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Jun 6, 2010 - 4:41 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Boston (32-24) at Baltimore (15-40), 1:35 p.m. EDT

If the major league-worst Baltimore Orioles thought things couldn't get any worse when they fired manager Dave Trembley in the midst of an eight-game losing streak Friday, they were mistaken.

The surging Boston Red Sox have given interim manager Juan Samuel a rude welcome to the post, and they can complete a three-game sweep at Camden Yards on Sunday while sending the Orioles to their 11th consecutive defeat.

Baltimore (15-41) has dropped 10 in a row to match Arizona for the longest losing streak in the majors this season, and Samuel's first two games have been especially ugly. The Orioles fell behind early in Friday's 11-0 loss, then crumbled late Saturday, allowing six runs in the ninth inning of an 8-2 defeat.

The minus-17 run differential is the worst for a manager in his first two games with a team since Dave Bristol's Milwaukee Brewers lost the first two games of the 1970 season by a combined 18-1.

"We're just trying to stay positive," Samuel said, "and the clubhouse is very positive right now."

The Red Sox (33-24) are feeling much better after winning six of their last seven and 14 of 18. They've scored eight or more runs five times in their last six games, with Kevin Youkilis making the biggest impact in this series, going 5 for 10 with two homers and six RBIs. His solo shot in the seventh inning Saturday broke a scoreless tie.

"The last time I checked, he was a two-time All-Star, and he's paid over $9 million to hit a home run," Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie said. "He is as good as anybody."

A sweep would be especially sweet for Boston after the Orioles earned their first three-game home sweep of the Red Sox since 1974, from April 30-May 2.

Dominance by Boston has been the much more frequent result between the AL East rivals lately; the Red Sox have won 64 of the last 85 meetings, including 31 of 44 at Camden Yards.

John Lackey (6-3, 4.95 ERA) is new to the Red Sox this season, but he has also been sharp against Baltimore, going 9-3 with a 3.17 ERA in 14 career starts. He's 3-0 with a 2.48 ERA in four outings against the Orioles since the start of last year.

The right-hander has allowed four or more earned runs in four of his last five starts, but he'll be looking for a third straight victory. Lackey yielded four runs and 12 hits in six innings Tuesday against Oakland, holding Boston within range for a 9-4 comeback win.

"You look at numbers, and we certainly do, but I don't think you can measure the way a guy almost wills himself, the way he competes, to give us a chance to win," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said of Lackey.

Baltimore's Brian Matusz (2-6, 5.28) has only managed to gather losses lately. The Orioles have dropped each of the left-hander's last eight starts, with Matusz going 0-6 in that stretch.

Still, the 23-year-old has reason for optimism after holding the Yankees to three runs - one earned - in 6 2-3 innings of Tuesday's 3-1 defeat.

"I really got back to throwing everything the way I should I was able to make good pitches at the right times," Matusz said. "It felt good out there."

Matusz didn't get a decision April 24 at Fenway Park after allowing three runs in six-plus innings of Baltimore's 7-6 loss. Lackey earned the victory.