Tigers fall to Red Sox for seventh straight loss

BOSTON (Reuters) - The Detroit Tigers continued their winless start to the season after a 5-0 defeat against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday condemned them to a seventh consecutive loss.

Errors took a heavy toll on the Detroit side, setting the stage for two of Boston's five runs in the Red Sox home opener at Fenway Park.

Boston's Manny Ramirez scored the game's second run in the bottom of the third inning when he pounded a hit deep into center field. While trying to throw Ramirez out at third, Detroit second baseman Placido Polanco overthrew the ball, sending the dreadlocked cleanup hitter home on an error.

Then in the fourth, a throwing error by Detroit third baseman Miguel Cabrera sent Boston's Julio Lugo to second base after an overthrown ball rolled into the dugout. That set the stage for a sacrifice fly by Kevin Youkilis to drive Lugo home, extending the Red Sox lead to three runs.

Detroit reliever Jason Grilli walked three Boston hitters in the sixth inning, driving in a run when he threw four balls to J.D. Drew with the bases loaded.

Earlier, starting Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka faced a similar tight spot when we gave up two singles and a walk to load the bases. Matsuzaka, a Japanese import who caused a stir last year with his $100 million contract, then brought batter Carlos Guillen to a full count before the Detroit player popped out to center field, losing a chance to take the lead.

(Reporting by Scott Malone, editing by Justin Palmer)