MLB: Boston 5, Detroit 1

DETROIT, May 8 (UPI) -- Josh Beckett allowed six hits and struck out eight over seven innings Thursday, carrying the Boston Red Sox to a 5-1 decision over Detroit.

Beckett (5-2) benefited from a 13-hit attack that featured a two-run homer from Kevin Youkilis in the fifth.

The Red Sox won for the sixth time in seven games.

Boston got to struggling Justin Verlander (1-6) for nine hits and five runs over six innings. In 49 innings this season, Verlander has given up 51 hits and 35 runs.

The Red Sox took a 3-0 lead in the second, with Jason Varitek's single driving in two runs and Jacoby Ellsbury delivering a sacrifice fly RBI.

With two away in the fifth, Youkilis hit his seventh homer of the season to drive in Ellsbury, who had opened the inning with a single.