BOSTON -- Quotes, Notes and Stars from the Red Sox' 4-3 loss to the Tigers on Wednesday.
QUOTES
"For maybe the first time when he hasn't put the ball on the ground consistently, that's the one spot that shows up here today.''
-- John Farrell on Brad Ziegler, who gave up the game-winning homer to Miguel Cabrera in the ninth inning.
"Unfortunately, we're one-swing-of-the-bat difference here today.''
-- Farrell
"It wasn't a horrible pitch; it just wasn't a great one either.''
-- Zieger on the pitch to Cabrera.
"Shoot, I've got to be honest. I haven't even looked at the schedule. I know there's 162 [games] on there. That's about all I know.''
-- Dustin Pedroia, when asked about the team's upcoming string of road games.
NOTES
Boston Red Sox
-- The Red Sox dropped to 11-14 against teams from the American League Central.
-- The series sweep was the first of the season suffered by the Red Sox. Every other MLB team had already been swept more than once.
-- Pedroia has reached base safely in 30 straight games. It's the second-longest streak of his career.
-- Xander Bogaerts hit safely in every game on the homestand, batting .447 in that span.
-- Seven of Sandy Leon's 10 doubles this season have come in day games.
-- Aaron Hill collected his first extra-base hit (double) as a member of the Red Sox.
-- Victor Martinez reached base in all five plate appearances, becoming the first Tiger to do so at Fenway since Pudge Rodriguez in 2008.
-- The Tigers are 7-2 in their last nine Fenway games.
-- Opposing hitters had been just 1-for-22 against Brad Ziegler as a member of the Red Sox before Cabrera's homer.
STARS
1) Miguel Cabrera -- He was 3-for-4 with an intentional walk, including the game-winning homer in the top of the ninth.
2) Victor Martinez -- He remains one of the game's best pure hitters, which he demonstrated with four hits and two RBI.
3) Michael Fulmer -- He continued his Rookie of the Year case with 7 2/3 strong innings, allowing three runs on seven hits.