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Red Sox-Blue Jays Preview

Aug 17, 2009 - 5:03 PM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Boston (66-51) at Toronto (55-61), 7:07 p.m. EDT

The way the Boston Red Sox have been playing - especially on the road - they may have to rely more heavily than usual on their ace.

Lately, Josh Beckett has appeared up to the task, and he'll try to help the Red Sox avoid a ninth loss in 10 road games when they open a three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday.

Boston's current problems may have started in Toronto, where it dropped two of three coming out of the All-Star break as its once-reliable offense began showing inconsistency.

The Red Sox (66-51) totaled seven runs in that series and have managed two or fewer runs 11 times since July 18, going 11-17. Nine of those low-scoring games have come on the road, where they have dropped 13 of 17.

They have lost every road series since the All-Star break except for a three-game sweep of last-place Baltimore. The momentum of an 18-10 win in the finale of that series Aug. 2 failed to carry over, with Boston since losing eight of nine road games while getting held to 27 runs and a .202 average.

Instead of being buoyed by a ninth-inning comeback at Texas on Friday, manager Terry Francona's team lost the next two games to the Rangers, with whom Boston is in a tight battle for the wild card.

"Who says we can't reel off 25 wins in September?" Red Sox newcomer Victor Martinez said. "If you feel like you're defeated by losing a series, that's not the right attitude to have."

The club will feel good about its chances of rebounding with Beckett (14-4, 3.10 ERA) on the mound. The AL wins leader has strengthened his Cy Young Award resume with a 4-1 record and a 1.80 ERA in his last six starts.

He beat Detroit on Wednesday, allowing his first two home runs in more than a month but giving up just three hits in seven innings of an 8-2 victory.

"On the days Josh is pitching, we really feel like we have a chance to win," left fielder Jason Bay said. "You feel like on some days it might take only one run, or two."

Beckett will be facing the Blue Jays for the first time this year, but he surely remembers their last meeting. He allowed eight runs in 2 1-3 innings of a 15-4 loss at Fenway Park on Aug. 17, 2008.

He went 0-2 with a 16.71 ERA in two starts against Toronto in 2008, and he's 1-2 with a 6.85 ERA in four career starts at Rogers Centre.

Boston has lost two of three in both of its three-game sets north of the border this year.

The Blue Jays (55-61) return home after a 2-4 road trip, and they'll give the ball to Ricky Romero (10-5, 3.70).

The rookie left-hander's second half has not been as impressive as his first, as he went into the All-Star break with a 3.00 ERA but is 3-2 with a 5.45 ERA in six starts since.

Romero was the losing pitcher in both of Boston's wins in Toronto this season. He didn't complete five innings in either start and had a 9.72 ERA, walking 10 in 8 1-3 innings.

"Those guys are pretty patient," Romero told the Blue Jays' official Web site. "They're going to take their pitches and they're going to make you throw strikes. So I think the key for me is going to be getting ahead and throwing strike one."

Kevin Youkilis, set to return from a five-game suspension after charging the mound against the Tigers, has two home runs and two walks in six plate appearances against Romero.