Tigers 7, Red Sox 6: Victor Martinez blasts Tigers to win

The teams swung like a pair of boxers past their prime putting on one last show, exchanging 11 runs during a three-inning stretch from the fifth to the seventh innings. Victor Martinez's two-run home run in the seventh was the final blow, however, giving the Tigers a 7-6 victory over the Red Sox while knotting up the weekend series at a game apiece.

Martinez's 413-foot homer off Boston reliever Junichi Tazawa cleared the Belle Tire Man advertisement in right field. It was his ninth home run this season.

Boston led 2-0 after four innings, while Red Sox starter Wade Miley controlled the Tigers' batters. The third time through the order proved to be his unraveling. Rajai Davis hit a two-run shot to left to tie the game at 2-2 in the fifth, then the floodgates opened. Miley left the game after six innings with five runs allowed on nine hits and a walk. He allowed the Tigers to take a 4-3 lead on a wild pitch.

David Ortiz seemed to be continuing his role as a Tiger killer. He hit a towering solo shot to right in the sixth inning to break the tie, giving Boston a 3-2 lead at the time. With bases loaded and two outs in the seventh, a single to center off Tigers reliever Blaine Hardy gave Boston a 6-5 edge. He finished the night 3-for-4 with a walk, three runs driven in and two scored.

Ian Kinsler remained a sparkplug for Detroit, going 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. His first run tied the game at 3-3 on a double by J.D. Martinez in the sixth inning, and the second run tied the game briefly at 6-6 in the seventh when Victor Martinez homered.

James McCann went 3-for-4 for Detroit as well, driving in a run with a double in the sixth.

The Tigers' lowlight remained starting pitcher Alfredo Simon. In trouble on and off throughout the night, he allowed six runs, all earned, on nine hits and a walk.

Hardy picked up his fourth victory of the year with the vultured win. Bruce Rondon earned his first save of the season for Detroit and the second save of his career.

ROARS:

Rajai Davis -- Tied the game up in the bottom of the fifth inning with a two-run home run to left field.

Victor Martinez -- Hit the ball right over Belle Tire Man in right field to give the Tigers their game-winning runs.

Ian Kinsler -- Went 3-for-4 with two runs scored.

James McCann -- Also had three hits and drove in a run.

Tigres uniform -- It was Fiesta Tigres night at Comerica Park, allowing Detroit to use its second-finest alternative uniform. (Detroit Stars is still the best.)

HISSES:

Alfredo Simon. We actually have two recap templates at Bless You Boys. Every fifth day, when Simon pitches, we use the one with the HISSES column populated with his name. He gave up six runs on nine hits and a walk, by the way.

STREAKS AND STATS:

• Davis' home run was his third of the year. They've all mattered: Two of those home runs, including today's, tied the game up. The other one broke a tie game.
• Boston manager John Ferrell challenged the ruling that Rajai Davis made a catch in left field in the fifth inning. The call was upheld and the time of review was 3:08, helping Alfredo Simon escape a two-on, no-out situation.
• The second replay (called by the umps at Farrell's request in the eighth inning) lasted less than a minute, overturning an out called at first base.
• David Ortiz hit his fourth home run against the Tigers this season. He now has 26 home runs against the Tigers in the last 10 years, tying him with retired White Sox slugger Paul Konerko, per Catherine Slonksnis at MLB.com.
• Ian Kinsler singled in the sixth inning for his 43rd multi-hit game of the year. He finished 3-for-4 to improve his batting average to .302. He remains tied with the Rangers' Prince Fielder for most multi-hit games in the American League.

WIN PROBABILITY GRAPH:

Source: FanGraphs