DETROIT ? The Detroit Tigers gave themselves and their fans a chance to forget about a miserable season for one afternoon.

Eric Munson hit a three-run homer, and the Tigers kept Barry Zito winless in more than a month with a 3-2 victory Thursday over the Oakland Athletics.

Detroit has won just 30 games — while every other team in baseball has more than 40 — and is on pace to threaten the modern major-league record of 120 losses set by the 1962 New York Mets.

But none of that stopped the crowd of 19,664 from giving the Tigers a standing ovation when they ran off the field in the eighth, and after the game.

“This is definitely a baseball town, but we’ve got to give them something to cheer about,” said Jeremy Bonderman (5-15), who gave up one earned run.

Zito (8-10) has gone seven starts without a win and his victory July 3 against Seattle is his only win in 12 starts.

The reigning AL Cy Young winner didn’t pitch poorly against the lowly Tigers, allowing just six hits without giving up an earned run over eight innings. But after shortstop Miguel Tejada’s two-out error in the fourth inning, Zito walked Carlos Pena and allowed Munson’s home run.

“I felt pretty good and that’s the most important thing,” Zito said. “I had pretty good stuff.”

The A’s had a chance to tie the game in the eighth with two on and none out, but Scott Hatteberg popped up on a bunt, Eric Byrnes was thrown out at home on a perfect throw from left fielder Craig Monroe and Billy McMillon grounded out.

Detroit's Eric Munson, left, is congratulated by teammates Carlos Pena, center, and Craig Monroe after Munson hit a three-run home run against Oakland. The Tigers beat the Athletics, 3-2, Thursday in Detroit.

“We had a bunch of opportunities,” Oakland manager Ken Macha said. “The killer was second and third, nobody out, and we didn’t get anybody in.”

Oakland had won three straight and 10 of 13. Detroit had dropped three in a row and eight of nine.

Bonderman avoided being the only 16-game loser in baseball with his third win in five starts. Bonderman gave up two runs — one earned — on three hits and a career-high six walks over five-plus innings while striking out three.

Eric Eckenstahler, Chris Mears, Jamie Walker and Danny Patterson pitched four innings of scoreless relief. Patterson got the final four outs for his first save in his first opportunity.

“We have 30 wins and it seems like 25 of them have been like that,” Tigers manager Alan Trammell said. “I don’t chew my fingernails, but I might start.”

Yankees 7, Rangers 5

New York — Utilityman Enrique Wilson brought New York from behind with his third career grand slam, and Jorge Posada delivered a bases-loaded single, breaking a seventh-inning tie.

Wilson, starting in place of injured Alfonso Soriano, connected in the second inning against Joaquin Benoit, wiping out an early 3-0 Texas lead against Mike Mussina (12-6).

Mariano Rivera got his 22nd save after blowing two straight and three of four save opportunities.

Alex Rodriguez tied it in the third for Texas with his 30th home run. It was his 328th career homer and sixth in the last seven games. He has six straight 30-homer seasons and seven for his career.

Orioles 5, Twins 3

Baltimore — Jack Cust hit his first AL homer, a three-run shot off Rick Reed that carried Baltimore past Minnesota.

Rodrigo Lopez (5-6) allowed three runs and eight hits in 62/3 innings for the Orioles, who salvaged a split of the four-game series.

Torii Hunter homered for the Twins, who were denied their bid to move two games over .500 for the first time since July 5.

It was Cust’s second major-league homer, the first coming last August with Colorado.

Reed (5-11) allowed eight hits in his second complete game of the year, the 14th of his career.

Red Sox 9, Angels 3

Boston — David Ortiz homered twice, the first to spark a six-run second inning as Boston completed a three-game sweep of Anaheim.

John Burkett (9-5) allowed three runs and six hits over seven innings. He has won six of his last eight decisions.

Ramon Ortiz (13-9) lasted just three innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits and a walk.

Indians 3, Mariners 0

Cleveland — Billy Traber pitched five-hit ball for seven innings, and fellow rookies Jody Gerut and Travis Hafner hit solo homers as Cleveland defeated Seattle.

Traber (6-6) struck out five and walked two. David Riske pitched a hitless eighth and Danys Baez worked the ninth for his 24th save. Seattle starter

Freddy Garcia (9-12) lost for the sixth time in seven starts, but had his best outing in more than a month.