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 Boston had everything set up for its sixth straight win, rallying from a four-run deficit with its star closer on the mound. But Papelbon (2-1) blew his first save in 11 chances by allowing two unearned runs.
"It tells you a lot about our team," Polanco said. "We had some really tough at-bats against Papelbon to make something happen."
Matt Joyce hit a leadoff single off Papelbon in the ninth and shortstop Julio Lugo's fielding error created a jam. After Curtis Granderson's RBI groundout, Polanco blooped one over a leaping Lugo for his season-high fifth hit and Edgar Renteria trotted home with the winning run.
Todd Jones (1-0) pitched the ninth for Detroit, which snapped a five-game losing streak.
Kevin Youkilis homered twice, Mike Lowell hit a three-run homer in the seventh and pinch-hitter Dustin Pedroia had a tiebreaking single in the eighth for the Red Sox in a comeback that went all for naught.
"We had a great comeback and we couldn't finish it," Boston manager Terry Francona said.
The Red Sox trailed 8-4 after five innings.
Youkilis has seven homers at Comerica Park, five more than he has at any venue as a visitor. The only other time he hit two homers in a game was
-- naturally -- in Detroit on Aug. 8, 2004.
Gary Sheffield hit a season-high three hits, helping the Tigers score eight runs through five innings against starter Clay Buchholz and Julian Tavarez.
Detroit went ahead 4-0 in the third -- scoring more than it did in the previous two losses to Boston
-- and added four more runs over the next two innings.
It wasn't enough.
Detroit starter Armando Galarraga gave up five runs, seven hits in 5 1-3 innings. The rookie, who went into the rotation when Dontrelle Willis went on the disabled list, matched a career high with six strikeouts and walked only one in his fifth start.
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Just when Galarraga seemed to be finding a groove, striking out David Ortiz looking and Manny Ramirez swinging, Lowell hit a 387-foot shot to left.
Buchholz allowed a season-high 10 hits, five runs and struck out six over four innings, getting one more out than his season low.
Notes: Red Sox RHP Curt Schilling is expected to play catch on flat ground Thursday, testing his ailing shoulder as he did Tuesday. ... Willis, who had a rehab start last week, is expected to pitch in the bullpen this weekend. ... Boston IF Alex Cora (right elbow sprain) began a rehab assignment Wednesday and was 2-for-4 with a run in seven innings at Triple A-Pawtucket. ... Red Sox RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka, who pitched with a cold Monday night, was feeling better Wednesday and is expected to have a higher pitch count Saturday at Minnesota. ... The game started only a minute late, a feat with the heavy rain that soaked the field and created ponds on the tarp. But the game took 3 hours and 55 minutes to finish. .... Sheffield's RBI single in the third was the 1,582nd of his career, pulling him within one of former Tiger and Hall of Famer Al Kaline for 35th on the all-time list.
[Associated Press; By LARRY LAGE]
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
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