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park on May 05, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images) | Getty Images There’s many, many reasons why baseball is the best game on Earth, but one of my favorites is it’s relentless ability to produce wildly unexpected results. Take tonight as a perfect example: This was as close to a guaranteed Red Sox loss on paper as you could get.

You had (among other things): Brayan Bello and his 9. 12 ERA set to go on the mound as the bulk guy. Brayan Bello pitching so poorly in recent starts that the Red Sox used Jovani Moran as an opener in front of Bello (where he immediately gave up two runs in the first inning).

Roman Anthony away from the team seeing a hand specialist in Boston hoping to avoid a trip to the IL. Masataka Yoshida and Marcelo Mayer both on the bench because of a lefty on the mound for Detroit. Jarren Duran going 0-5 with three strike outs from the top of the lineup when he’d been the team’s hottest hitter over the last handful of games.

Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman both likely running on empty as they had each pitched in both of the last two games. (So even if the Sox got a small lead, they might have had trouble holding it. ) Lastly, they were on the road facing Framber Valdez, who had held opponents to two earned runs or less in six of his seven starts this season.