Boston Red Sox defeat Detroit Tigers, 4-3

Wins don’t always come with a pretty bow on top.

It almost happened yesterday at Fenway Park, with the Red Sox’ Clay Buchholz outdueling the Tigers’ Justin Verlander, Buchholz not allowing a run through eight innings. But then Jonathan Papelbon happened.

Papelbon blew a 3-0 lead in the ninth inning, costing Buchholz his 12th win, only to have the Sox pull out a 4-3 win in their half of the ninth, with pinch runner Darnell McDonald scoring on an errant throw to first bas...

Clay Buchholz acknowledged that around this time last year, as trade rumors swirled and each day he seemed destined for a new team, the talk crept into his mind.

But Buchholz stayed in Boston. And 12 months later, he’s gone from promising talent to an All-Star capable of dominating opposing lineups. Buchholz’s performance in the Red Sox’ 4-3 win over the Tigers yesterday was just the latest example.

For the second straight day, the Red Sox needed late drama to take d...

PAWTUCKET, R.I. — If there was a defining moment during the second game of Jacoby Ellsbury’s rehab assignment with Pawtucket, it occurred during the fourth inning yesterday against the Durham Bulls at McCoy Stadium.

Durham’s Chris Richard crushed a Ramon A. Ramirez pitch over the fence in right-center for a solo home run.

Ellsbury, who was playing center, scaled the fence and came within inches of making a spectacular catch.

Given the athletic ability needed to ma...