Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Robbie Weinhardt's throwing error on a Marco Scutaro bunt in the bottom of the ninth was the difference, as Boston blew a late lead but recovered to top Detroit, 4-3, in the finale of a three-game set at Fenway Park.
Brad Thomas (4-1) began the Red Sox ninth by allowing an infield single to Jed Lowrie, then walking Eric Patterson. Scutaro laid down a sacrifice bunt against Weinhardt in front of the plate, but the young reliever's throw was high and wide of first, allowing pinch-runner Darnell McDonald to score the deciding run.
Jonathan Papelbon (4-4) got the win but was charged with a blown save after giving up a three-run lead in the top of the ninth.
Clay Buchholz got the start and pitched into the ninth, and despite hurling eight scoreless frames was eventually charged with three hits and a pair of runs with five strikeouts and four walks in eight-plus innings.
"My fastball was pretty good and I had my cutter tonight," said Buchholz. "The changeup was there too so it added up to a good outing for me today. Good game all around by the whole team."
Adrian Beltre, Patterson and Ryan Kalish drove in a run each for the Red Sox, who have won five of their last six.
Miguel Cabrera knocked in two and Jhonny Peralta one for the Tigers, who have lost six of seven.
Detroit starter Justin Verlander yielded six hits and three runs with eight strikeouts and three walks over seven full frames.
"I'm proud of my guys cause they've been busting their tail out there," said Detroit manager Jim Leyland. "They're fighting tooth and nail out there and that's all anyone can ask. We're just playing good enough to get beat and that's not good."
Buchholz began to tire in the ninth, allowing an infield single to Rhymes and walking Ryan Raburn before giving way to Papelbon. Caberera stepped in and blasted a two-run double off the top of the wall in right-center.
Boesch struck out swinging but Peralta dribbled a hit to center which tied the game. Frazier then hit into a double play.
Boston picked up a run in the second on singles from Beltre, Lowrie and Patterson. The home team tacked on two more in the third on an RBI single by Beltre and sacrifice fly from Kalish.
Buchholz tired in the ninth, yielding a Will Rhymes infield single and walk to Ryan Raburn. Papelbon was brought in, but Cabrera slugged a two-run double off the wall in right-center and Peralta knotted the score on a seeing-eye single with one out. Jeff Frazier's inning-ending double play kept it 3-3.
Boston has won five of the last seven against Detroit at Fenway...Prior to the game, the Sox announced that McDonald was scratched with back stiffness...Papelbon recorded his fifth blown save of the season...The Sox remain home and open up a four-game series against Cleveland on Monday, while the Tigers head home to play the White Sox for four beginning Tuesday.