Josh Beckett's only miscues came in the first inning, when he allowed two runs. The starter still has an American League-best ERA of 1.80. (AP)

The Red Sox ended an otherwise positive road trip on a sour note, dropping the night-cap of a day-night doubleheader against the Tigers, 3-0, Sunday night at Comerica Park.

The main culprit in handing the Sox just their second loss of the seven-game road swing was Detroit starter Justin Verlander, who out-dueled Sox starter Josh Beckett halting the Red Sox’ five-game win streak.

The Sox, who claimed a 4-3 victory in the day’s first game, still return home to Fenway Park residing in first-place in the American League East, carrying a 30-23 mark.

Here is what went wrong (and right) in the loss …

WHAT WENT WRONG

- Beckett didn’t have great command, particularly of a curveball he threw just 13 times out of his 107 pitches. The Sox righty walked a season-high five batters, including his second batter of the game, Andy Dirks, who came home with the Tigers’ first run in what would be a two-run first inning for the Tigers.

- The only offense against Verlander were two hits from J.D. Drew and one each by Jacoby Ellsbury and Jason Varitek. The Detroit ace went 7 2/3 innings, stranding three runners in scoring position.

- The Red Sox not only couldn’t get to Verlander with any runs, but also failed to drive the starter from the game prior to the eighth inning. The hard-throwing righty threw 132 pitches, surpassing his previous season-high of 127. The pitch total was the second-most thrown by a pitcher this season, coming up just one short of Tim Lincecum’s 133. Verlander’s final pitch, a walk to Ellsbury, was clocked at 100 mph.

- The Red Sox squandered their best chance to rally, in the eighth inning, when finally drove Verlander from the game while putting runners on first and second (thanks to a Drew double and Ellsbury walk). But against Tigers’ reliever Joaquin Benoit — who had allowed three of his five inherited runners to score this season — Dustin Pedroia flew out to left field to end the threat.

- The Tigers were able to add an insurance run in the eighth inning against Red Sox reliever Scott Atchison, when Don Kelly rifled a single into center field, scoring Miguel Cabrera. Cabrera had reached second after Ellsbury came up short in his diving attempt at a sinking liner, which ultimately got behind the centerfielder, allowing the slow-footed first baseman to get into scoring position.

WHAT WENT RIGHT

- Following the two-run first inning, Beckett settled down. The Sox starter didn’t allow a run in his final five innings while keeping the Sox in it against Verlander. Beckett’s ERA still stands at 1.80, best in the American League.

- Kevin Youkilis executed a head’s up play in the seventh inning after beating a potential force play at second base on a one-out grounder from David Ortiz. After beating what would have been the beginning of a double play ball, if not for the steal attempt, Youkilis saw the Tigers hadn’t called timeout and raced to an uncovered third base. Unfortunately for the Red Sox, Carl Crawford grounded out to end the inning, stranding Youkilis.

- Reliever Rich Hill did it again, pitching another scoreless inning, this time striking out two of his three batters. The lefty has now pitched eight times, giving up no runs and just three hits while striking out 12 and walking two.