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RHP Verlander goes for third straight win for Tigers

May 15, 2007 - 2:12 PM Detroit (23-14) at Boston (26-11) 7:05 pm EDT

BOSTON (Ticker) -- Justin Verlander takes his shot at facing the Boston Red Sox.

Verlander and the Detroit Tigers look to bounce back in the second game of a four-game series when they visit surging Boston on Tuesday.

The reigning American League Rookie of the Year, Verlander (3-1, 2.83 ERA) has been stellar in his last two outings, yielding just four runs over that stretch.

Despite his recent success, the 24-year-old has allowed 16 hits in his past 12 1/3 innings. He will now face the Red Sox for only his second career time. He is 0-1 with a 7.50 ERA in his only start last season.

Detroit is hoping to avoid tying a season-high three-game slide from April 18-21.

In Monday's opener, Japanese sensation Daisuke Matsuzaka picked up his first major league complete-game victory for Boston in a 7-1 win. Detroit was held to just six hits.

"As for throwing a complete game, I'm not that thrilled about that in and of itself, but the fact that I was able to pitch my first really good game, first good showing at Fenway, that I'm really excited about," Matsuzaka said.

The Red Sox will send Tim Wakefield (4-3, 1.79) and his baffling knuckleball to the mound as they search for their eighth win in nine games.

Wakefield's ERA is the lowest in the entire AL after posting back-to-back shutout wins at Toronto and Minnesota, and is off to the best start of his 15-year career.

"(Wakefield's) one of the all-time professional people in the game," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said.

The 40-year-old righthander has won five straight starts against the Tigers here at Fenway Park, dating back to the 1999 season.