Detroit, MI (Sports Network) – Jacoby Ellsbury had a pair of hits, including a solo home run, and scored twice as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Detroit Tigers, 6-3, in the second installment of a four-game set.
Carl Crawford belted a two-run shot and Kevin Youkilis drove in two runs for the Red Sox, who have outscored their opponents 38-8 during a four-game win streak.
Veteran Tim Wakefield (2-1) tossed seven innings to get the win, allowing just two runs on five hits.
Jhonny Peralta had a solo shot and an RBI double for Detroit, which has lost seven of its last 10 games.
Starter Rick Porcello (4-3) was touched for six runs on six hits in just three innings to suffer the loss. The right-hander walked two and struck out a pair.
After Detroit took a 2-1 lead with a Peralta solo shot in the second, the Red Sox posted a five-run third to take control.
Ellsbury started it with a low line drive that just cleared the fence in right.
Dustin Pedroia kept the rally going with a walk and Adrian Gonzalez singled to put two men on. Youkilis followed with a deep fly ball into the right-center gap that brought home both runners.
The run burst was capped by Crawford’s two-run homer that landed in the seats in right.
Recently recalled reliever Charlie Furbush made just his second career appearance for the Tigers in the fourth and prevented any more damage. He pitched five scoreless innings, struck out six and scattered two hits with two walks.
Detroit got an RBI double from Peralta run in the ninth, but it was too little too late as Jonathan Papelbon finished the game in a non-save situation.
Ellsbury led off the game with single, swiped second base and moved to third on Gonzalez’s ground out. With two outs, Porcello threw a wild pitch, allowing Ellsbury to scamper home.
The Tigers responded with a run during the home half. Austin Jackson followed Ellsbury’s lead with a single and stolen base. With two outs, Miguel Cabrera ripped a line shot up the middle to bring the leadoff hitter home.
Detroit traded infielder Scott Sizemore for Oakland pitcher David Purcey before the game…Boston has won all four matchups this season against the Tigers…The Tigers also recalled infielder Danny Worth from Toledo on Friday.