Rain helps run winning streak to four

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BOSTON -- With an assist from the weather, the Red Sox stretched their winning streak to four straight Tuesday, beating the Detroit Tigers 4-1 in a game called in the top of the sixth inning.

As the rain intensified from the beginning through the middle innings, the Tigers had just loaded the bases when play was halted. Following a delay of 1 hour and 45 minutes, the game was officially ended.

The wet conditions may have contributed to yet another Red Sox injury. Starter Josh Beckett summoned a trainer from the dugout with two outs and the bases loaded in the third and soon left, sidelined by back spasms.

Beckett had retired the first eight hitters he faced before allowing an infield hit, a hit batsman and two walks, forcing in the only run the Tigers mustered.

Clayton Mortensen, who relieved Beckett, pitched 2 23 scoreless innings and recorded the win.

A bases-loaded walk by Justin Verlander to Cody Ross forced in a run and the Sox tied it at 1.

Pedro Ciriaco added to the lead when he sliced a single to right with the bases loaded and when second baseman Omar Infante tried to grab Carl Crawford's squibber with the bases still loaded, two more runs scored on the infield hit and subsequent error.

The four-game winning streak is the longest for the Red Sox since they ripped off five straight from June 16-21.

STAR OF THE GAME: Clayton Mortensen
When starter Josh Beckett was forced from the game with back spasms in the third, Mortensen rode to the rescue from the bullpen, giving the Red Sox three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit along the way.

HONORABLE MENTION: Jacoby Ellsbury
Ellsbury reached base twice with a walk and hit, knocked in a run and swiped a base as he continues to get comfortable after being sidelined for three months.

GOAT OF THE GAME: Justin Verlander
Verlander (11-7), the reigning AL Cy Young and MVP winner, wasn't his sharp self, walking four and allowing four runs over five innings, as the Red Sox beat him for the second time in three starts this season.

TURNING POINT: Mortensen was summoned to take over for Beckett with a run and the bases loaded and got out of the jam. The Sox then scored their four runs in the bottom of the next inning and never looked back.

BY THE NUMBERS: With the win, the Sox improved to 18-9 (.667) against teams from the A.L. Central this season.

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