Tigers Hang BoSox Out To Dry

In the span of 10 days, the team with the worst mark in the AL took five of six from the league's elite.

With Sunday's 7-5 victory over the first-place Boston Red Sox, the Detroit Tigers took two of three in the series.

Last weekend, the Tigers swept a three-game set from the World Series champion New York Yankees in Detroit.

"We've got something going on here," Tigers manager Phil Garner said. "We're not a bunch of deadbeats. We've had a little bit of rotten luck, but we can play and I think we will play. We'll get better."

Hideo Nomo (2-3) allowed one run and five hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out six. Nomo, who beat Oakland 7-4 in the season opener, had gotten three losses and five no-decisions since then.

"We're not as bad as our record indicates," Jefferies said. "We've got some unbelievable players on this team. When you get good pitching and defense, it makes it easier. I think that's why you see us winning these games."

The Red Sox have lost two in a row for the first time since April 28-29, when they dropped a pair to Cleveland.

"I know it's not a lot of consolation when you lose, but the fire is still in the clubhouse," Red Sox manager Jimy Williams said. "They have good hitters over there."

Todd Jones pitched a perfect ninth inning and has now saved 12 of the Tigers 14 victories.

The Tigers jumpd all over Red Sox starter Ramon Martinez (3-3), who gave up seven runs and six hits in 2 1/3 innings. It was the second shortest stint of the season for Martinez, who lasted only 1 1/3 innings in his first start of the year.

"I was just out of my zone with my pitches," Martinez said. "That was it. I'm just going to focus on my next start."

The Tigers knocked out Martinez in the third inning. Brad Ausmus and Rich Becker singled, and Juan Gonzalez hit an RBI double to make it 3-0. Martinez intentionally walked Bob Higginson, and Becker scored on a Dean Palmer groundout.

John Wasdin replaced Martinez following a walk to Robert Fick and gave up RBI singles to Jose Macias and Jefferies and a sacrifice fly to Deivi Cruz.

Mike Stanley hit a solo homer with one out in the sixth off Nomo. Willie Blair came in after Carl Everett followed with a single.

Blair got out of the sixth inning, but was replaced by Allen McDill after giving up singles to Donnie Sadler and Jose Offerman in the seventh.

After pinch-hitter Jeff Frye singled to load the bases, Matt Anderson relieved and walked Stanley and Everett to score two runs. Troy O'Leary's sacrifice fly made it 7-4.

Frye added an RBI double in the eighth inning to make it 7-5.

Jefferies led off the game with a homer his second around the foul pole in right field for a 1-0 Tigers lead. An RBI single by Macias in the second made it 2-0.

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