DETROIT (AP) – Pinch-hitter John McDonald’s two-out single in the ninth capped a comeback against Curt Schilling, lifting the Detroit Tigers to a 7-6 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Monday night.

Schilling (4-5) entered the game with a two-run lead with two outs in the eighth and struck out Curtis Granderson to end the inning. In the ninth, he gave up three runs on four hits and a walk.

The six-time All-Star, who was moved from starter to closer this season when he came off the DL, had converted nine saves in 10 opportunities, but had given up four runs on four hits – including three homers – in his two previous appearances.

Placido Polanco started the rally with a leadoff single in the ninth, Dmitri Young followed with a one-out RBI triple and Magglio Ordonez tied the game with a single. After a walk and a strikeout, McDonald singled to left and as the Tigers celebrated at home plate, Schilling walked toward the dugout with his head down.

Jamie Walker (4-3) pitched the ninth.

The Tigers have won three straight and snapped the AL East-leading Red Sox’s seven-game win streak.

Boston appeared to be on its way to another victory behind David Ortiz’s 29th home run and Alex Cora’s three RBIs, two on a homer, before Schilling struggled.

Red Sox starter Bronson Arroyo gave up three runs on 10 hits and no walks over six innings. Mike Timlin pitched the seventh, and Chad Bradford got two outs the eighth before giving way to Schilling.

Detroit’s Vance Wilson hit an RBI single to make it 6-4, chasing Bradford. Wilson caught after Ivan Rodriguez was a late scratch with a sore hip.

Tigers starter Sean Douglass allowed five runs on five hits and four walks over four-plus innings.

Cora’s two-run homer put Boston ahead 3-0 in the second after Manny Ramirez doubled and scored on Bill Mueller’s sacrifice fly. Omar Infante pulled Detroit within a run with a two-run double in the home half, and Ordonez’s sacrifice fly in the third tied the game.

Cora’s groundout in the fourth scored Ramirez. Ortiz’s RBI double gave the Red Sox a 5-3 lead in the fifth, and his homer in the seventh made it 6-3.

Notes: With his divorce two weeks away, Rodriguez said he didn’t travel with the team last week to Toronto while he was suspended because he needed to clear his head. The All-Star catcher said he apologized to his teammates for joining them a day later than expected in Kansas City, but he’s not sure he has been forgiven. “They don’t know what I’ve been going through all year and they don’t need to know because it’s my personal business,” he said before taking himself out of Monday’s lineup. “If they can’t accept my apology, that’s fine.” … Boston’s Johnny Damon, who is leading the AL in batting, was in the lineup for the first time since leaving Friday night’s game in the ninth with a left hamstring injury. … Detroit SS Carlos Guillen (knee) will be examined Tuesday. … Two male fans ran across the field naked in the sixth, delaying the game for a couple of minutes.


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