Alone Again (In First). Naturally.

Another night. More runs.

Once again courtesy of the red-hot Carl Crawford.

He and Jacoby Ellsbury both took Rick Porcello over the wall as the Red Sox whipped up on the Tigers, 6-3. It was a two-run shot, and Crawford is now 9 for his last 12 at the plate.

Tim Wakefield, who will pitching in MLB long after I meet my Maker, went seven strong innings, allowed two early runs, and struck out two. It was win number 181 in a Red Sox uniform for Wake. Just 11 away from the club record.

He and Alfredo Aceves have been some 4-5 starting combo since John Lackey and Daisuke Matsuzaka hit the DL. They are 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA in their last four starts combined. Nobody's in a rush to see Lackey or Dice-K any time soon.

It's now 12 of 14 for the Sox (and the two losses were the 8th inning meltdowns to the Cubs and Indians). New York lost to Seattle last night 4-3, as the Mariners scored all their runs on infield groundouts. Sox lead New York by 1 and Tampa Bay (who won) by 1 1/2.

Clay Buchholz takes the mound in Detroit tonight at 7, in a game I can't see because as usual "Fox Ruins Baseball" and hijacked it for their regional prime-time coverage.

And good luck to Bill Buckner, who debuted as Brockton Rox manager on Thursday night, and Billy Buck's boys got a 3-1 win.