Red Sox shortstop Julio Lugo, left, steps on the bag to get the Tigers’ Gary Sheffield on a forceout in the third inning last night. But Lugo later made a crucial ninth-inning error.

AP / Duane Burleson

DETROIT — Dustin Pedroia was given last night off from the starting lineup, with rookie Jed Lowrie replacing him at second base and in the number-two hole in the batting order. Pedroia pinch hit in the eighth and grounded a tie-breaking single to left. He remained in the game at second base.

Pedroia was the only member of the Sox to have played in the team’s first 35 games. Manager Terry Francona figured last night would be a good game to give him a rest.

“I’ve thought about it before, but it seems like every time I want to do it he gets three hits,” said Francona.

“But he looked [Tuesday] night like it would be a good night to give him a blow,” said Francona of Pedroia, who went 0-for-5 and bobbled a routine ground ball for his second error of the season in that game.

Lowrie, meanwhile, is likely headed back to Pawtucket when the rehab assignment of utility infielder Alex Cora (sprained right elbow) comes to an end. Cora is scheduled to play three games for the PawSox, beginning last night, so if he makes it through those three games without a mishap, he could be joining the Sox in Minneapolis over the weekend.

Lowrie, who was called up from Pawtucket on April 10, has been solid in his first taste of the big leagues, especially after having had only a little more than a week of Triple-A experience. Lowrie, who has played shortstop, second and third for Boston, was batting .286 (10-for-35) in his first month in the majors heading into last night’s game.

“We all know he’s a really good prospect. He has done a really good job for us. In fairness to his career, not to him, he needs to make sure he plays every day and develops. Playing every day is important to his career. He has not even had a lot of time at Triple A,” said Francona of Lowrie, 24, the 45th pick overall in the 2005 draft.

Lowrie endured a bit of embarrassment in his first at-bat last night.

With Jacoby Ellsbury on first, Lowrie tried to check his swing, but hit a tapper to short. As he tried to get out of the batter’s box to beat the back end of a double-play attempt, Lowrie fell down in the baseline. He got up and ran to first but was easily doubled up.

Lowrie, though, provided the Sox with a run on a sacrifice fly in the fifth.

skrasner@projo.com