Clay Buchholz was rock solid, striking out seven batters and holding the Detroit Tigers to four hits and zero earned runs in seven innings as the Boston Red Sox edged the Tigers, 1-0, on Tuesday night at a foggy and rain soaked Fenway Park.
Despite Buchholz' strong start, he did not factor in the decision, as Daniel Bard relieved him in the eighth inning following a short rain delay. Bard tossed a scoreless eighth, striking out one, and Jonathan Papelbon slammed the door shut on a Tigers' rally in the ninth, giving up one hit (a double to Victor Martinez) while striking out two en route to his eighth save of the season.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia (1-for-3) came through for the Red Sox (22-20) at the plate, belting the game-winning RBI double off the Green Monster, allowing Carl Crawford (0-for-2, BB) to score and giving Boston a 1-0 lead in the eighth inning.
Former Yankees pitcher Phil Coke started for Detroit (22-20) and was very effective, holding the Red Sox scoreless in seven innings while giving up three hits and striking out four. Daniel Schlereth earned the loss, giving up the RBI-double to Saltalamacchia and one walk in the eighth inning before leaving the game without recording an out.
Wednesday night's game marked the return of Martinez to Fenway Park. Martinez, who played for the Red Sox for two seasons, was 1-for-4 in the loss.
Boston had four hits while Detroit had five hits. The Red Sox and Tigers wrap up their brief two-game series on Thursday night at Fenway Park (7:10 p.m. EDT; TV/Radio: NESN, FSD/WEEI).