The Boston Red Sox took the first game of a day-night doubleheader with the Detroit Tigers 2-1 behind an exceptional performance by Julian Tavarez. Tavarez went 7 innings allowing only 1 run on 4 hits and 4 walks. Tavarez also had 3 strikeouts.

The Sox got on the board first in the opening frame when Coco Crisp singled with one out to left field. Then when David Ortiz bounced into what appeared to be a sure double play to Detroit shortstop Carlos Guillen, Crisp fell to the ground avoiding the tag and then scampered to third when the Tigers left the bag uncovered due to the shift on Ortiz. Manny Ramirez then followed with a two out RBI single to center scoring Crisp that put the Sox up 1-0. Kevin Youkilis followed up with a single to center moving Ramirez to third but Mike Lowell fouled out to Brandon Inge to end the threat.

The Old Town Team added another single run in third inning when Julio Lugo reached on a Guillen error on ball that went right through his legs. With Lugo running on a 3-2 count Crisp grounded out to second moving Lugo over, Ortiz then drew a walk, Ramirez struck out looking, and Youkilis followed it up with a two out run scoring single to right. Ortiz moved to third and Youk took second on the throw home by Gary Sheffield but it wasn’t close enough to get Lugo at the plate. Lowell then killed his second threat of the day when he popped out to Polanco at second.

Meanwhile through three innings Tavarez looked good allowing only a first inning single to Sheffield and a pair of third inning walks to Brandon Inge and Placido Polanco but Sheffield hit into a fielders choice to Lugo to end the Detroit threat.

In the fourth, the Tigers got a one out single from Guillen to right field but Tavarez induced Ivan Rodriguez into a tailor made 6-4-3 twin killing to send the Tigers back to the field trailing 2-0.

In the fifth inning Detroit would chip away at the lead and cut it half. Sean Casey grounded out Youkilis to Tavarez, but then Tavarez started to labor. Craig Monroe walked, Inge singled to left, and Curtis Granderson would be Tavarez first K victim looking but then Polanco would single to center scoring Monroe and cutting the lead to 2-1. Tavarez then walked the ever-dangerous Sheffield to load the bases and Detroit was threatening to not only tie the game but jump into the lead with clean up hitter Magglio Ordonez batting. Tavarez would get Ordonez to fly out to Eric Hinske in right to get out of the jam and leave the sacks full.

After struggling a bit early Minor settled in and had retired seven-in-a-row after the Sox had scored in the third. That streak would end when Ramirez lead off the home half of the sixth with a single to right. Youkilis would strike out swinging, then Lowell got a hit down the left field line that would be interfered with by a fan.

Much to the dismay of Red Sox skipper Terry Francona the umpires determined that Lowell would be awarded only a single and Manny would be placed at second base. After much discussion Francona went back to the dugout having lost his argument. Jim Leyland would then pull Miner and bring in lefty reliever Tim Byrdak to face pinch hitter Wily Mo Pena who was batting for Hinske. Pena would whiff. But a wild pitch with Doug Mirabelli batting would move Ramirez to third and Lowell to second but Mirabelli would go down swinging to end another chance for more Boston runs.

Then it became a pitching battle. Byrdak would strike out 5 of the 6 hitters he faced, before giving way to Jose Mesa, only Alex Cora made contact grounding out to Polanco. Tavarez also settled in retiring his last seven hitters the last two on swinging strikeouts. Francona then turned the game over to the bullpen. Hideki Okajima pitched a clean eighth with one strike out and Jonathan Papelbon would come on to get the save with a 1-2-3 ninth striking out Guillen and Rodriguez and getting Casey to ground out to Lugo to end the game. The three Sox pitchers retired the last 13 Tiger batters to pick up their 4th win in 6 games on this 10 game homestand.

The nightcap kicks off at 7:05 p.m. with Detroit sending Chad Durbin against Red Sox ace Curt Schilling.

Keep reading for Steve’s notes and musings after the jump.

Notes and Musings:

Wednesday night’s rainout was the third so far this season at Fenway Park. Last year there were five rainouts at the Fens. The Sox have yet to be canceled on the road. It was also the third rainout for Detroit this year, their second on the road.

This is the first doubleheader between the Red Sox and Tigers of any kind since September 2000 at Comerica Park. The last twinbill between these teams at Fenway was in 1993.

This was Boston’s first doubleheader of 2007, they played 4 twinbills in 2006.

Since 1970 the Sox have played 42 day-night doubleheaders at Fenway Park prior to today. 14 times they have swept both games, they’ve been swept 8 times and there have been 20 splits. Overall the club is 48-36 in day-night DHS, ironically they have identical records of 24-18 in both the day and night games.

Coming into today’s doubleheader the Sox and Tigers have split the two games between the clubs this season. The Sox are 25-10 against Detroit since 2002 but had lost 3 of 5 to the Tigers at Fenway since 2006.

The Old Town Team signed free agent outfielder Michael Tucker to a minor league contract. Tucker who has played for the Mets (2006), Phillies (2005), Giants (2004-05), Cubs (2001), Reds (1999-2001), Braves (1997-98) and two stints with the Royals (1995-96, 2002-03) will report to Pawtucket. He replaces OF Alex Ochoa who was released on Wednesday.

This was Julian Tavarez’ second career start against Detroit his first since 2001 when he was a Chicago Cub.

This was Tavarez longest start of 2007 6+ innings was his previous longest start. It also marked his first time over 100 pitches, he finished with 104 (98 previous best).

Eric Hinske played RF for J.D. Drew in the first game, while Doug Mirabelli was the catcher in place of captain Jason Varitek. It wass the first start of 2007 for Mirabelli when he wasn’t the catcher for Wakefield. With the rainout on Wednesday Mirabelli has now caught in back-to-back games. Alex Cora played second base for Dustin Pedroia.

Lugo who was picked off twice in the last 5 games had only been picked off twice in his previous 952 games.

After today’s first game Okajima now has 18.2 scoreless innings for Okajima in his last 18 outings allowing only 7 hits.

Tigers first game starter Mike Maroth was scratched due to illness. Zach Miner was his replacement after being recalled from Triple A Toledo where he was 0-4 with a 5.56 ERA in 8 games. Miner came to Detroit from Atlanta in the Kyle Farnsworth trade in 2005.

The Tigers pitching staff does not have a shut out in 2007.

Heading into today’s action the Tigers Ivan Rodriguez has the 5th best career batting average (minimum 15 ABs) against Tavarez with a .467 mark (7 for 15).

Detroit’s Magglio Ordonez has a .367 career mark against Boston with 13 HR and 54 RBI in 68 career games. Gary Sheffield is hitting .322 in 43 career games at Fenway with 6 HR and 26 RBI.

The Tigers placed RH starting pitcher Jeremy Bonderman on the 15-day DL retro to May 9th with a blister problem on his throwing hand.

Bonderman is the second Tiger starter on the DL he joins LH Kenny Rogers (60-day DL – tired arm) who went out on March 25th. Reliever Joel Zumaya is also on the DL with a finger injury.

ESPN’s Chris “you’re with me leather” Berman was in attendance. Berman, a Connecticut native, is a lifelong Red Sox fan. Just goes to show we can’t pick who roots for our team.

NESN’s Jerry Remy spent part of the 4th inning wondering why the sports anchor during a newscast has to hang around at the end of the show with the news anchors and weatherman when he’s all done. Remdawg wants to see him go home when he’s done. Don Orsillo says he stays to be a part of the team. Tina Cervasio, a former sports anchor, broke the tie and agreed with Orsillo. Between innings Cervasio told Remy the real reason she stayed was to get more ‘face time’.

While Wally the Green Monster was getting some face time of his own, Remy recounted doing some book signings with Wally the Green Monster. He then said that he always travels with “Little Wally”. Uh Jerry this is a family show last I checked.

Up Next: The Atlanta Braves come to the Fens for a three game weekend inter-league series with the Sox.