MLB: Boston 4, Detroit 3 (1st game)

DETROIT, May 29 (UPI) -- David Ortiz cracked a pinch-hit homer in the ninth inning Sunday and the Boston Red Sox logged a 4-3 win over Detroit in the first game of a doubleheader.

Ortiz, batting for catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, hit a 3-2 pitch from Jose Valverde (2-2) that just cleared the right-center field wall, breaking a 3-3 tie and handing the Bosox their third straight win over the Tigers.

The blast made a winner of Matt Albers (1-2), who hurled two innings of scoreless ball in relief of starter Clay Buchholz. Jonathan Papelbon picked up his 10th save with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Mike Cameron and Dustin Pedroia also smacked solo homers for Boston.

Tigers starter Andy Oliver was touched for three runs on five hits in a six-inning effort.

Detroit got bases-empty homers from Andy Dirks and Brennan Boesch in the loss.