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Jun 13, 2009 - 6:36 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Boston (37-24) at Philadelphia (35-24), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Philadelphia Phillies struck out a franchise-record 20 times in their last game. They hope to have better success at the plate against Boston's Daisuke Matsuzaka, who is still trying to get his season on track.

The last two World Series champions continue their three-game series Saturday after the Red Sox's extra-inning victory the night before.

Boston (37-24) and Philadelphia (35-24) are among the best teams in the major leagues, and they showed how evenly matched they were Friday in the Red Sox's 5-2 triumph in 13 innings.

Boston's Jon Lester fanned 11 over seven innings. Justin Masterson and Daniel Bard each had three strikeouts, Hideki Okajima had two and Ramon Ramirez one.

Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth and Chase Utley combined to strike out 10 times for the Phillies.

But Howard homered with one out in the ninth off Ramirez to send the game to extra innings tied at two. Jacoby Ellsbury and Mike Lowell then sandwiched RBI singles around Nick Green's sacrifice fly in the 13th off Kyle Kendrick.

"Total team effort tonight," Kevin Youkilis, who homered, told the Red Sox's official Web site. "So many guys played in this game and there's so many ways guys did something to help out the team tonight and that's a great thing."

The Red Sox have won four straight overall with their starters posting a 1.44 ERA.

"They've got good pitching," center fielder Shane Victorino told the Phillies' official Web site. "You've got to give them credit. You can't say what we did wrong. They're a good team. They're not first in their division for no reason, nor are we."

The Phillies may have better luck against Matsuzaka (1-4, 7.33), who won 33 games in his first two seasons.

After beating Detroit on June 2, the right-hander struggled against Texas on Sunday, giving up five runs and a season-high 10 hits in 5 2-3 innings of a 6-3 loss. There were some positives - it was the his longest start of the season and he struck out a season-high eight while not walking anyone for the first time this year.

"I do have some thoughts on (my struggles), but I'm not sure if it's something I can improve on right away," he said through an interpreter. "But the opponents' batting average is something I would like to focus on."

Opponents are hitting .373 against Matsuzaka.

Antonio Bastardo (2-0, 2.45) will making his third major league start for Philadelphia.

He had another solid outing Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing two runs while striking out four over five innings of a 7-2 win. The left-hander gave up one run over six innings of a 10-5 win against San Diego on June 2.

"He didn't have the velocity he had the other day," manager Charlie Manuel said. "But he kept the ball down pretty good, and his command might have been a little better than the other night. He started to throw his changeup and slider, so I like that sign."

The Red Sox, who are 16-16 away from Fenway Park this season, have won five straight road games. They haven't won six in a row on the road since a seven-game streak from in June 2005.