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Tigers, Red Sox try to avoid the rain drops at Fenway

May 18, 2011 - 2:23 PM (Sports Network) - The Boston Red Sox got some extra rest when their series finale with Baltimore was postponed last night because of rain and hope the time off will be an advantage in Wednesday's bout versus the Detroit Tigers.

The Red Sox will host the Tigers in the opener of a brief two-game set from Fenway Park and are riding a four-game winning streak thanks to a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees in the Bronx over the weekend and Monday's dramatic come-from-behind win versus the Orioles. Adrian Gonzalez swatted a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth to help Boston overcome a six-run deficit in an 8-7 victory and lift his club to its 10th win in 15 tries.

Orioles reliever Kevin Gregg walked Jacoby Ellsbury with one out, and after he stole second, Dustin Pedroia also worked a base on balls. Gonzalez then took an offering the opposite way off the Green Monster, bringing home both runners to end the contest.

It made a winner of Alfredo Aceves (1-0), who allowed one run and two hits in three relief innings. Gonzalez ended up with three RBI, while Kevin Youkilis and Jason Varitek knocked in two runs each for the Red Sox, who are over .500 (21-20) for the first time this season.

For the home team, it was their largest comeback victory since falling behind 6-0 against the Yankees and winning 16-11 at Fenway Park on April 25, 2009.

The Red Sox look to stay the course with Clay Buchholz set to take the mound Wednesday night and he's won his last three starts and four of five outings. In Friday's 5-4 win over New York, Buchholz struck out seven through seven innings of two-run ball and issued just one walk.

Buchholz has allowed no more than two runs in each start during his unbeaten run and is 4-3 with a 3.94 earned run average in eight trips to the hill this season. The right-hander has made four career starts against Detroit, going 1-1 with a 2.84 ERA.

The Tigers have had games canceled because of inclement weather twice in their past three games, and last night's series finale with the Toronto Blue Jays at Comerica Park was postponed due to rain. The game has been rescheduled for June 27 at 7:05 (et).

Detroit had a seven-game winning streak halted with Monday's 4-2 loss versus the Blue Jays, who rallied for three runs in the top of the eighth inning to pad their lead. Jhonny Peralta had a solo homer for Detroit, while Victor Martinez went 0-for-4 to end his 13-game hitting streak. The loss was just the second for the Tigers in their last 12 games.

Tigers starter Max Scherzer, who was gunning to become the first seven-game winner in the majors, gave up an unearned run in the seventh inning for the no-decision. Joaquin Benoit suffered the loss, allowing the three runs in the decisive eighth, and is now pitching to a 7.98 ERA on the year.

"He's obviously struggling," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said of Benoit. "We keep looking to see if we can see something and we'll continue to do that. Needless to say, he struggled obviously. It looks to me like his location is the most important thing. It's not velocity."

Leyland is counting on Phil Coke to pitch the ballclub back into the win column when the right-hander makes his 10th appearance -- seventh start -- of the season tonight. Coke is 0-3 with a 5.96 ERA in his previous five starts and did not record a decision in last Wednesday's 9-7 win at Minnesota. He permitted only two runs in 5 2/3 innings and remained at 1-5 on the season to go along with a 4.54 earned run average.

Coke has never started against Boston and is 2-1 with a 3.29 ERA in 16 career relief appearances in this series.

The Red Sox and Tigers are meeting for the first time since splitting six matchups a year ago. Boston is 9-4 in the past 13 encounters with Detroit.