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Major League Baseball
Boston 2, Detroit 1
When: 7:10 PM ET, Friday, July 24, 2015
Where: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
Temperature: 69°
Umpires: Home - Tim Timmons, 1B - Mike Everitt, 2B - Tim Welke, 3B - Todd Tichenor
Attendance: 37650

BOSTON -- The way things have gone for the Boston Red Sox lately, even a walk-off win to end an eight-game losing streak cannot come off without a hitch.

"The replay even took extra innings, seemingly, as long as it went," Boston manager John Farrell said after his team sweated out a 4 1/2-minute review that confirmed Mookie Betts had scored the winning run that gave the Red Sox a 2-1, 11-inning victory over the fading Detroit Tigers on Friday night.

Shortstop Xander Bogaerts, the American League's leading hitter with runners in scoring position and the player many felt should have represented the team at the All-Star Game, drilled a one-out single through the middle to chase Betts home with the winner to give Boston its first win since the break.

Center fielder Betts, who opened the inning by turning an 0-2 count into a walk before taking second on a sacrifice bunt by second baseman Brock Holt, seemed to be clearly safe at the plate, triggering an on-field celebration and the postgame winning Fenway Park music.

As his teammates tore off Bogaerts' jersey, Tim Timmons' safe call was challenged by Detroit manager Brad Ausmus. As players stood by and the sellout crowd filed out, the review took four minutes and 26 seconds -- and the last-place Red Sox had scored only their 21st run in the last nine games.

"I wanted to know what was going to happen if he was out," Bogaerts said, adding, "I've gotta get another jersey? I don't know."

Said Ausmus: "It was a lot closer than you would have imagined just watching the play live, but really we had nothing to lose by checking it."

Bogaerts, who hit .153 with runners in scoring position as a rookie last year, raised his RISP average to .410 with the winning hit -- his third straight single after starting the game 0-for-2. Even though the win moved the Sox to 11 games behind the Yankees, Bogaerts said he noticed on the scoreboard the Yankees were losing, making it more important for his team to strike in the opener of a 10-game homestand.

The loss, coming at the start of a 10-game trip that may well decide if they're going to contend for at least a wild card spot, dropped the fading Tigers to 3-5 since the break and to 47-49 on the season.

Right-hander Justin Masterson (4-2) worked out of trouble in the top of the 11th and got the win, ending a long day that saw the Red Sox stay over in Houston Thursday night and fly home in the morning.

With runners at first and second and one out in the Detroit 11th, Masterson struck DH Victor Martinez out with the runners going. Boston catcher Ryan Hanigan completed the double play by nailing second baseman Ian Kinsler at third base.

"We've got a guy on the mound who's a ground-ball pitcher that gets 60 percent ground balls," said Ausmus. "We've got a guy at the plate that doesn't strike out and can't move very well, is in danger of a double play."

Tiger starter Justin Verlander and former teammate Rick Porcello both pitched strong games without a decision.

Verlander, coming off a shelling at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles and winless in his seven 2015 starts, gave up a run on seven hits in eight innings, not walking anyone. The Tigers are 0-7 in his starts.

Porcello, pitching against his former team for the first time, turned in his second strong performance in his last three outings, leaving a tie game after seven innings. He allowed five hits and fanned six while not walking anyone.

Kinsler, who singled home a run and stole a base in the third inning, tripled with two outs in the Detroit eighth, but died on third when left fielder Yoenis Cespedes struck out. He added his third hit in the 11th and is 13-for-25 during a five-game hitting streak.

The Red Sox had the winning run on second with two outs in the ninth but first baseman Mike Napoli lined right back to the pitcher.

NOTES: Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia missed his second straight game with a hamstring problem. He was 1-for-22 since coming off the disabled list with the same injury. ... Boston DH David Ortiz, 10-for-27 lifetime against Detroit starter Justin Verlander, sat out with a scheduled night off. ... Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera said he is making progress on his road back from a calf injury but still hasn't been cleared for baseball activity. Talking about the injury, Cabrera said, "When I went to second (base), it seemed like somebody shot me. I knew something was wrong." ... Struggling RHP Alfredo Simon will pitch for the Tigers against RHP Steven Wright on Saturday. ... Jack Eichel, a Boston University forward taken second overall by Buffalo in the recent NHL draft, threw out a first pitch. ... A pregame moment of silence was held for the five servicemen killed in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Top Game Performances
Starting Pitchers
Detroit   Boston
Justin Verlander Player Rick Porcello
No Decision W/L No Decision
8.0 IP 7.0
3 Strikeouts 6
7 Hits 5
1.12 ERA 1.29
Hitting
Detroit   Boston
Ian Kinsler Player Xander Bogaerts
3 Hits 3
1 RBI 1
0 HR 0
5 TB 3
.600 Avg .600
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Hits HR TB Avg LOB K RBI BB SB Errors
Detroit 7 0 10 .184 11 11 1 1 1 0
Boston 9 0 9 .243 11 5 2 1 0 0