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Red Sox-Phillies Preview

May 23, 2010 - 4:14 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Boston (22-21) at Philadelphia (26-15), 1:35 p.m. EDT

Roy Halladay's first interleague start with the Philadelphia Phillies comes against a very familiar opponent.

The former AL Cy Young Award winner will face the Boston Red Sox on Sunday when the Phillies try to capture a three-game home series.

Halladay (6-2, 1.64 ERA) has faced Boston (23-21) more than any opponent with 41 games - 38 starts. He's 14-14 with a 4.28 ERA versus the Red Sox - one of two AL teams he does not have a winning record against.

Last year, the long-time Toronto Blue Jay went 2-2 with a 2.79 ERA with two complete games in four starts against the Red Sox.

"We get to face Roy Halladay again, which is always fun," first baseman Kevin Youkilis told the Red Sox's official website. "He's a great pitcher, and it sets up a challenge for us."

Youkilis may be looking forward to the matchup since he's batting .352 against Halladay. Former AL MVP Dustin Pedroia is 8 for 38 while David Ortiz is hitting .273 with six homers and 24 RBIs - both career highs allowed by the right-hander.

Halladay should find it easier than in the past since either Youkilis or Ortiz won't be in the lineup with no designated hitter. The Phillies ace pitched his major league-leading fourth complete game by scattering nine hits in Tuesday's 2-1 home loss to Pittsburgh.

The six-time All-Star threw 132 pitches - one shy of his career high.

"I wanted to leave him out there because I knew he had more," manager Charlie Manuel said. "I wanted to give him a chance to win the game."

Halladay will be up against a familiar foe in Tim Wakefield (0-2, 5.31), his opponent in his final game with Toronto as he threw a three-hitter in a 12-0 victory Sept. 30. Wakefield lasted three innings and gave up five runs.

That, however, is the only loss Wakefield has suffered when facing Halladay. Wakefield is 3-1 with a 4.50 ERA in six such starts while Halladay is 2-3 with a 5.90 ERA in those games.

The Red Sox knuckleballer is 1-1 with a 4.81 ERA in four career interleague starts against Philadelphia (26-16), and has limited second baseman Placido Polanco to a single in 15 at-bats.

The teams have split the first two games of this series, with each receiving a terrific effort by a starter.

Cole Hamels struck out eight and allowed one run in seven innings in a 5-1 win for the Phillies in Friday's opener.

The Red Sox responded with a 5-0 victory Saturday as Daisuke Matsuzaka took a no-hitter into the eighth inning before Juan Castro's bloop single with two outs. That was the Phillies' only hit as Daniel Bard finished with a perfect ninth.

"I was just fortunate to get a hit," Castro said.

Castro was in the lineup for shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday after re-injuring his right calf in the series opener.

Boston's Jacoby Ellsbury returned Saturday for his first start since April 11 and went 0 for 4 with a walk. Ellsbury was back in his customary leadoff spot after being out with a chest contusion.