DETROIT - Rookie JaCoby Jones capped a wild eighth inning with a bases-loaded walk against reliever Joe Kelly, and the Detroit Tigers outlasted the Red Sox 6-5 on Friday to win their home opener and hand Boston its first loss of the season.
The Tigers blew a 4-0 lead in the top of the eighth, when Pablo Sandoval gave the Red Sox the lead with a three-run, opposite field homer off reliever Francisco Rodriguez. But what the Detroit bullpen had squandered, the Boston relievers quickly gave back.
Heath Hembree (0-1) walked two batters, and pinch-hitter Mikie Mahtook followed with a tying double off Robby Scott. Kelly then allowed consecutive walks to James McCann and Jones, forcing in the final run.
The Red Sox (2-1) put runners on second and third in the ninth against Rodriguez (1-0), but Chris Young popped out to end it.
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