DETROIT -- Starter Clay Buchholz gave Terry Francona and the Sox a scare last night when he slipped while chasing a roller down the third-base line in the second inning.

As Buchholz neared Gary Sheffield’s swinging bunt, his left foot went out from under him and he slid into the ball. The ball would have rolled into foul territory, but Buchholz’s foot hit the ball when it was on the line, so the play went for a single.

Of more concern to the Sox was that Buchholz gingerly got up after the play and strolled slowly to the mound, trailed by catcher Jason Varitek.

Francona and trainer Paul Lessard went out to check on Buchholz. The rookie right-hander convinced them, though, that he was fine, so Francona and Lessard went back to the dugout and Buchholz remained in the game, showing no ill effects.

But Buchholz was knocked out after four innings, having surrendered five runs on 10 hits.

-STEVEN KRASNER