Red Sox Lose In 11 To Tigers

Alex Avila's 2-out, 2-run home run off Red Sox reliever Mark Melancon gave the Tiger a 13-12 win and a 3-game sweep of the Red Sox to open the 2012 season.

Adrian Gonzalez had two hits, including his first home run of the season, in the Easter Sunday finale of the opening weekend series of the 2012 baseball season.

With the Sox offense struggling in the first two games, manager Bobby Valentine juggled things a bit putting Nick Punto in the leadoff spot and moving Jacoby Ellsbury into the two hole. Ellsbury was one of six Red Sox hitters with multiple hits (2); Gonzalez (2), Dustin Pedroia (2), David Ortiz (3), Punto (3) and Mike Aviles (3) were the others.

Boston starting pitcher Clay Buchholz went 4 rocky innings allowing all 7 Tigers runs on 8 hits and 2 walks. For Buchholz, it was his first Major League start since last June. Four of those runs came in a 31-pitch first inning.


NOTES - Red Sox reliever Vicente Padilla did an outstanding job out of the bullpen pitching 4 innings of shutout baseball. He allowed just 2 hits, 0 walks, while striking out 4.

David Ortiz is off to a fast start with two doubles. He's hitting .455 in the early going.

Boston lit up Detroit starter Max Sterzer who didn't get out of the 3rd inning. He was charged with 7 runs on 8 hits and a pair of walks.

The Red Sox fly to Toronto after this afternoon's game. They will play a 3-game set against the Blue Jays before coming home for the Fenway opener on Friday the 13th against a hot Tampa team that has started the 2012 season with 3 straight wins against the Yankees.For