DETROIT -- The Boston Red Sox are trying to find themselves in the latter stages of a lost season.

Designated hitter David Ortiz is presumably part of that future, although as he turns the corner on age 40 the end gets closer and closer. Ortiz slugged a two-run home run Friday night to help power Boston past the Detroit Tigers 7-2.

Left fielder Hanley Ramirez and shortstop Xander Bogaerts seem to be Boston building blocks. Each contributed a two-run double to the Red Sox's attack.

One player not in Boston's future is first baseman Mike Napoli, who was traded to the Texas Rangers before Friday's game.

Right-hander Joe Kelly seems to be a piece of the Boston puzzle, but where he fits in is not exactly certain.

Kelly snapped off some dandy sliders while he was striking out six batters in the first two innings but only fanned one more the remainder of his 5 1/3 innings. Kelly (3-6) allowed seven hits and walked two.

"His slider was excellent," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "But maybe the third time through the order that slider wasn't quite as sharp. Maybe it lost a little bit of its bite.

"What you're seeing is that when you get into the middle innings (with Kelly) you take a closer look."

This would suggest Kelly might turn out to be better suited to relief. He's not a big guy but he does have nasty stuff. Five of the seven hits he gave up came from the fourth inning on.

"I wanted to keep them off balance early," Kelly said. "My slider definitely felt better, although I threw a hanging slider to J.D. (Martinez, who hit it for his 30th home run in the fourth)."

The Red Sox got a scare while getting the last out of the game. Second baseman Ian Kinsler's liner back up the middle smacked right-handed closer Koji Uehara on the right wrist. He picked up the ball on the third-base side of the mound and threw Kinsler out to end the game and get his 25th save.

"I consider my whole body is a glove once I release the ball," Uehara said. "Initially there wasn't too much pain. But afterward there was a good pain buildup."

Boston immediately sent Uehara down the hall for X-rays after the game. They showed no break, but there was considerable swelling.

Farrell said Uehara was day-to-day, while the closer said "I'll be ready on Sunday."

Left-hander Robbie Ross Jr. got the last two outs of the sixth, right-hander Jean Machi took care of the seventh and right-hander Justin Masterson the eighth. Masterson had to be bailed out by Uehara after he loaded the bases with one out in the ninth.

Rookie lefty Daniel Norris (2-2), who gave up four hits in 7 1/3 innings in his Detroit debut Sunday, was cuffed about for nine hits in 3 1/3 innings of his second start. Norris didn't walk anybody but went to five full counts in the first inning and seven overall while throwing 83 pitches.

"I think he had trouble with his command," manager Brad Ausmus said. "He had trouble with his breaking ball. He was real up with it or real down. I think he was just off."

There was a dustup in the Detroit dugout following the top of the sixth when shortstop Jose Iglesias shoved James McCann in the chest after the rookie catcher seemed to point out to the middle of the infield and said something to the shortstop.

McCann appeared to be referring to a two-out ground single up the middle by Boston right fielder Rusney Castillo that some felt Iglesias gave up on too early. Iglesias was quickly restrained by teammates.

"I think it showed that they care," Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said. "They care about winning or losing.

"It's not like this is uncommon. You don't see it all the time on TV cameras. But it's not uncommon on any team, guys disagreeing.

"They had a disagreement. I've spoken to them, and it's over. You have a brother. Did you ever get in a fight with a sibling? You spend seven months with a team, you're going to have disagreements."

NOTES: New Detroit general manager Al Avila announced several promotions Friday, including elevating David Chadd to assistant general manager. Scott Bream was boosted to player personnel vice president. ... Boston 1B Mike Napoli was a late scratch from Boston's starting lineup Friday night, a move made just prior to game time, and then traded to the Texas Rangers. 3B Pablo Sandoval replaced him in the sixth spot in the order with the seventh hitter, Travis Shaw, switching from third to first. Napoli had to clear waivers. ... 3B Nick Castellanos of Detroit was in the starting lineup despite having his right hand taped up. "It's just tender," he said. "The tape restricts some movement, makes it feel better."