Funkerstation » andling the ball) is part of the transition

DETROIT -- Michael Fulmer has been baffling teams throughout a highly successful rookie season. The Boston Red Sox may have figured him out.Boston homered twice off Fulmer in the first inning and eventually scored six runs against him -- the most hes allowed in the majors -- in a 10-2 victory Friday night.Hes a very good pitcher who is very aggressive, said Jackie Bradley Jr., who hit one of Bostons two first-inning homers. We wanted to attack him right away. Hes going to come after you with the fastball, and we were looking for it.Fulmer figured out what the Red Sox were doing, but was already in a 4-0 hole after the first inning.They are a fastball-hitting team, and they were ready for my fastball, Fulmer said. It felt like every time I went inside, they were on it.The Tigers have lost nine of 12 after winning 10 of 11.It is a roller coaster, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. Ive gone through this every year of my career -- 25 years now. You have ups and downs.Boston starter Rick Porcello appreciated the early help.Thats huge, especially against a guy who has been pitching as well as Michael, Porcello said. Its always easier to pitch with a cushion, especially against that offense.Porcello was pitching for the first time at Comerica Park as a member of the Red Sox. He spent the first six years of his career with Detroit before being traded before the 2015 season.It was fun. Honestly, Porcello said in his usual low-key way. I think it helped that I pitched against those guys at Fenway last year and we came here last year, even though I didnt pitch. It was still weird being on the opposite side, though.Porcello is 17-3 with a 3.22 ERA, which no one appreciates more than his teammates.We gave him four runs in the first inning, and then he just did what he has done for us all year, said Hanley Ramirez, who drove in four runs. When we need a win, we know hes going to get us one. We had a tough loss yesterday, and he came out and shut them down.Porcello allowed four hits and two walks while striking out eight. His only major mistake was J.D. Martinezs two-run homer in the second inning.David Ortiz gave the Red Sox a 2-0 lead in the first with his 22nd career homer at Comerica Park -- a blast deep into the stands in right field. Ortiz has hit more homers in Detroit than in any other ballpark outside the AL East.Bradley gave Boston a four-run lead with the second two-run homer of the first inning, but Martinez pulled the Tigers within 4-2 with his two-run shot in the second.Both pitchers settled down after that, and the score didnt change until the sixth. Fulmer retired the first two hitters, but base hits by Sandy Leon and Brock Holt put runners on first and second. Andrew Benintendi and Dustin Pedroia followed with RBI singles to knock Fulmer out of the game.Ramirezs two-run double off Bruce Rondon made it 8-2 in the seventh, and he added another two-run double in the eighth off Mark Lowe.TRAINERS ROOMRed Sox: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (hamstring) threw in the bullpen Friday and remains on pace to start Sundays series finale. ... RHP Steven Wright (shoulder) is expected to miss at least one more start, but could start throwing off a mound this weekend.Tigers: RHP Mike Pelfrey (back) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session before the game, and is scheduled to throw another on Sunday. He would then progress to a simulated game before reporting to the minors for rehab games.MARTINEZ LOCKED INJ.D. Martinez hit a long home run in his first at-bat, but his second one might have been even more impressive. He hit a line drive to the left side that ripped the webbing out of shortstop Xander Bogaerts glove on its way to the outfield. Bogaerts had to call time to get a new glove from the Boston dugout.SPIRIT OF CESPEDESWhile Yoenis Cespedes wasnt at Comerica Park on Friday night, he certainly had a major impact on the game. Before the 2015 season, the Tigers traded Porcello to the Red Sox for Cespedes, then shipped him to the Mets at the trading deadline for Fulmer.Both trades were made by then-Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski, who was back in town Friday in his new role as Red Sox president.UP NEXTThe teams play the third game in their four-game series Saturday night with Bostons Drew Pomeranz (9-9, 2.99) facing Daniel Norris (1-1, 3.47). Norris is 0-1 with a 12.27 ERA in two career outings against Boston, one of which was a start.Diontae Johnson Youth Jersey . -- Nate Robinson has played for seven teams, so beating one of them is no longer a rare occurrence. Mike Wagner Steelers Jersey . Jordan Lynch, the all-purpose Heisman Trophy finalist from Northern Illinois, failed to make it into that exclusive club. http://www.steelerspronfl.com/Youth-Ernie-Stautner-Elite-Jersey/ . 8 Kansas to a 64-63 win over Texas Tech on Tuesday night. The freshman from Vaughan, Ont. Carnell Lake Youth Jersey . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. Merril Hoge Steelers Jersey . Three came down to the fourth quarter while quarterbacks continued to shine in all four games; so important to the overall quality of the game.PITTSBURGH -- Sheldon Jeter practically did a spit take when Pittsburgh hired Kevin Stallings to replace Jamie Dixon last spring.I was shocked, as I imagine most people were, said the senior forward, who played under Stallings for one season at Vanderbilt before eventually making his way to the Panthers. I didnt see that coming.Shock, however, eventually gave way to acceptance and something even more promising: optimism. When Jeters teammates asked him for a read on Stallings while they pondered whether to leave or not, Jeter offered some salient advice.I told them coach is a genuine guy, Jeter said. Everything he says, he means.Ultimately, everybody stayed, giving Stallings a solid foundation to start with as he begins anew following 17 years with the Commodores.Theyve embraced the changes, Stallings said. Theyve embraced the newness of the culture. Theyve embraced me.The promise of a fresh start in a system that will be more free-flowing than the one Dixon used to unprecedented success during his dozen years at Pitt helps. Stallings, who jokingly admitted he couldnt cover his butt with both hands as a defender during his own playing career, wants the Panthers to feel empowered to go out and make plays instead of reflexively looking at the bench following every miscue.I dont want them to make a turnover and say `Oh, coach is going to take me out, Stallings said. Eventually that negatively impacts their playing psyche.Pitt returns four starters from a team that went 21-12 in Dixons final season, one that ended with a second-round loss to Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament. External expectations are modest. Not so inside the Petersen Events Center. The day Stallings took over he and athletic director Scott Barnes both said the deciding factor was each sides firm belief the Panthers have everything in place -- from facilities and leadership to recruiting footprint -- to reach the Final Four.Getting back to the tournament would be a solid first step, one Pitt believes it can take even with Dixon at his alma mater (TCU) and the decidedly more emotive Stallings on the sideline.Were trying to build something this year, senior forward Jamel Artis said. People, writers, dont have us top in the nation right now. Were trying to prove them wrong.Somee things to look for as Pitt prepares for its opener on Nov.dddddddddddd 11 against Eastern Michigan:SENIOR MOMENTS: In Jeter, Artis, Michael Young and Chris Jones the Panthers have four seniors who have helped guide the rest of the roster through the transition from Dixon to Stallings. Stallings expects to repay that loyalty by relying heavily on the quartet, who averaged a combined 44 points a game last season.We will go as those guys go, Stallings said. If they lead us in a productive and positive way. Then everybody else will fall in line with that. If they are individualistic or self-driven then it becomes a problem.MAKING A POINT: Stallings has come up with an interesting solution in replacing four-year starter James Robinson at point guard: give Artis the ball. The 6-foot-7 Artis was effective at times when handling the ball in the high post under Dixon. Stallings wants Artis to bring the ball up too. Artis didnt exactly balk at the idea, figuring its the best way for the Panthers to win while also showing pro scouts what he can do.Watching Vanderbilt, their offense was pretty spaced out, Artis said. (Handling the ball) is part of the transition to the NBA.GIDDY UP: Stallings described his offense as structured freedom. The Panthers plan to take the concept and run with it. Contrary to popular opinion, Dixon did give his players more leeway offensively after the Panthers transitioned to the ACC. Yet they came with certain caveats and the threat of a quick hook when things went awry. While Stallings isnt going to indulge mistakes, but he will try to live with them as his players try to figure things out.You have to get to everybody going uptempo, Jeter said. We have to get everyone used to playing at his speed and really thinking on the fly instead of having a play set in motion.JUSTICE FOR ALL?: The Panthers welcome just three new faces this year: transfer guard Crisshawn Clark and freshmen Corey Manigault and Justice Kithcart. The fleet 6-1, 185-pound Kithcart should get plenty of opportunities to show Stallings hes capable of running the show. The key will be finding a way to play fast, but not loose. ' ' '