Beckett's dominance, Boston's bats power Red Sox to 5-1 win over Tigers

In Red Sox Nation, every loss is like a personal kick in the crotch. Even though we know there will be anywhere from 62-70 in a given regular season, each one hurts, and then the pain wears off in time for the next game to begin. One night after Julio Lugo's miscue led to Jonathan Papelbon's first blown save of the season, Josh Beckett and the Red Sox bats made sure that a single error could not prevent a Boston victory on Thursday evening.

Beckett allowed a run and six hits over seven innings - striking out eight and walking none - while the Red Sox reached Detroit ace Justin Verlander for five runs and nine hits in six innings as Boston prevailed, 5-1, and took three out of four in the Motor City. The Sox are now 23-14 and maintained their 3.5-game lead over second place Tampa Bay, which defeated Toronto, 8-3.

Daisuke Matsuzaka's eight walk performance in his last start aside, Boston pitchers have recently demonstrated better command and limited walks. Of Beckett's 102 pitches, 72 were strikes. Not only was Beckett's performance impressive, but so was the fact that Craig Hansen and Manny Delcarmen each tossed a scoreless inning. Rarely this season has the Red Sox bullpen had a game where it has not allowed a run. Hopefully, this outing will play a significant role in helping Delcarmen regain his confidence. Boston needs him to reemerge as a reliable set-up man. Hansen looked solid once again. If he delivers a few more scoreless outings, chances are the Red Sox will make room for him for the long term. Julian Tavarez is the odd man out.

In the series finale against Detroit, Manny Ramirez was rested, and Kevin Youkilis hit in the cleanup spot. He belted his fourth home run of the series, and his seventh dinger of the season, off Verlander in the fifth inning to give Boston a 5-1 advantage. With David Ortiz and Mike Lowell heating up, every member of the Red Sox lineup is hitting the ball well. Even Coco Crisp, who had three hits and is now batting .315.

The Red Sox continue their road trip this weekend in Minnesota where they will start a four-game series tonight. Here are the pitching matchups:

• Friday - Jon Lester (2-2, 3.94 ERA) vs. Boof Bonser (2-4, 4.29 ERA)
• Saturday - Daisuke Matsuzaka (5-0, 2.43 ERA) vs. Glen Perkins (first start)
• Sunday - Tim Wakefield (3-1, 3.33 ERA) vs. Nick Blackburn (2-2, 3.65 ERA)
• Monday - Clay Buchholz (2-2, 4.50 ERA) vs. Livan Hernandez (5-1, 3.83 ERA)

Notes and observations

• Sean Casey and Alex Cora have started their rehabilitation assignments at Triple-A Pawtucket. So far, so good. In fact, both players could join the Red Sox sometime this weekend in Minnesota. Their presence would bolster the team. Casey, who plays a solid first base, was hitting .346 with he strained his right hip flexor. Cora is one of the top utility players in baseball, and the Red Sox can use him to spot start for Julio Lugo and Dustin Pedroia, and serve as a late-inning defensive replacement for Lugo, who leads the Major Leagues with 10 errors.
• How 'bout those Celtics? After a first round series that saw them dominate the Atlanta Hawks at home and lose focus on the road, the defensive intensity has returned for the first two games against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Boston once again silenced LeBron James Thursday night in an 89-73 victory. Now the series shifts to the Q in Cleveland. Can the Celtics maintain their intensity and focus and take a commanding 3-0 series lead on Saturday? I will be surprised if they don't. Outside of James and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, the Cavaliers have limited weapons.