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Red Sox Welcome Victor Martinez, Tigers To Fenway For 2

BOSTON (CBS) – The Red Sox look to make it five-straight wins when they open a two-game series against the Detroit Tigers at Fenway on Wednesday.

Boston (21-20) is riding their second four-game win streak of the season, and now find themselves just 2.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for the AL East lead.

Clay Buchholz has turned his slow start around, and is seeking his fourth straight win when he takes the mound against Detroit on Wednesday. He has calmed down after struggling with his command early in the season, walking just four batters over his current three-game win streak.

Read: Red Sox Place Dice-K On DL

Buchholz has allowed just two runs over his last 13 innings, both on a home run hit by the Yankees Russell Martin. The long ball has been Buchholz worst nightmare this season; he has allowed seven in his first eight starts after allowing just nine all of last season.

Photo Gallery: Red Sox On The DL

With the Tigers in town, Victor Martinez makes his return to Boston. Martinez signed a four-year, $50 million deal with Detroit over the winter, leaving the Red Sox after a season-and-a-half. V-Mart leads the Tigers with a .317 batting average, and has 23 RBI in 27 games played.

Martinez was named the American League Player of the Week last week, after going 11-for-19, hitting two home runs and driving in 11.

Boston will have to deal with Detroit's ace, Justin Verlander, on Thursday. Verlander threw the second no-hitter of his career two weeks ago against the Toronto Blue Jays. The fireballing lefty has allowed just two hits over his last two starts.

The Red Sox will counter with Josh Beckett, who has not allowed a run in his last 17.3 innings.

Pitching Matchups For Red Sox-Tigers Series

Wednesday 7:10 p.m.

  • Phil Coke (1-5, 4.54 ERA) vs Clay Buchholz (4-3, 3.94 ERA)

Thursday 7:10 p.m.

  • Justin Verlander (4-3, 2.91 ERA) vs Josh Beckett (3-1, 1.75 ERA

Tune in to 98.5 The Sports Hub's The Baseball Reporters every week night from 6-7pm.

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