[Tremendous image from Roar of the Tigers]
The Red Sox couldn't make it through a complete turn in the rotation and saw their four-game winning streak come to a halt with a 7-5 loss at Fenway.
Aaron Cook couldn't get out of the 5th against the vaunted Tigers lineup. He got in a jam by starting the inning with three straight singles by the 8, 9, and leadoff hitters. Quintin Berry grounded out, driving in a run -- and bringing up Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder. They did what they're supposed to do and hit back-to-back homers.
The Sox didn't completely cave. Down 6-1, they rallied in the 6th with five singles, including run-producing ones by rookies Will Middlebrooks and Pedro Ciriaco to cut the gap to two. Carl Crawford hit a solo homer in the 7th, but Delmon Young returned the favor and Joaquin Benoit and Jose Valverde shut the door.
Cook showed why the Red Sox are interested in bringing Franklin Morales back to the rotation. He couldn't keep his sinker down reliably and the Tigers made him pay, collecting nine hits over 4.2 IP. He had yet another start without a walk or strikeout, which continues to amaze me even when his results aren't good.
He's doing what he can out there, but a team like Detroit is going to see through the smoke and mirrors. But don't worry: If this sinkerballer isn't working out for you, the Sox can always go after an old friend.
