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Corcoran looks to break nine-game skid

Sep 27, 2006 - 2:56 PM Tampa Bay (60-97) at Boston (84-74) 7:05 pm EDT

BOSTON (Ticker) -- Tim Corcoran entered the All-Star without a loss in 17 major league appearances. He has gotten plenty of experience with defeat since.

Corcoran looks to end a personal nine-game losing streak Wednesday, when the Tampa Bay Devil Rays complete a two-game series with the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

The 28-year-old Corcoran (4-9, 4.73 ERA) gave up four runs and six hits in six innings of a 4-1 loss to Baltimore in his most recent start on September 18, falling to 0-9 with a 5.93 ERA in 13 appearances - 12 starts - since the All-Star break. The Devil Rays have dropped each of their last 11 games in which Corcoran has pitched.

The last winning start recorded by Corcoran came against the Red Sox on July 5, when he gave up just two runs and four hits in 6 2/3 innings of a 5-2 triumph. The righthander then concluded the season's first half with a relief victory against the New York Yankees, improving his career mark to 4-0.

Boston broke a three-game losing streak with a 5-1 triumph behind ace Curt Schilling in Tuesday's series opener. The victory helped the Red Sox reclaim second place in the American League East Division, the position in which they have finished each of the last eight seasons.

Seeking an eighth win in nine home meetings with Tampa Bay this season, Boston gives the ball to Josh Beckett (16-10, 4.82). Beckett has posted a 1.29 ERA in winning his last two starts after going 1-5 with a 5.98 ERA in his previous eight outings.

In his only previous start against the Devil Rays here, Beckett allowed four runs in six scoreless innings of a 4-1 win on May 25. The righthander has gone 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in two meetings with Tampa Bay this season.