Red Sox at Orioles
The Boston Red Sox are seeing their lead shrink atop the American League East, and an inability to beat the Baltimore Orioles has a lot to do with it. Winners of five of six overall, the Orioles made it back-to-back victories over the visiting Red Sox on Friday night and can close within a half-game of the division lead with a victory in Saturday afternoon's matchup. Baltimore is 4-1 against Boston this season and has won 13 of the past 17 meetings between the teams.
The Orioles have received superb pitching from their bullpen, which has not allowed a hit in the last 9 1/3 innings over the past two games. The Red Sox managed only three hits overall Friday - two by Jose Iglesias - but baseball's highest-scoring team has managed only nine runs while losing three of their last four games. Mike Napoli, who is tied for the team lead with 49 RBIs, missed Friday's game due to illness and is listed as doubtful for Saturday.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH John Lackey (3-5, 3.14 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Freddy Garcia (3-3, 4.47)
Lackey has been plagued by a lack of run support in a number of his starts but his last outing was not one of them. He was staked to a 6-0 lead before he even took the mound against Tampa Bay, but he struggled through 5 2/3 innings and was charged with four runs and 10 hits to extend his winless streak to three starts. Lackey is 11-4 with a 3.35 ERA in 19 career starts vs. the Orioles.
Garcia has turned out to be quite the find for the Orioles, who signed him after he was released by San Diego late in spring training. He won for the third time in four starts in his last outing, holding the Los Angeles Angels to two runs over six innings. Garcia has been stung by the long ball, surrendering six homers in his last two turns and 13 overall.
WALK-OFFS
1. Orioles 3B Manny Machado went 3-for-4 Friday and leads the majors in hits (95) and doubles (30).
2. Lackey allowed only three homers in his first seven starts but has been taken deep six times in his last three outings.
3. Garcia is 10-4 lifetime against the Red Sox but had mixed success against them in the past two seasons as a member of the Yankees.