The Detroit Tigers have the best pitcher in the American League and the best hitter in baseball.

Jon Lester was better than both of them on Tuesday night.

Boston's ace outdueled Max Scherzer and retired Miguel Cabrera with the bases loaded as the Red Sox beat Detroit 2-1 at Fenway Park in a well-played game between two division leaders.

It ended the Tigers' right-hander's chance to become just the second pitcher in MLB history to open a season with a 20-1 record.

"We all knew who we were facing and what he's done this season," Lester said. "But I can't worry about Max Scherzer. I have to worry about the other nine guys in the lineup."

The Tigers lead the AL in hitting and Cabrera leads all batters with a .355 average, so the Red Sox were in big trouble when he came up with the bases loaded and two outs in the fifth inning with Detroit leading 1-0.

Lester's first two pitches were balls, but he recovered to get Cabrera to ground to shortstop Stephen Drew for a forceout at second base.

Lester (13-8) lowered his ERA to 1.71 in his past six starts while Scherzer (19-2), who won his first 13 decisions, lost for the first time since July 13.

"For me, it's a team thing," Scherzer said. "If I win 20, it's a team achievement."

Roger Clemens is the only pitcher to start off at 20-1 and ended up 20-3 with the New York Yankees in 2001.

(China Daily 09/05/2013 page22)