Red Sox Beat Tigers 14-1 For 11th Win In 13 Games
DETROIT (AP) - Jacoby Ellsbury hit a three-run homer in a five-run second inning, and the hot-hitting Boston Red Sox went on to rout the Detroit Tigers 14-1 in an eight-inning, rain-shortened game Thursday.
The Red Sox, who beat Cleveland 14-2 on Wednesday, scored at least 14 runs in back-to-back games for the first time since 1998. Boston has won 11 of 13 and trail the AL East-leading New York Yankees by percentage points.
Carl Crawford's two-run triple gave the Red Sox a seven-run lead and chased Max Scherzer.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Jonny Miller spoke to Crawford after the game:
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Alfredo Aceves (2-0) allowed a run on five hits and struck out six over six innings. Aceves made his second start with Boston and the seventh of his career.
He has won his last 12 decisions, dating to 2009 when he was a Yankees reliever, for baseball's longest wining streak since Cliff Lee won the same number of consecutive decisions with Cleveland three years ago. Aceves' previous 11 wins were as a reliever.
Crawford's second triple made it 9-1 in the seventh inning. He had two triples in a game for the eighth time in his career and the first time since 2008.
The Red Sox didn't let up, scoring five runs in the eighth. They became the first team to score at least 14 runs three times in a seven-day span since Atlanta did it in 2006, and the first to score 14 in back-to-back games since Texas in 2008, according to STATS, LLC.
With an inning left to play, the umpires decided to start a rain delay more than an hour after it started to rain. Almost an hour later, the game was called.
Detroit had won three straight and poor pitching ruined the streak.
Scherzer (6-2) gave up a season-high seven runs on seven hits and two walks in two-plus innings, lasting fewer than five for the first time this year. He has lost consecutive starts after winning his first six decisions.
Scherzer's first six pitches against the Red Sox were balls, then they roughed him up as soon as he started throwing the ball over the plate.
Detroit avoided getting shut out when Alex Avila hit an RBI single in the fourth to make it 7-1. The Tigers had a chance to get closer in the fifth, getting two in scoring position with only one out only to have Brennan Boesch pop up in foul territory and Miguel Cabrera strike out.
NOTES: The Red Sox plan to pitch RHP Bobby Jenks for an inning for Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday and Sunday. Jenks has been on the DL since May 5 with strained biceps. ... Detroit OF Magglio Ordonez, on the DL with an injured right ankle since May 11, is scheduled for "baseball activity" before Friday's game. ... Red Sox RHP John Lackey, on the DL since May 16 with a strained elbow, is scheduled for a bullpen session Friday. He'll make a rehab outing Tuesday for Pawtucket. ... Detroit LHP Adam Wilk made his major league debut, allowing two hits and an unearned run over 3 2-3 innings. ... The Red Sox put OF Darnell McDonald (left quadriceps) on the DL and called up OF Josh Reddick, who had a single in his first at-bat for them this year. ... Red Sox OF Daniel Nava cleared waivers and was outrighted to Pawtucket. ... ... Boston leads the majors with a 17-7 record this month. ... Tigers RHP Robbie Weinhardt cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Toledo.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
