Red Sox shortstop Julio Lugo gets brushed back at the plate by Tigers’ starter Jeremy Bonderman in the fourth inning last night.

The Providence Journal / Bob Breidenbach

BOSTON — Caught in a seemingly endless downward spiral over the first week and a half of the season, the Detroit Tigers came into last night’s game against the Red Sox desperately searching for even the slightest glimmer of hope.

Dropping their first seven games after being tabbed by many in the preseason to win the World Series, the Tigers needed some sort of sign — any sign — that an end to their skid was in sight.

They got it.

After generating just 15 runs combined over its first seven losses, Detroit tagged Boston’s pitchers for 10 hits, en route to a 7-2 victory before a Fenway crowd of 37,190.

Jon Lester’s debut against the Tigers was a rocky one. Failing to record at least one strike out for the first time in 29 games (28 starts), he dropped to 1-2 after giving up four runs, all of them earned, on four hits over 5 1/3 innings.

Meanwhile, Detroit right-hander Jeremy Bonderman — who entered last night’s game with a 5.68 ERA after a 4-1 loss to Kansas City in his first start — extended his winning streak against the Sox to four games, scattering five hits over five innings for his first victory this season.

Boston got off to a bright enough start, producing a couple of defensive gems in the early going, including a sharp backhanded stop by Mike Lowell on Ivan Rodriguez’ leadoff at-bat.

Kevin Youkilis — who kept his streak of errorless games alive, extending his Major League record to 197 — then took a screaming one-hopper by Carlos Guillen off the chest the next inning and completed the play.

The Sox’ offense didn’t waste any time either, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the second.

Pinch hitting for Lowell, Sean Casey started things off with a liner up the middle, which J.D. Drew followed with a walk.

After Tigers second baseman Placido Polanco misplayed a potential double-play ball by Jason Varitek to load the bases, Jacoby Ellsbury drew a walk to push Casey across.

Julio Lugo punched a single over Polanco’s head to drive home Drew and put Boston up, 2-0.

But then the momentum started to shift, beginning with the news that Lowell had sprained his left thumb while making that diving stab on the first play of the game. Although x-rays were negative, he did not return to the game.

Two innings later, Detroit rallied for four runs. After Lester issued walks to Miguel Cabrera and Carlos Guillen, Edgar Renteria smacked a double to left that drove them both home and evened the score.

Marcus Thames then stepped to the plate and belted a 3-and-2 curve off Lester into the Green Monster seats for his first home run of the season, putting the Tigers on top, 4-2.

Boston managed to get a runner past first base just twice during the middle innings, including the fourth when a flare to left by Varitek eluded Thames in left and Julio Lugo punched a double down the right-field line.

Both times, they were left stranded, though. And Detroit grabbed two more insurance runs in the eighth on a two-run single to center by Brandon Inge off Bryan Corey and then another in the ninth, thanks to a solo blast by Guillen off of Javier Lopez.

The Sox showed some life in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases with two outs. After Alex Cora — who was pinch hitting for Lugo — followed a fielder’s choice by Ellsbury with a single to left, Dustin Pedroia drew a walk.

But Tigers right-handed reliever Todd Jones got Youkilis to fly out to shallow left to end Boston’s final challenge. Tigers

6

Red Sox

2

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cthorn@projo.com