BoSox a win from pennant after beating Tigers 4-3

Boston Red Sox’s Koji Uehara throws in the eighth inning during Game 5 of the American League baseball championship series against the Detroit Tigers, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013, in Detroit. AP Photo/Paul Sancya

DETROIT — Boston moved within one win of a place in the World Series by beating Detroit 4-3 on Thursday, hanging on as their early four-run lead was gradually eroded and taking a 3-2 lead in the American League Championship Series.

Mike Napoli led off a three-run second inning with a majestic homer off Anibal Sanchez as the Red Sox made a rare early breakthrough.

A key moment came in the bottom of the seventh when Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera was up at the plate with runners on first and third, but he hit into a double play against Junichi Tazawa, and the Tigers scored only one run.

The Red Sox return to Fenway Park for Game 6, with Detroit’s Max Scherzer facing Boston’s Clay Buchholz.