Felix Doubront pitched six strong innings and the Red Sox used a controversial three-run rally in the second to knock off Detroit, 7-4, in the series opener in Boston.

The Red Sox took over in the third inning thanks to a missed call by the umpires. Mike Aviles appeared to make the third out when catcher Gerald Laird caught a foul tip for strike three but first base umpire Bill Welke ruled that the ball hit the ground, overruling home plate umpire Jeff Nelson.

Replays clearly showed that it should have been an out, but Aviles took advantage of his second chance and singled home the go-ahead run. Daniel Nava followed with an RBI double and Dustin Pedroia capped the rally with a single that glanced off Prince Fielder, making it 4-1.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia homered and scored twice and David Ortiz doubled in a run for the Boston, which once again pulled to .500 at 24-24.

Doubront (5-2) surrendered two runs and four hits while walking one and striking out six.

Doug Fister (0-3) suffered the damage for the Tigers and was charged with six runs and 11 hits while walking one and striking out a pair.

Detroit recorded two runs on solo homers, with Delmon Young tucking his third down the line in left and Laird just clearing the “Green Monster” in the fifth.

The Tigers made it interesting in the ninth, with Jhonny Peralta clubbing a two-run homer to make it a three-run game.

Notes: Tigers manager Jim Leyland and 3B coach Gene Lamont were ejected for arguing the botched foul-tip call on Aviles. … Pedroia made a diving play at second base to end the fifth inning and left the game with a jammed right thumb. He was replaced by Nick Punto. … The six earned runs allowed by Fister matches his high since joining Detroit last season. … Red Sox CF Ryan Sweeney was activated off the 7-day concussion disabled list and was back in the lineup Monday, going 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.