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Rangers-Red Sox Preview

Jun 4, 2009 - 11:15 PM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Texas (31-21) at Boston (31-22), 7:10 p.m. EDT

A dominating record at Fenway Park has been a cornerstone of the Boston Red Sox's success in recent years - something the Texas Rangers know all too well.

Having feasted on Texas' pitching during the Rangers' eight-game losing streak at Fenway, the Red Sox enter this three-game set starting Friday night feeling especially good after closing a 10-game road trip with four consecutive wins.

The AL West-leading Rangers will be handing the ball to Kevin Millwood, who has a 3.38 career ERA in Boston. Texas' pitchers, though, have a woeful 9.14 ERA in their last eight games at Fenway, where the club allowed eight or more runs five times while going 0-7 last year.

The last time the Rangers opened a series there Aug. 12, they allowed 10 runs in the first inning of a 19-17 loss. The Red Sox, who were 56-25 at home last season and have won 17 of their first 23 there to start 2009, scored 37 runs in that series.

Much-improved pitching has helped push the Texas to the top of the division this year. Rangers starters have shaved nearly a run off their ERA from last year to 4.57, and Millwood (4-4, 3.23 ERA) has been one of the main reasons.

The right-hander ranks 10th in the AL in ERA. He is also 3-1 all-time at Fenway, including quality starts in each of his last three visits.

However, he will be looking for his first win since May 15. Millwood gave up two runs and five hits but needed 116 pitches to get through six innings of a 5-4 loss to Oakland on Sunday.

"I was just a little inconsistent out there," Millwood told the Rangers' official Web site. "I threw too many pitches, especially in the first and second inning, that ran me out of gas. I still feel like I'm pitching well but not getting the results."

Texas will also be hoping for a better outcome after dropping two out of three at Yankee Stadium to open its six-game swing. The Rangers looked like they were in line to take the series with a 5-1 lead Thursday, but allowed a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning and lost 8-6.

The Red Sox (32-22) also had a rocky start to their trip, losing four of six at Minnesota and Toronto. They then salvaged the finale against the Blue Jays and swept a three-game set in Detroit, capped by 6-3 win Thursday to remain tied with the Yankees for the AL East lead.

Slumping slugger David Ortiz, batting .187 with one homer, got the day off Thursday and is considering getting his eyes checked. Kevin Youkilis left with a right calf problem.

Youkilis, who is 6 for 9 against Millwood, had exited Wednesday's game with a bruised right ankle, and was uncertain about his status for this contest.

The Red Sox have hit .302 and averaged 6.3 runs at home this year - something that has benefited Brad Penny. The right-hander has won his last three home outings, pitching at least six innings and allowing three or fewer runs in all of them.

Penny (5-1, 5.63) had another quality start Saturday at Toronto, his fourth in his last six outings overall, but he did not get a decision in the 5-3 defeat. He will be facing Texas for the first time since 2004 when he was with Florida.