How Red Sox’s Cooper Criswell Reacted To Early Hook Vs. Tigers

Cooper Criswell seemed on track for a memorable day, but an early hook ended up being the beginning of a rough afternoon for the Red Sox.

Boston lost, 4-1 to the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park, which meant Alex Cora's side lost the series to the American League Central club. Criswell pitched efficiently in the Sunday matinee matchup tossing four perfect innings with five strikeouts. But Cora pulled the right-hander in the bottom of the fifth inning for Rich Hill, who gave up a two-run home run and the 1-0 lead.

Cora told reporters postgame that it was a planned switch, and it was only incidental that Criswell had a perfect game. Criswell didn't have any hard feelings about the move.

"Obviously you want to stay out there," Criswell told reporters, per The Boston Globe. "But when we scored that run, he told me that I was done for the day. So I shook his hand and got a hug from him."

The last time Criswell went beyond four innings was Aug. 21 when he pitched 4 2/3 innings against the Houston Astros. And the last time the 28-year-old went past five innings was July 23 when he tossed seven innings against the Colorado Rockies on 105 pitches.

Boston knows it must win every series for the rest of the month to give itself the best chance to make the postseason. The Red Sox get another chance to rebound when they travel to New York to face the Mets on Monday.