DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers insisted they were not concerned about their worst skid of the year a few hours before playing the

DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers insisted they were not concerned about their worst skid of the year a few hours before playing the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox in a rematch of the AL championship series. Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping . Detroit later showed it still has what it takes to win with strong pitching, big hits and usually sound defence. Ian Kinsler and Torii Hunter hit back-to-back homers in the fifth inning and Victor Martinez cleared the fences in the eighth, helping Detroit beat Boston 6-2 and end a season-high five-game losing streak Friday. "This was a good night for everyone," Drew Smyly said after pitching six strong innings. Detroit had lost 13 of 17 games, including the previous four, since sweeping the Red Sox on the road a few weeks ago. "Ive spoken to players a couple times over this stretch," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "Theres no reason to throw a fit unless its a lack of effort or concentration. This stretch has not been caused by a lack of concentration or effort." Smyly (3-4) snapped a skid of his own. He was 0-2 in his last two starts, giving up a total of nine runs over nine innings, and was 0-3 in his previous six outings. The left-hander allowed two runs on five hits over six innings and struck out four, walking only one against the Red Sox. "He was locating his pitches and keeping us off balance," Boston centre fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. said after going 0 for 3 with three strikeouts. "He had command on both sides of the plate." Rubby De La Rosa, meanwhile, paid a steep price for letting some pitches sail too high. De La Rosa (1-1) gave up four runs, nine hits and two walks. He had five strikeouts over 5 2-3 innings. In his first start of the season, he threw seven scoreless innings against Tampa Bay last week. "I feel almost 100 per cent like last time," De La Rosa said. "I just missed more pitches." Boston has lost four straight after winning seven in a row. The Red Sox are averaging fewer than three runs during the losing streak. "Offensively, were scuffling," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "Weve had a rough go with runners in scoring position." The Red Sox hope to end a trend this weekend. In their last seven series, they been swept four times and have won each game in the other three matchups. "We became so accustomed to being consistent," Farrell said. "The last two and a half weeks have been difficult." Kinsler and Hunter cleared the fences during a three-pitch sequence in the fifth, giving the Tigers a 4-1 lead. "They squared (De La Rosa) up when he was up in the strike zone," Farrell said. The Red Sox pulled within two runs in the sixth when Dustin Pedroia reached on Romines throwing error, advanced to third on David Ortizs single through the right side against a shifted infield and scored on Jonny Gomes sacrifice fly. Detroits Ian Krol and Joba Chamberlain each threw an inning of scoreless relief and Joe Nathan pitched the ninth in a non-save situation. NOTES: Tigers C Alex Avila is expected to miss Saturdays game after being hit in the head by Ortizs backswing in the eighth inning, and being replaced by Bryan Holaday. "Hes in a good humour, but he got stung pretty good," Ausmus said. ... Red Sox hitting coach Greg Colbrunn is expected to stay hospitalized in Cleveland for at least another week after he had bleeding in the area between his brain and the thin tissues covering it. Tim Hyers, Bostons minor league hitting co-ordinator, is filling in for Colbrunn while hes away from the team indefinitely. ... Tigers SS Eugenio Suarez was held out of the lineup to rest his sore left knee and Ausmus said he is "hour to hour," when asked for timetable on his return. ... The Tigers will send RHP Max Scherzer (6-2) to the mound against Red Sox LHP Jon Lester (6-6) on Saturday in a nationally televised game. ... Boston RHP Clay Buchholz (left knee) is scheduled to throw a simulated game Saturday in Detroit, where Mike Napoli, who is on the DL with a sprained left finger, is expected to hit against him. Stitched Authentic Jerseys . - Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson sat on the scorers table at Oracle Arena on Wednesday morning. Cheap Jerseys Paypal . The announcement was made by the hall on Friday, March 14. She joins Switzerlands Denise Biellmann as this years inductees to the Hall, based in Colorado Springs, CO. https://www.chinajerseysfreeshipping.com/ .ca. Kerry, In the closing minutes of the second period of Game 4 between Pittsburgh and Columbus there were the remnants of two broken sticks behind the Pittsburgh net.WACO, Texas -- Joshua Montgomery had the hot hand in the first half for Savannah State, making four 3-pointers and scoring 14 points against Baylor. Then the No. 9 team in the country made an adjustment. Montgomery scored just one point after the Break as Baylor broke out for an easy 80-50 victory Friday night. "I think they just paid a little bit more attention to him," Savannah State coach Horace Broadnax said. "I told him he needs to shoot the ball more. When he makes shots, were a better team. The second half, Baylor just kept an eye on him. Obviously (Baylor coach Scott) Drew made some adjustments and said, Pay attention to Mr. Montgomery." Montgomery was the lone bright spot for Savannah State (2-12), which has lost 10 straight. Taurean Prince came off the bench to score 15 for Baylor. Cory Jefferson had 13 points for the Bears (12-1), and Isaiah Austin and Rico Gathers each scored 11 for the Bears, who its 12th consecutive home game. Savannah State made 2 of 4 free throw attempts while Baylor was 19 of 28 from the line. Jyles Smith shot the Tigers first free throw with 6:52 left in the game, making 1 of 2 after being fouled by Jefferson. "You expect that type of unbbalance," Broadnax said. Wholesale Jerseys For Sale. "We werent doing what we needed to do to attack the basket off the dribble like I wanted to. Going up against these trees, its hard for these 6-foot guys to get the ball to the basket." Baylor improved to 25-9 in January since 2009-10. The Bears only loss this season was to then No. 8 Syracuse in Hawaii in November. Jefferson hit a 3 -- his second of the game and fourth of the season -- to give Baylor a 45-28 lead with 1:41 left in the first half, and the Bears led 46-30 at the break and shot 75 per cent from the field. Both teams struggled after halftime. Baylor scored just five points in the first 5 minutes. Savannah State was held scoreless until Jeremiah Hills jumper in the lane with 14:12 left. At that point, Baylor held a 51-32 lead. Gathers made four consecutive baskets for the Bears in a 3-minute, 21-second span midway through the second half. After a layup with 13:01 left, he established his position just under the basket on an inbounds play, took the pass from Ish Wainwright and slammed in a quick dunk. After a rebound and putback, Gathers then converted a three-point play that gave Baylor a 62-42 lead with 9:39 remaining. ' ' '