Red Sox Maintain Last At-Bat Magic

Boston’s knack for winning in the last at-bat is producing unlikely heroes.

On Monday night, the Red Sox’ 6-5 victory also dropped Detroit’s record to 4-17, the worst in baseball and matching the worst start in franchise history.

The Tigers led, 5-3, before Midre Cummings and Darren Lewis, who had totaled just 25 homers in their careers, homered in the eighth inning as the Red Sox got their eighth win in their last at-bat.

“Back-to-back homers by those guys?” Detroit starter Justin Thompson said. “Who would have thought that?”

“It’s just a great feeling,” said Lewis, who hit his first homer since signing as a free agent Dec. 23. “I can’t describe it any other way, especially someone like myself, being a singles hitter.”

The Red Sox won for the 14th time in 15 games and improved to 17-6, their best start in 52 years. They matched their season-best seven-game winning streak and are 10-1 at home.

“I’ve never seen anything like it, to tell you the truth,” Boston first baseman Mo Vaughn said of the comebacks. “I don’t think you try to explain it. You just roll with it.”

Meanwhile, star Boston pitcher Pedro Martinez has gastritis, not an ulcer, and should keep intact his streak of never missing his turn in the rotation since he became a full-time starter in 1994 with Montreal.

“I’m going to pitch. It takes a lot more than this to get me out,” said Martinez, scheduled to make his 123rd consecutive start tonight against Detroit.

Results of a biopsy done last Thursday showed on Monday that Martinez, who has been taking medication prescribed for ulcers, is suffering from the less-serious gastritis, Dr. Arthur Pappas, the team physician, said.

“He’s going to have to watch his diet, particularly spicy foods,” Pappas said.

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NEXT SERIES FOR ANGELS

WHO: Boston Red Sox

WHERE: at Boston

WHEN: Wednesday, 3 p.m., Thursday, 3 p.m.