Tigers finally pick up first win

BEIJING, April 11 -- Bradnon Inge and the Detroit Tigers are in it for the long haul.

Never mind that no team has ever started 0-7 and gone on to the playoffs. Who cares about all those pundits who ripped on the Tigers for their huge payroll and poor start? It's a 162-game season, after all.

But even after a 7-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night, Inge and the Tigers sure didn't sound like they were brimming with confidence.

"It's the beginning of the year and it gets a lot of attention, but it's no big deal," Inge said of the losing streak. "We're over it now, I guess."

Marcus Thames and Carlos Guillen homered, Edgar Renteria had three hits and Ivan Rodriguez got the 2,500th hit of his career while the Tigers drew eight walks and struck out just twice.

That was enough to end their worst losing streak to start the season since 2003, when Detroit lost its first nine games and finished 43-119.

"It's a 162-game season. That is a fact," manager Jim Leyland said. "They give you all this other stuff ?? no team's done this, no team's done that ?? but you do play 162 games."

In other American League games on Wednesday, it was: Royals 4, Yankees 0; Twins 12, White Sox 5; Angels 9, Indians 5; Athletics 6, Blue Jays 3; and Mariners 7, Rays 1. The Baltimore Orioles at Texas Rangers game was postponed because of rain, and will be made up as part of a doubleheader.

In the National League, it was: Diamondbacks 4, Dodgers 3; Cubs 6, Pirates 4 (in 15 innings); Marlins 10, Nationals 4; Mets 8, Phillies 2; Reds 12, Brewers 4; Cardinals 6, Astros 4; Rockies 12, Braves 6; and Giants 1, Padres 0.

In Boston, the Tigers were just 1-for-25 with runners in scoring position and less than two outs this season before teeing off on Jon Lester (1-2) to overcome a 0-2 deficit.

With one out in the fourth, Lester walked Miguel Cabrera and Guillen. Then Renteria tied the game with a two-run double to left. Thames followed by hitting a 3-2 pitch for a homer.

Jeremy Bonderman (1-1) had fallen behind 0-2 in the second when the Red Sox loaded the bases on a single by Sean Casey, a walk to J.D. Drew and an error by second baseman Placido Polanco. Jacoby Ellsbury then walked, forcing in a run, and Julio Lugo singled in another.

(Source: Shanghai Daily/Agencies)