Red Sox Fans Were Completely Justified To Boo Josh Beckett, Injured Or Not

Media Roundup: Did Boston Media Influence The Booing Of Josh Beckett?

Josh Beckett left Tuesday night's game against the Detroit Tigers in the third inning with a back injury, all while being booed by the Fenway Park crowd. Did the Boston media play a role in the booing of Beckett?

Red Sox Vs. Tigers Final Score: Aaron Cook's Meltdown Costs Red Sox In 7-5 Loss

A fifth-inning meltdown from Aaron Cook cost the Red Sox their winning streak, as the Detroit Tigers dodged a sweep with a 7-5 victory.

The Red Sox grabbed an early lead off the Tigers thanks to some good luck in the first, as Jacoby Ellsbury led off with a double off the first base bag. Cody Ross would end up singling him home with two outs to make it 1-0 in the first.

For three innings, Aaron Cook was capable of shutting down the Detroit lineup. Eight ground balls went for just one hit, helping him into the fourth without a run on the board. A leadoff plunking of Quintin Berry would cost the Sox the lead in the next frame, but it wasn't till the fifth everything would fall apart.

A pair of leadoff singles and a bunt put two men in scoring position for Jackson, who sent a hit into left to make it 2-1 in favor of the Tigers. A ground ball out would score the other RISP, but the real pain would come from the power hitters, as Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder each went deep to leave it at 6-1.

The Sox managed to claw their way back into the game in the sixth, scoring three times after a trio of leadoff singles from Dustin Pedroia, Adrian Gonzalez, and Cody Ross set the table. Jarrod Saltalamacchia would seriously damage the rally with a run-scoring double play, but singles from Will Middlebrooks and Pedro Ciriaco helped to push two more across, leaving it at 6-4.

Carl Crawford would get the Sox back within one when he led off the seventh with a solo shot into the bullpen in right, but Delmon Young responded in kind to start the eighth, wrapping a homer around Pesky's Pole to make it 7-5. The Red Sox went 1-2-3 in the ninth, snapping their winning streak at four.

Red Sox Vs. Tigers Live Blog: Inning By Inning Updates For Game 3

The Red Sox are out for the sweep Wednesday night as they send Aaron Cook to the mound against Rick Porcello.

We'll keep you up-to-date on all the action as it goes down in Fenway Park.

TIgers 7, Red Sox 5, Mid 9th -- Junichi Tazawa holds down the fort to give the Sox a chance, but they'll need at least two in the ninth.

Tigers 7, Red Sox 5, End 8th -- The Sox go down in order in the 8th, leaving them three outs away from the end of their winning streak.

Tigers 7, Red Sox 5, Mid 8th -- And immediately the Tigers get their run back, with Delmon Young wrapping a homer ust barely around Pesky's Pole in right to make it a two-run game again.

Tigers 6, Red Sox 5, End 7th -- Carl Crawford leads off the inning with a solo blast to right field, leaving the Sox behind by just the one run with six outs to get it back.

Tigers 6, Red Sox 4, Mid 7th -- A leadoff walk offered up by Mark Melancon to Austin Jackson doesn't end up hurting the Red Sox, as Melancon retires the next two before Andrew Miller enters to retire Prince Fielder, swinging at three straight sliders.

Tigers 6, Red Sox 4, End 6th -- And the Red Sox are back in the game in a hurry. The Red Sox respond to the pair of leadoff singles with three of their own, off the bats of Dustin Pedroia, Adrian Gonzalez, and Cody Ross. Jarrod Saltalamacchia does a good job of killing the rally with a double play, bringing in just the one run, but Will Middlebrooks singles home another, and Pedro Ciriaco finds a hole in the infield to make it 6-4 on five singles and a walk.

Tigers 6, Red Sox 1, Mid 6th -- Craig Breslow gives up a single in his first full inning with the Red Sox, but only the one, holding the Tigers to their six runs through six.

Tigers 6, Red Sox 1, End 5th -- A single and a walk put two on for the Red Sox with one out, but the threat is ended by a double play, leaving them stuck well behind in the fifth.

Tigers 6, Red Sox 1, Mid 5th -- And Aaron Cook falls completely to pieces in the fifth. A pair of leadoff singles and a bunt put two in scoring position for Austin Jackson, who singled to left to bring one in and put runners on the corner. A ground ball would bring another run in while bringing the second out of the inning, but up came the power hitters, and out went a pair of homers, leaving the Red Sox down big after five.

Red Sox 1, Tigers 1, End 4th -- Adrian Gonzalez leads off with a single, but then the Sox go down in order to leave them stuck in the 1-1 tie after four.

Red Sox 1, Tigers 1, Mid 4th -- A bit of a messy inning costs the Red Sox their lead. Aaron Cook hits Quintin Berry in the leadoff spot, and while he manages to pick him off of first and get a fly ball out from Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder hit a double off the wall, and Brennan Boesch manages to squeeze a ground ball past Dustin Pedroia and into center field to tie the game up. Only a great over-the-shoulder catch from Jacoby Ellsbury, who went sliding into the wall of the triangle, kept a go-ahead run out.

Red Sox 1, Tigers 0, End 3rd -- Porcello gets two ground balls and a strikeout, leaving the Red Sox with seven straight batters retired since Ross' RBI single in the first.

Red Sox 1, Tigers 0, Mid 3rd -- Two more ground balls get Cook through the third inning, with the second coming after a single and going for an inning-ending double play.

Red Sox 1, Tigers 0, End 2nd -- Rick Porcello bounces back in style, striking out the side on 13 pitches.

Red Sox 1, Tigers 0, Mid 2nd -- Alex Avila manages the first fly ball of the game against Aaron Cook, but it goes for the third out of the inning, leaving the Tigers scoreless through two.

Red Sox 1, Tigers 0, End 1st -- The Red Sox get on top early thanks in part to a lucky break. Jacoby Ellsbury is the recipient of the good fortune, moving to second on a ground ball that bounced off the first base bag and well over a diving Prince Fielder. While Crawford and Pedroia would go down on a strikeout and fly ball respectively, Adrian Gonzalez drew a walk and brought Cody Ross to the plate. Getting ahead 2-1, Ross got a fastball up in the zone and dumped it into right field for the RBI single.

Red Sox 0, Tigers 0, Mid 1st -- Aaron Cook has an almost ideal Aaron Cook inning. The "almost" comes from the fact that one of his ground balls found a hole and went for a base hit, but given that it was one of four in the inning and the other three went for outs, we won't complain too loudly.

Red Sox Vs. Tigers Lineups: Ryan Kalish Starts Against Rick Porcello

The Red Sox are after their fifth straight win and a sweep of the Detroit Tigers as they send Aaron Cook to the mound against Rick Porcello. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. with broadcasts on NESN, ESPN, and WEEI.

Ryan Kalish will make his way back into the Red Sox linuep after the injury to Ryan Sweeney opened up a space for his return to the major leagues. While Kalish struggled heavily in his initial stint with the 2012 team, Kalish has been excellent since he went back down to Pawtucket, hitting .307/.388/.533 in 75 at bats. Kalish will bat eighth, playing right field as Cody Ross takes over as the DH.

The odd-man out on the night will be Kelly Shoppach, as the Sox get back to a more normal lineup which does not feature both catchers. That'll make things a lot safer for them in case of injury.

Boston Red Sox (53-51)

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Carl Crawford, LF
3. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
4. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
5. Cody Ross, DH
6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
7. Will Middlebrooks, 3B
8. Ryan Kalish, RF
9. Pedro Ciriaco, SS

Detroit Tigers (54-50)

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Quintin Berry, LF
3. Miguel Cabrera, 3B
4. Prince Fielder, 1B
5. Brennan Boesch, RF
6. Delmon Young, DH
7. Alex Avila, C
8. Jhonny Peralta, SS
9. Ramon Santiago, 2B

For more on the Red Sox stay tuned to Over the Monster and SB Nation Boston. Check out Baseball Nation for even more news around the Major Leagues.

Red Sox Vs. Tigers Final Score: Sox Triumph Over Justin Verlander 4-1 In Rain-Shortened Game

A fourth-inning rally paved the way as the Red Sox got to Justin Verlander for four runs, taking a rain-shortened 4-1 victory over the Tigers.

While the Red Sox wouldn't sway the game in their favor until the fourth inning, they certainly got off to an encouraging start. Josh Beckett retired the side 1-2-3 in the first, and in the bottom half of the inning the lineup made Justin Verlander work for his outs. A line drive from Jacoby Ellsbury would give the Red Sox a leadoff single, and while Verlander managed to retire both Carl Crawford and Dustin Pedroia, some close calls going against him would lead to walks for both Adrian Gonzalez and Cody Ross, loading the bases before Jarrod Saltalamacchia struck out to end the threat.

Beckett would retire the side in order again in the second, and then quickly recorded two outs in the third before everything suddenly fell apart. An inconspicuous infield single from Omar Infante would prove the catalyst, extending the inning long enough for Beckett to hit Austin Jackson, and then walk both Quintin Berry and Miguel Cabrera to bring in a run. Immediately after the last walk Beckett signaled to the dugout for trainers, and then left the game with back spasms.

Clayton Mortensen would enter the game in place of Beckett, recording what was quite possible the most pivotal out of the game on a Prince Fielder fly ball to center field. The Sox were out of the jam with just one run against them, but with the rain coming down harder by the minute, and not expected to stop until late in the night, it was becoming clear they may not have many opportunities to tie it.

Luckily, the Sox needed only the fourth. Leadoff singles from Cody Ross and Jarrod Saltalamacchia started the rally, and while Will Middlebrooks would strike out going in search of a homer, a walk to Kelly Shoppach would load the bases for Pedro Ciriaco. Once again called on in a big moment, Ciriaco came through, lining a single through the right side of the infield to plate one run and reload the bases for Jacoby Ellsbury, who brought in another by drawing a walk. Carl Crawford would cap off the attack, bouncing a high chopper over the head of Justin Verlander and under the hand of Omar Infante, trying to catch Crawford by barehanding the ball. Crawford reaced, two runs scored, and the Sox took a 4-1 lead.

Ultimately things would get tense right before the anti-climactic conclusion. With one out and one on, Franklin Morales took over for Clayton Mortensen in the sixth and, after recording a ground out, loaded the bases to bring the go-ahead run to the plate. That was when the umps called for the tarp. With no end to the rain in sight after two hours, the game was called and the Sox took their fourth straight win.

For more on the Red Sox stay tuned to Over the Monster and SB Nation Boston. Check out Baseball Nation for even more news around the Major Leagues.

Josh Beckett Injury: Red Sox Starter Leaves Game With Apparent Back Injury

Josh Beckett left Tuesday's game between the Boston Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers in the third inning with a back spasm. Beckett had just walked Miguel Cabrera with the bases load to force a run giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead when he signaled to training staff to come to the mound. He shook his head as staff approached.

Beckett pitched just 2 2/3 innings. The shortened stint included one hit given up and two walks for one earned run against. In the third, Omar Infante got on base with an infield single, then Beckett loaded the bases by hitting Austin Jackson with a pitch and walking Quintin Berry.

Clayton Mortensen relieved Beckett. He has held the Tigers without a run since taking the mound, walking two with a strikeout. The Red Sox currently lead 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning.

For more on the Red Sox stay tuned to Over the Monster and SB Nation Boston. Check out Baseball Nation for even more news around the Major Leagues.

Red Sox Vs. Tigers Live Blog: Inning By Inning Updates For Game 2

The Red Sox are after their fourth straight victory and a series win over the Tigers Tuesday night as they take on Justin Verlander.

We'll keep you up-to-date on all the action as it goes down in Fenway Park.

Red Sox 4, Tigers 1, End 5th -- For now, though, it seems as though the show will go on. Justin Verlander bounces back in the bottom of the fifth, striking out two Cody Ross and Jarrod Saltalamacchia in a 1-2-3 frame.

Red Sox 4, Tigers 1, Mid 5th -- We've got an official game now, as Clayton Mortensen retires the side with the help of a great throw from Kelly Shoppach and tag by Pedro Ciriaco helping to erase a leadoff single up the middle as Austin Jackson was caught attempting to steal second.

Red Sox 4, Tigers 1, End 4th -- And once again, Justin Verlander falls victim to the big inning on cue.

With the rain threatening an early end to this game, the Sox needed to score in a hurry, and score they did. Back-to-back line drives off the bats of Cody Ross and Jarrod Saltalamacchia got the Red Sox off to a great start before Will Middlebrooks struck out, seemingly looking to score three with one big swing. A full-count fastball to Kelly Shoppach didn't catch the zone, however, loading the bases, and up came Pedro Ciriaco. Just one game removed from two big game-winning (if defense-aided) hits against the Yankees, Ciriaco caught a 97 MPH fastball over the plate, and lined it into right field to tie the game and reload the bases.

The next two batters would not have to do nearly so well for their RBI. A five-pitch walk to Jacoby Ellsbury would put the Red Sox up 2-1, and while Carl Crawford barely managed to put the ball in play, his high chopper got over Justin Verlander's head, and Omar Infante could not make the run-saving play, letting Crawford reach and bringing two more runs in to score. Dustin Pedroia ended the inning with a double play, but the damage has been done.

Tigers 1, Red Sox 0, Mid 4th -- As the rain starts to come down even harder, the Sox survive some more spotty control, with Clayton Mortensen working around a pair of one-out walks to get to the bottom of the fourth. It's possible, with the weather being what it is, that the Sox will have just two innings left to score a run.

Tigers 1, Red Sox 0, End 3rd -- The long wait does not seem to have phased Justin Verlander in the least, with Carl Crawford's long fly ball to right being the only danger he faces in a 1-2-3 third.

Tigers 1, Red Sox 0, Mid 3rd -- From eight straight retired, to a complete disaster for Josh Beckett, who is out of the game with an apparent back injury.

The inning could have ended so easily, with a ground ball from Infante to Mike Aviles with two outs. Instead, however, the result was an infield single, and from there things just went further south. Beckett grazed Austin Jackson with an inside pitch to put two men on, then loaded the bases with a five-pitch walk to Quintin Berry. The exact same sequence to Miguel Cabrera--falling behind 3-0, throwing a strike, and then giving up ball four--brought a run in, and brought the trainers out, signaling the end of Beckett's night.

Clayton Mortensen was able to get out of the inning without any further damage, but now the Sox need to cobble together six more innings while trying to score something off of Justin Verlander.

Red Sox 0, Tigers 0, End 2nd -- Not only do the Red Sox waste a leadoff single from Will Middlebrooks, but they let Justin Verlander start to get his pitch count back down to acceptable levels. He needs just 13 pitches to get through the second, even with the leadoff single, leaving him with 48 on his arm through the second.

Red Sox 0, Tigers 0, Mid 2nd -- Prince Fielder follows the example set by Miguel Cabrera in the first, hitting a tall fly ball that gave Sox fans some serious concern before it landed in Cody Ross' glove in right. In fact, Beckett doesn't manage to avoid the bats very well at all, giving up three fly balls in the inning. All three go for outs, however, leaving the Red Sox starter with six up, six down to start his outing.

Red Sox 0, Tigers 0, End 1st -- They say you have to get to a guy like Justin Verlander early, or not at all. That may be true, and the Red Sox may have missed a big opportunity, but if so, they've also put themselves in a position to take a different path: get him out of the game early. Verlander needs a whopping 35 pitches to get through the first, giving up a single to Jacoby Ellsbury and walks to both Adrian Gonzalez and Cody Ross as the zone seemed to tighten up on him. Jarrod Saltalamacchia would strike out with the bases loaded, costing the Sox their opportunity to score, but they've at least put themselves in a good position for the rest of the game.

Red Sox 0, Tigers 0, Mid 1st -- If Josh Beckett was irked by all the trade talks, he's not showing it yet. In fact, he might even be feeling a little weight off after the deadline, as he gets through the first in 1-2-3 fashion, albeit relying on the wind knocking down a well-hit ball to dead center field off the bat of Miguel Cabrera. Given who the Sox are up against, the Sox are in need of a good start from Beckett now more than ever.

Red Sox Vs. Tigers Lineups: Kelly Shoppach, Jarrod Saltalamacchia Both In Against Justin Verlander

The Red Sox are out to lock up a series win as they take on the Tigers Tuesday night in Fenway Park. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. EST with broadcasts on NESN, the MLB Network, and WEEI.

While the trade talks are still raging on, by the time the two teams take the field tonight, they will have long since come to an end. The question then becomes if these lineups will even remain the same. For Kelly Shoppach, that's entirely unclear. While the catcher hasn't been linked very strongly to anyone, there have been persistent rumors that the Red Sox were looking to ship him off in order to facilitate a call-up for Ryan Lavarnway.

For now, though, Shop is listed as batting eighth, once again sharing a lineup with Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Tonight, however, they will face stiffer competition, trying to score off the incredible Justin Verlander.

Boston Red Sox (52-51)

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Carl Crawford, LF
3. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
4. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
5. Cody Ross, RF
6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, DH
7. Will Middlebrooks, 3B
8. Kelly Shoppach, C
9. Pedro Ciriaco, SS

Detroit Tigers (54-49)

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Quintin Berry, LF
3. Miguel Cabrera, 3B
4. Prince Fielder, 1B
5. Delmon Young, DH
6. Brennan Boesch, RF
7. Alex Avila, C
8. Jhonny Peralta, SS
9. Omar Infante, 2B

Ryan Sweeney Injury: Red Sox Outfielder Punches Wall, Could Head To DL

Staying healthy has been one of the biggest reasons why the Boston Red Sox have struggled this season, and Monday during the team's 7-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers the injury bug struck again as outfielder Ryan Sweeney was replaced by Cody Ross.

At the time, nobody knew what the issues with Sweeney was, but on Tuesday the Boston Globe learned Sweeney had injured his hand by punching a door in the dugout.

"I just came down, walked down the stairs, and kind of punched the door a little bit,’’ said a forlorn Sweeney in the clubhouse. "I’ve done [it] before, but maybe not to this extent.’’

Sweeney's frustrations steamed from a great play by the Tiger's Omar Infante, who robbed the outfielder of a hit and helped him go 0-for-4 on the night.

Needles to say, Sweeney's rage came at the tail end of the the Red Sox's third straight victory and could force him to the disable list for the third time this season.

The Red Sox are expected to know the status of Sweeney, who will undergo an MRI, by Tuesday.

For more on the Red Sox stay tuned to Over the Monster and SB Nation Boston. Check out Baseball Nation for even more news around the Major Leagues.

Red Sox Vs. Tigers Final Score: Clay Buchholz' Strong Outing Helps Sox Win Third Straight, 7-3

The Red Sox have their first three-game winning streak in over a month after taking the first game of their series against the Tigers 7-3 in Fenway.

The game did not start off terribly well for the Red Sox. On just the second pitch, Clay Buchholz would surrender a solo shot into the Monster seats. When Quintin Berry doubled off the wall behind him, it seemed like it could be a long night for the Sox and the one pitcher who had really been giving them great results of late.
Instead, Buchholz found his rhythm. He'd hold the Tigers to just the one run in the first, escape more serious damage by giving up just one in the third after allowing runners at the corners to start the frame and loading the bases with one down, and then go into lockdown mode.

The Tigers would manage few baserunners off of Buchholz from there, only scoring again in the seventh thanks to a dropped third strike from Kelly Shoppach. The Sox offense, however, had long since gotten to work. They would take the lead back immediately in the bottom of the first, pushing two across on a Jacoby Ellsbury walk, Carl Crawford triple, and Dustin Pedroia ground ball. While the Tigers' third-inning tally was good to tie the game, it would only last until the sixth when, with one man on, Dustin Pedroia found the Monster seats himself, putting the Sox ahead 4-2.

After the seventh inning run brought the Tigers within one, Shoppach made up for his defensive blunder by hitting a leadoff triple to the triangle in center field, scoring a fifth run to put the Sox right back ahead by two. The real death blow came in the eighth, however, with Will Middlebrooks cranking a two-run rocket over the Monster, leaving the Sox ahead by four headed to the ninth. Vicente Padilla did not have the cleanest of innings there, but with some good work from the defense behind him he was able to avoid any damage, leaving the Sox' lead fully intact at the end of the night.

For more on the Red Sox stay tuned to Over the Monster and SB Nation Boston. Check out Baseball Nation for even more news around the Major Leagues.

Red Sox Vs. Tigers Live Blog: Inning By Inning Updates For Game 1

The Red Sox are set to kick off their series against the Tigers in Boston. We'll keep you up-to-date on all the action as it goes down in Fenway Park.

Red Sox 7, Tigers 3, End 8th -- After a night f offensive frustration featuring three strikeouts, Will Middlebrooks falls behind 0-2, and then blasts a two-run shot into the Monster Seats to effectively seal the game for the Red Sox. They've got a four-run lead with just three outs to go.

Red Sox 5, Tigers 3, Mid 8th -- Clay Buchholz has likely wrapped up his night with a 1-2-3 eighth. It's another strong outing for Clay, with just two earned runs to his name, especially given how badly the game started in the first. The Sox just need three more outs to have a rare three-game winning streak in their pockets.

Red Sox 5, Tigers 3, End 7th -- Kelly Shoppach makes up for his blunder in the previous inning by sending a long fly ball to center field that drops into the triangle over Austin Jackson's head, allowing him to reach third with a leadoff triple. While Pedro Ciriaco's pop fly isn't enough to bring him in, Jacoby Ellsbury's single is, and it chases Scherzer from the game for good measure besides.

Red Sox 4. Tigers 3, Mid 7th -- A hitch is put in what should have been another scoreless inning for Clay Buchholz when Kelly Shoppach can't come up with strike three to Brennan Boesch, and then hits him with the throw to first. Boesch would come around to score on a one-out double from Alex Avila, leaving the Sox' lead at just the one run headed to the bottom of the seventh.

Red Sox 4, Tigers 2, End 6th -- Dustin Pedroia puts an end to the boredom in a hurry. After a leadoff walk from Carl Crawford, Pedroia got a fastball up-and-in and did what he usually does with that sort of offering, turning on the pitch and putting it in the Monster seats to make it a 4-2 lead for the Red Sox.

Red Sox 2, Tigers 2, Mid 6th -- Buchholz stays on an upswing, grabbing three quick outs in what is frankly becoming something of a snoozer. Neither team has really threatened since the third, and it's not really the sort of dominant pitching that makes for an entertaining duel, either.

Red Sox 2, Tigers 2, End 5th -- Max Scherzer, on the other hand, has the strikeouts flowing freely. Two more in the fifth give him six on the night, and with just 68 pitches on his arm it's not costing him much effort compared to Clay Buchholz.

Red Sox 2, Tigers 2, Mid 5th -- Even with the slow-to-throw Clay Buchholz on the mound, this one's going by in a hurry now. Buchholz is on pace for at least seven innings after another 1-2-3 frame in the fifth, with Quintin Barry providing him with just his second strikeout of the night.

Red Sox 2, Tigers 2, End 4th -- The Sox go quiet again in the bottom of the fourth, leaving Jarrod Saltalamacchia on base after a two-out single. Scherzer has looked impressive since his early troubles.

Red Sox 2, Tigers 2, Mid 4th -- Clay's roller coaster night is climbing back uphill, with three groundouts getting him quickly through the fourth.

Red Sox 2, Tigers 2, End 3rd -- Pedro Ciriaco gives the Sox a leadoff baserunner, but they can't bring a go-ahead score in, leaving the game locked at 2-2 through three.

Red Sox 2, Tigers 2, Mid 3rd -- Clay runs into big trouble once again in the third, but at least manages to minimize the damage. A high fly ball from Omar Infante nearly ends up in the same place as Austin Jackson's leadoff shot, but comes just short, ending up with the newly-arrived Tiger at third base. A walk to Jackson himself would put men on the corners, and while a Barry pop-up got Buchholz a much-needed out, Miguel Cabrera was able to single up the middle to drive Infante in. Buchholz would end up walking PrinceFielder toload the bases, but a double play ball off the bat of Delmon Young was enough to end the inning.

Red Sox 2, Tigers 1, End 2nd -- What seems to be a busted hit-and-run play costs the Sox in the second, as Jarrod Saltalamacchia is easily gunned down at second after a bad throw to first costs the Tigers the baserunner. With the Sox helping out, Scherzer is treated to a 1-2-3 second.

Red Sox 2, Tigers 1, Mid 2nd -- Buchholz continues his roll by ending the second 1-2-3, leaving him with six straight batters retired since the homer and double that started the game.

Red Sox 2, Tigers 1, End 1st -- The Red Sox respond in the bottom half and add on a second run for good measure. Jacoby Ellsbury works a long battle in the leadoff spot, eventually earning himself a walk. His speed is put to good use, as Carl Crawford goes to the opposite field, hitting a wall ball that allows Ellsbury to score from first as Crawford comes in behind him at third. Getting all three proves important for Crawford, as he scores on a ground ball from Dustin Pedroia before strikeouts to Adrian Gonzalez and Will Middlebrooks end the inning.

Tigers 1, Red Sox 0, Mid 1st -- Buchholz takes a few pitches to settle into the inning, and it costs him in the first. The damage comes on just the second pitch of the night: a fastball running in on Austin Jackson, who lifts a high fly ball that just barely makes its way into the Monster seats in left-center field, putting the Tigers up 1-0. Quintin Berry makes it two straight hits, doubling off the wall, but Clay manages to quiet the lineup from there, grabbing a come-backer, striking out Prince Fielder, and then getting another ground ball to end the frame.

Red Sox Vs. Tigers Lineups: Pedro Ciriaco Starts Again

Pedro Ciriaco will once again get the start at short as the Red Sox open their series against the Tigers in Fenway Park. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. EST with broadcasts on NESN and WEEI.

It's Ciriaco's second straight night starting at short against right-handed starters and third straight in the starting lineup, having provided the game-winning hits in the last two games against the Yankees, even if in bloop fashion. The surprising young shortstop has bounced back from a 1-for-12 slump with a 6-for-13 run against the Rangers and Yankees, leaving him with an .820 OPS through 63 at bats.

The other noteworthy change is that both Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Kelly Shoppach will start, with Shoppach playing catcher and Salty starting as the DH. It's a bit of a risky move since, if Shoppach has to leave the game, the Sox will be witohut a DH. Will Middlebrooks and Jarrod Saltalamacchia will also swap the fifth and sixth spots in the lineup. The change effectively puts the Sox in more of a L-R-L-R arrangement, given Saltalamacchia's limited offensive abilities as a right-handed batter.

Boston Red Sox (51-51)

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Carl Crawford, LF
3. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
4. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
5. Will Middlebrooks, 3B
6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, DH
7. Ryan Sweeney, RF
8. Kelly Shoppach, C
9. Pedro Ciriaco, SS

Detroit Tigers (54-48)

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Quintin Berry, LF
3. Miguel Cabrera, 3B
4. Prince Fielder, 1B
5. Delmon Young, DH
6. Brennan Boesch, RF
7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
8. Alex Avila, C
9. Omar Infante, 2B

For more on the Red Sox stay tuned to Over the Monster and SB Nation Boston. Check out Baseball Nation for even more news around the Major Leagues.

Red Sox Vs. Tigers: Sox Finish July Back Home Against Detroit

The Red Sox and Tigers are set to wrap up July and greet August with a three-game set centered around Tuesday's trade deadline.