Tavarez improved to 2-4, scattering four hits over seven innings.

The Sox took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Coco Crisp avoided the tag on Tigers short stop Carlos Guillen's attempt to turn a double play on a David Ortiz grounder. Seeing third base unattended because of the shift Detroit had on Ortiz, Crisp capitalized on the opportunity to take an extra base.

The speedy outfielder then scored on a Manny Ramirez liner to center.

Julio Lugo reached base in the third when Guillen misplayed his hard grounder, advanced on a walk to Ortiz and scored on Kevin Youkilis' RBI single to right to make it 2-0.

Craig Monroe got one run back for the Tigers in the fifth when he walked and later scored on an RBI single by Placido Polanco.

But Tavarez pitched two more scoreless innings and Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon took it from there with each pitching a scoreless inning of relief to secure the win for Boston.