(Sports Network) - Struggling ace Justin Verlander will make another attempt to right his 2008 ship tonight when the Detroit Tigers entertain the Boston Red Sox in the finale of a four-game series at Comerica Park.

Verlander, the No. 2 pick in the 2004 draft, was 0-3 with a no-decision in his initial four starts of the season before a 10-2 against Texas on April 22.

He's dropped two more since, however, combining to allow 14 hits and 10 runs in 12 2/3 innings of losses to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Minnesota Twins.

Overall, in 43 innings, Verlander has surrendered 42 hits and 30 runs, walking 20 batters and striking out 25.

He is 1-1 in two career starts against the Red Sox, posting a 4.61 earned run average in 13 2/3 innings.

Boston's Josh Beckett, the No. 2 pick in the 1999 draft, looks for his second straight victory.

The 27-year-old right-hander defeated Tampa Bay in his last outing, allowing seven hits and four runs over eight innings of a 12-4 Red Sox win.

Previously, he'd gone 2-2 in four starts, defeating the New York Yankees twice while he lost to Toronto and Tampa Bay.

Beckett lost his lone career start against the Tigers, allowing six hits and five runs in six innings.

On Wednesday, Placido Polanco's run-scoring single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth pushed Detroit past Boston, 10-9.

Polanco, who finished 5-for-6 with three RBI and two runs scored in the contest, looped a broken-bat base hit off Jonathan Papelbon beyond Red Sox shortstop Julio Lugo in short left field to plate Edgar Renteria with the winning run.

Renteria reached on an error by Julio Lugo, and after an Ivan Rodriguez sacrifice bunt, Detroit tied the game when Curtis Granderson, grounded out to second to score Ryan Raburn. Raburn was pinch-running for Matt Joyce, who began the frame with a check-swing infield single off Papelbon (2-1).

Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with two runs knocked in for the Tigers, who snapped a five-game slide by pounding out 18 hits. Gary Sheffield and Magglio Ordonez each had three hits, a run scored and one driven in.

Tigers reliever Todd Jones (1-0) hurled a scoreless inning of relief to pick up his first win of the season for starter Armando Galarraga, who allowed seven hits and five runs, while tying a career-high with six strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings.

Kevin Youkilis homered twice and drove in three while Mike Lowell collected three hits including a home run with three RBI for the Red Sox, whose five- game win streak came to an end.

Sox starter Clay Buchholz was charged with 10 hits and five runs over four innings.

Boston won two of three over Detroit at Fenway Park on April 8-10, but was swept in a three-game set at Comerica Stadium from July 6-8 of last season.