BOSTON -- The talking points from the Red Sox' 2-1 walk-off win over the Tigers on Friday night, ending an eight-game losing streak:
STAR OF THE GAME: Rick Porcello
Porcello was able to match his counterpart Justin Verlander pitch-for-pitch through seven innings. The 26-year-old righty allowed five hits and just one run on the night. He walked none and struck out six with the help of 16 swings-and-misses by the Tigers.
HONORABLE MENTION: Justin Verlander
Coming off of an atrocious start against the Orioles where he gave up seven runs on eight hits before the fourth inning, Verlander was a different pitcher on Friday. Throwing eight full innings, he didn't necessarily blow Red Sox hitters away -- he struck out three -- but he was more than effective enough, walking none and scattering seven hits.
GOAT OF THE GAME: Brad Ausmus
In the bottom of the 11th inning, with Mookie Betts on second base and Xander Bogaerts at the plate with one out, the Tigers manager allowed lefty reliever Blaine Hardy to pitch to Bogaerts with left-handed hitting Pablo Sandoval on deck. Bogaerts responded with a single up the middle that scored Betts on a close play at the plate to win the game. (The play was reviewed and upheld.)
Boston Red Sox
TURNING POINT: With one out in the top of the 11th inning, Justin Masterson worked a full count to Victor Martinez and eventually got the former Sox catcher to strike out swinging. Running on the pitch from second base was Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler, and Red Sox catcher Ryan Hanigan fired to third to catch Kinsler easily. In a blink, the Red Sox went from on the defensive -- two men on and just one out in the top of the 11th -- to taking some much-needed momentum into the bottom half of the frame.
BY THE NUMBERS: 7
Porcello's start was his longest in seven outings. On June 3, he went eight in a loss to the Twins, 5-4.