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Phillies-Red Sox Preview

Jun 12, 2010 - 3:43 AM By JUSTIN EINHORN STATS Senior Editor

Philadelphia (31-27) at Boston (35-27), 4:10 p.m. EDT

Daisuke Matsuzaka sent the Philadelphia Phillies into a tailspin and they still haven't recovered.

Three weeks after nearly no-hitting the Phillies, Matsuzaka faces them again Saturday looking to help the Boston Red Sox win an eighth straight series over their interleague rivals.

Heading into its matchup with Matsuzaka on May 22, Philadelphia had won consecutive games and 12 of 16 to boost its NL East-leading record to 26-15. That night, the only hit the Phillies managed was Juan Castro's bloop single with two outs in the eighth inning in a 5-0 loss.

That game triggered a 5-13 stretch for Philadelphia, which has been shut out six times and averaged 2.3 runs - down from 5.5 through 41 games - while dropping to third place in the East.

It seemed the Phillies (31-28) finally figured things out at the plate with 13 hits in a 10-8 win over Florida on Tuesday, but they have since lost 2-0 to the Marlins on Thursday and 12-2 to Boston in Friday night's series opener.

"When we get pitching we haven't been hitting at all," manager Charlie Manuel said, "and then, all of a sudden, when we start swinging the bats a little bit better then we get a bad-pitched game and then we play sloppy defense."

As much as he baffled the Phillies lineup last month, Matsuzaka (5-2, 4.59 ERA) could take a slightly different approach. He threw eight scoreless innings to win Monday - like he did versus Philadelphia - but relied more on a cut-fastball than his usual slider in a 4-1 victory at Cleveland.

"His cutter was real effective," manager Terry Francona said. "It was a real good weapon for him."

Boston (36-27) has won all seven series against Philadelphia since Francona, the former Phillies manager, took over in 2004. A win Saturday or Sunday will extend that streak, during which the Red Sox are 17-5 against the Phillies and 6-1 at Fenway Park.

Boston has won five of six at Fenway and is 14-6 there since the start of May. David Ortiz is hitting .370 with 17 RBIs in his last 14 home games after going 3 for 5 with four RBIs on Friday. He was coming off a 1-for-26 road trip.

Ortiz has played a big role in Boston's success versus the Phillies, batting .362 with 17 RBIs in his last 15 starts against them.

No Red Sox hitter is hotter than Victor Martinez, who doubled twice and drove in two runs Friday. He's hitting .451 with 18 extra-base hits in his last 18 starts.

"We have players that are capable of doing some damage and that's what's going on," Ortiz said.

The Boston lineup now looks to torment Joe Blanton (1-4, 6.07) after ripping Jamie Moyer, who allowed nine runs and recorded only three outs. The Phillies have lost Blanton's last three starts as he's gone 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA.

Despite giving up 11 hits and two homers in a 6-5, 10-inning loss to San Diego on Sunday, Blanton came away somewhat encouraged.

"I feel like I'm pretty close to where I need to be," said Blanton, who missed the first month of the season with a strained oblique muscle.

Blanton is 3-2 with a 3.61 ERA in nine starts versus Boston.

Kevin Youkilis is 7 for 21 with a homer against Blanton and is expected to return after sitting out Friday with back spasms.

Philadelphia's Jayson Werth ended a 3-for-41 slump with three hits Friday, but Chase Utley was hitless and is batting .138 in his last 16 games.