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Marlins-Red Sox Preview

Jun 16, 2009 - 4:56 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Florida (32-33) at Boston (38-25), 7:10 p.m. EDT

The Florida Marlins and Boston Red Sox are both still benefiting from their 2005 blockbuster trade, and they helped each other again with interleague series victories over the weekend.

But any apparent alliance will be put on hold when they open a three-game series Tuesday night at Fenway Park, where the Marlins will be looking for a better pitching performance than the last time they visited Boston.

The Red Sox have faced Florida in just three games since they traded Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez and two other prospects in exchange for ace Josh Beckett and third baseman Mike Lowell on Nov. 24, 2005.

While Ramirez has blossomed into a star at shortstop - a position where Boston has had major problems - the Red Sox have certainly gotten their share of contributions from Beckett and Lowell, two key figures in their run to the 2007 World Series title.

The Marlins (32-33) hope they, too, are on the road back to contention after winning all three games in Toronto over the weekend. Florida hasn't won four straight since its 11-1 start, and is just 21-32 since.

"It's a good start to the road trip and a good start to this tough stretch we have," right-hander Josh Johnson said. "Playing the AL East is not going to be fun but hopefully we can win some ballgames and keep rolling."

In addition to helping the first-place Red Sox pull away from one of their pursuers in the division, the Marlins are back within six games of first-place Philadelphia in the NL East, thanks in part to Boston taking two of three from the Phillies.

Still, the Red Sox (38-25) saw their five-game winning streak snapped Sunday, losing 11-6.

Reigning AL MVP Dustin Pedroia did not play ahead of the team's off day Monday, and Boston will hope for more production from their second baseman as he returns to the lineup. Pedroia has two hits in his last 29 at-bats.

"I've just hit one of those things where I'm not getting a lot of hits," Pedroia told the Red Sox's official Web site. "Guys go through that. I'm not worried about it. I'll figure it out."

Marlins right-hander Chris Volstad (4-6, 4.07 ERA) will also be trying to rebound from some struggles. He allowed career highs of six runs and 10 hits in 5 2-3 innings of a 13-4 loss to St. Louis on Wednesday in his third straight defeat.

Now he'll have to make his first-ever start against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, where Boston is 21-8 - the best home record in the majors.

Although their current roster is completely different, the Marlins franchise does not have good memories of its last trip to Fenway, from June 27-29, 2003. The Red Sox set a number of offensive records in the series, scoring 10 runs before making an out in the first inning of a 25-8 series-opening victory.

The Marlins did salvage one win, but were outscored 45-25 in the three games.

Boston's loss in the series was started by Tim Wakefield, and the veteran knuckleballer will be on the mound to open this set. Wakefield (8-3, 4.50) is coming off back-to-back quality starts, earning wins against Detroit and the New York Yankees.

Ramirez went 5 for 14 (.357) in the clubs' only series since the trade, as Boston won two of three in Miami from June 30-July 2, 2006. Lowell was 4 for 9 (.444) with three doubles in those games as the Red Sox won their sixth consecutive series against Florida.