Saturday, May 18, 2013
The Associated Press
BOSTON — David Ortiz homered and hit two doubles, and the Boston Red Sox moved above .500 for the first time this season, tagging Justin Verlander for 10 hits in a 6-3 win over the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night.
TODAY'S GAME
WHO: Red Sox (Lester 3-4) vs. Detroit Tigers (Smyly 2-1)
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
TELEVISION: NESN
Verlander (5-3) lost his second straight start since taking a no-hitter into the ninth inning against Pittsburgh on May 18.
The reigning American League MVP and Cy Young winner allowed five runs on 10 hits, struck out seven and walked one in six innings.
The Red Sox improved to 25-24, finally achieving a winning record after going 0-5 in games that could have put them above .500.
Boston fans had to wait a while to enjoy the moment because of a 38-minute rain delay with one out in the bottom of the eighth.
Daniel Bard (5-5) pitched 5 1/3 innings for Boston, allowing two runs on five hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
Boston used four relievers before Alfredo Aceves came in after the rain delay and finished the eighth, then held the Tigers scoreless in the ninth for his 12th save.
Jhonny Peralta and Prince Fielder hit solo homers for the Tigers, who fell to 0-2 in the four-game series.
Verlander hadn't allowed 10 hits in a game since September 2010.
Boston got four alone in a three-run fourth inning.
Kevin Youkilis, Mike Aviles and Scott Podsednik all singled to load the bases before Daniel Nava put Boston up 4-0 with a two-out double.
Verlander hit 100 mph repeatedly in the at-bat before Nava came through with a full count, lining a shot down the left-field line.
Verlander came in with 16 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings against Boston, but the streak ended in the second when Ortiz led off with a double off the Green Monster and scored on a fielder's choice by Aviles, who avoided a double play by beating out Peralta's throw.
Peralta hit a solo homer in the fifth for the Tigers' first run and Fielder added a solo shot in the sixth.
Ortiz hit his second double of the game in the fifth, bringing Adrian Gonzalez all the way in from first for a 5-1 lead. Ortiz tried to push it for a triple and was easily thrown out at third.
Ortiz atoned for the base-running mistake with a homer to left in the seventh.
NOTES: Boston 2B Dustin Pedroia did not play after jamming his right thumb in Monday's win over the Tigers. Manager Bobby Valentine said Pedroia aggravated a pre-existing injury to his thumb and underwent an MRI but the results were not yet available ...
Verlander pitched at least six innings for the 53rd straight start, dating to Aug. 22, 2010. It marks the longest such streak by a pitcher since Steve Carlton's 69-game run between 1979-82. ...
This was the longest the Red Sox took to go above .500 since 1996, when Boston finally improved to 66-65 on Aug. 25. ...
Red Sox OF Carl Crawford said he is about 10 days away from starting to throw as he continues his rehab from a sore left elbow. "You've got to remember" Crawford said, "swinging was never the problem. I don't really feel I'm going to have any setbacks doing that."
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