IT'S A SERIES WIN OVER DETROIT

Just when we thought the Red Sox bullpen was terrible... We found out it was awful! However, that didn't prevent the Red Sox from earning a 12-6 victory over Detroit to win this regular season series two game to one. Boston simply in grind it out mode at the plate this evening. They took nine walks and pounded out 13 hits, which was the key to this victory.

J. D. Drew continues to sizzle in the early going. The Red Sox rightfielder was 3 for 3 at the plate, drove in two runs and scored a pair. Sean Casey, playing in place of the injured Mike Lowell had a pair of hits and drove in three runs. To cap it all off Manny Ramirez, Kevin Youkilis and Coco Crisp each drove in two runs a piece as Boston ran away late with this one.

However, it should have been over much sooner. The Sox held an 8-3 lead heading into the eighth inning. At that point their suddenly lacking bullpen began to come apart again. This time, Julian Tavarez was the latest to get lit up. A walk, single, another walk and then a pair of singles allowed the Tiger to pull to within three runs and had the bases loaded with nobody out. Gary Sheffield followed with a rocket back up the box, but Julio Lugo made a sensational play, stepped on second base and threw to first to complete a double play. The Tigers pulled to within 8-6 and Boston manager Terry Francona was forced to bring in closer Jonathan Papelbon, who ended the threat on two pitches.

The Red Sox then proceeded to put the game back out of reach. Youkilis doubled to right to drive in two runs to make it 10-6. Drew followed with a sac fly to plate another and Crisp drove his second of the night with a single to centerfield. Boston's earlier five run lead was earned in the seventh on a two-run double by Ramirez and a two-run single by Casey.

It's nice to earn a series win over Detroit. The Tigers are expected to be an offensive machine and a World Series contender. However, the Red Sox need to address their pen. Maybe Mike Timlin will help when he returns from the DL or Manny Delcarmen will step up his performance. A trade of Crisp might bring back help for the pen or someone could step up from down on the farm. No matter how it gets done something has to happen fast. Hideki Okajima and Papelbon are the only two reliable arms at this point and they cannot be used every night. Time to put out a call for any available arm to see what they can do.

THE YANKEES ARE COMING

Here we go. The first three games of 19 with the New York Yankees take place this weekend in Fenway Park. The Red Sox will be without Lowell, who was placed on the 15-day DL. No word on how long the Yankees Derek Jeter will remain out.

The pitching matchups are as follows.

Friday at 7:05 Wang vs Buchholz
Sat at 3:55 Mussina vs Beckett
Sun at 8:05 Hughes vs Matsuzaka