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Red Sox get to Verlander, down Tigers

May 30, 2012 - 5:26 AM Boston, MA (Sports Network) - David Ortiz finished 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and a pair of runs scored as Boston downed Detroit, 6-3, in the second test of a four-game series from Fenway Park.

Daniel Nava added a three-run double and Mike Aviles drove in another run for the Red Sox, who have won the first two in this set and seven of 10 overall.

Boston moved above the .500 mark for the first time all season, the latest it has done so since August of 1996.

Daniel Bard (5-5) allowed five hits and two runs with four strikeouts and two walks over 5 1/3 innings.

Prince Fielder homered among his two hits and knocked in two runs for the Tigers, who came into the series having swept Minnesota.

Justin Verlander (5-3) had a rare off night, charged in defeat for 10 hits and five runs over six full frames despite fanning seven.

"I can't say I pitched bad but it was a battle because of the way that they were putting together at-bats against me," said Verlander. "There were a lot of guys on (base) and a lot of high-intensity pitches."

Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia sat with a right thumb injury he later said was a slight tear in the adductor muscle. Pedroia, who underwent an MRI, said the injury first occurred while hitting three weeks ago, and was aggravated during Monday's game.

A second opinion given by a doctor who'd previous operated on Pedroia's hamate bone following the 2007 season provided the diagnosis. Pedroia and the team will wait until Wednesday to determine if a trip to the 15-day disabled list is needed.

"I'm optimistic," Pedroia said. "We're still talking about it. Hopefully the swelling and stuff goes down and I won't miss that much time."

Ortiz reached the seats above the Green Monster with one out in the home seventh, providing a 6-3 edge for the hosts.

A 38-minute rain delay in the eighth didn't cause a problem for the Red Sox relievers, as Vicente Padilla finished off 1 1/3 scoreless innings by working around an Alex Avila double, and Alfredo Aceves put up a zero in the ninth to earn his 12th save.

In the second, Ortiz led off with a double, Jarrod Saltalamacchia singled then an Aviles fielder's choice plated Boston's first run.

The Sox tacked on three more in the fourth thanks to a bases-clearing double from Nava. Kevin Youkilis began the rally with a leadoff single, Aviles and Scott Podsednik both singled with one out, and Nava did his damage after a Nick Punto pop out.

Jhonny Peralta's solo homer in the fifth was countered by an Ortiz RBI double which scored Adrian Gonzalez to make it 5-1.

Fielder began the sixth by clearing the bullpen in right, and he pulled Detroit within two in the seventh by singling home Miguel Cabrera.

Game Notes

Ortiz tied Hall-of-Famer Johnny Bench for 55th on the all-time home run list at 389...For Verlander, the 10 hits and five earned runs were both season highs...Boston owns the best record in the AL against the Tigers since the start of the 2008 campaign at 21-10...Saltalamacchia left the game in the sixth inning due to an unspecified illness...Prior to the game, Detroit announced its intention to honor the retiring Magglio Ordonez with a celebration this coming Sunday at Comerica Park.