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Tigers-Red Sox Preview

Aug 13, 2009 - 6:30 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Detroit (59-53) at Boston (64-48), 1:35 p.m. EDT

Facing the Detroit Tigers has certainly helped the Boston Red Sox rebound from their longest losing streak in nearly eight years.

The Red Sox are now in position to sweep a season series from the AL Central leaders for the first time Thursday afternoon, but they'll have to contend with ace Justin Verlander.

Boston (65-48) entered this series on a six-game slide, capped by a four-game weekend sweep at the hands of the archrival New York Yankees. The losing streak was its longest since dropping nine in a row Aug. 25-Sept. 4, 2001.

The Red Sox ended their skid by beating Detroit 6-5 on Monday to open this four-game series before taking the next two, winning 8-2 on Wednesday. They have a .294 average with 10 homers - eight in this series - in winning all six meetings with the Tigers (59-54) this season.

Boston, which has won 11 of 13 overall against the Tigers, has never swept a season series from Detroit. It has accomplished the feat once against an AL opponent, going 4-0 versus Toronto in 1981.

The Red Sox are 5 1/2 games behind AL East-leading New York but lead the wild card by 1 1/2 over Texas.

"Sometimes this game can confound you a little bit," manager Terry Francona told the Red Sox's official Web site about his team's streaks. "The important thing is that we are taking better swings. I know the guy we're facing (Thursday) is going to have a lot to say about it, but it's certainly a better feeling."

Boston will have to deal with Verlander (12-6, 3.45 ERA), who leads the AL with 186 strikeouts and is tied with four others for second in the league in wins behind Boston's Josh Beckett, who got his 14th victory Wednesday by holding Detroit to three hits over seven innings.

Verlander, though, is looking to win for the first time in three starts. The right-hander hasn't gone that long without a victory since his first four games of the season when he was 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA.

The two-time All-Star is 0-1 with a 6.43 ERA over his last two trips to the mound. He allowed five runs in six innings of an 11-0 defeat to Minnesota on Saturday.

Verlander is 1-3 with a 5.22 ERA in his last five road starts. He is 1-2 with a 5.49 ERA in three career outings against the Red Sox.

Jason Bay will face the 2006 AL Rookie of the Year for the first time, and he's been a big part of Boston's success against Detroit. The left fielder is hitting .375 with four homers and 10 RBIs in the six meetings, going 6 for 10 with three homers and six RBIs in this series.

The Red Sox will give the ball to Clay Buchholz (1-2, 5.33), who is searching for his first win in five trips to the mound.

The right-hander is 0-2 with a 6.41 ERA in four starts after winning his season debut July 17, allowing one run in 5 2-3 innings of a 4-1 victory at Toronto.

Buchholz, however, didn't get much help in his last outing Saturday, yielding two runs in six innings of a 5-0 loss at New York.

The Tigers, who are hitting .213 against Boston, have lost four of five and lead the division by two games over second-place Chicago.