DETROIT _ Heading into the regular season, the only question about the Detroit Tigers' lineup was this: Where would Nick Castellanos hit against right-handers?
That was answered earlier in the week, when Castellanos was slotted second.
Against lefties, it wasn't a question. As one of the team's best hitters, Castellanos would hit second, with no danger of shortening a lineup that, top-to-bottom, hits lefties well.
The bottom of the lineup held up their end of the bargain this afternoon against the Red Sox. Jose Iglesias hit his first home run of the season, James McCann his second, and the Tigers No. 7-9 hitters reached base six times in eight plate appearances to kick-start the offense in a 4-1 win over the Red Sox at Comerica Park.
After righty Jordan Zimmermann allowed an early run, Iglesias evened the score with an estimated 432-foot home run to leftfield in the third inning.
The run was the only one Zimmermann would allow in his regular season debut.
He allowed solid contact early and didn't miss many bats but pitched a solid six innings, allowing only four hits. Zimmermann struck out three and walked one.
The bottom third of the lineup provided some cushion in the fifth inning, when McCann hit his second home run in as many days to take the lead.
It came off Red Sox lefty Eduardo Rodriguez, who began to crater after the homer.
JaCoby Jones and Iglesias followed with doubles and Ian Kinsler hit a RBI single to lengthen a lead that the Tigers' bullpen would not blow.
In relief of Zimmermann, righty Shane Greene, lefty Kyle Ryan _ who endured a hectic day of travel back from Florida, where he spent the past few days on the paternity list _ and lefty Justin Wilson threw scoreless innings.
Greene and Ryan each danced around baserunners.
With Francisco Rodriguez unavailable after throwing 12/3 innings Friday, Wilson picked up the save with a three-up, three-down ninth inning.
It was Wilson's second career save.
