Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Jhonny Peralta hit a pair of homers and drove in three in his Tigers debut, as Detroit held on against Boston's furious ninth- inning rally for a 6-5 decision in the first of three between the clubs at Fenway Park.
Jhonny Peralta Slugs Two Homers In Mammoth Debut As Tigers Edge Red Sox
Will Rhymes added two hits and an RBI while Austin Jackson also drove in a run for the Tigers, who snapped a four-game slide.
Robbie Weinhardt (1-1) got the win with two innings of scoreless relief for Detroit, which saw Jose Valverde allow a grand slam to David Ortiz and put two more runners on base before striking out Mike Cameron looking to end the contest.
Marco Scutaro also homered for the Red Sox, who were coming off a road sweep of the Angels and nearly rallied back from a five-run deficit in their final at-bat.
Jon Lester (11-6) took the loss after allowing 11 hits and four runs with seven strikeouts over six-plus innings.
Valverde was called on to get the final out of the eighth -- which he did with ease by fanning Cameron swinging -- but had to endure tough moments to finish off the game.
He struck out Eric Patterson but issued three consecutive walks, to Scutaro, Jed Lowrie and Kevin Youkilis, before Ortiz barely managed to get an offering over the low wall in right to cut the BoSox deficit to 6-5.
Victor Martinez fanned swinging but Adrian Beltre doubled and J.D. Drew also walked, then Valverde froze Cameron on a 3-2 pitch on the inside part of the plate to end the threat.
A Rhymes RBI double got the Tigers on the board in the first, then after the Sox left the bases loaded in the home first, Peralta led off the second with a shot over the Green Monster seats.
In the fifth, Miguel Cabrera singled with one out then Peralta reached the seats in left with two down for 4-0 game.
Scutaro responded with one out in the home half to get the Sox on the board, and after a line out from Lowrie, starter Armando Galarraga exited the game with a right ankle contusion after a Youkilis line drive deflected off the ankle.
Detroit answered in the eighth as Gerald Laird scored on a wild pitch followed by Jackson's run-scoring groundout.
Detroit has won three of the four meetings with Boston this season...Tigers outfielder Johnny Damon was a late scratch with upper back spasms...Prior to the game, Detroit purchased the contract of outfielder Jeff Frazier from Triple-A Toledo and designated infielder Jeff Larish for assignment...Galarraga allowed five hits and one run with three strikeouts and two walks in 4 2/3 innings.
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