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Diamondbacks-Red Sox Preview

Jun 14, 2010 - 11:52 PM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Arizona (26-38) at Boston (37-28), 7:10 p.m. EDT

With the Boston Red Sox scoring runs in bunches, Fenway Park has been a difficult place for visitors lately.

At the moment, no road venue looks like a good one for the Arizona Diamondbacks, who will be trying to snap a 10-game road losing streak as they begin a six-game trip Tuesday night against Clay Buchholz and the Red Sox.

Boston (37-28) lost six of its first seven games at Fenway, an uncharacteristic start for a team that went 56-25 at home each of the last two years.

But the Red Sox have won 19 of their last 28 at the oldest ballpark in the majors, a big reason they are back in the AL East race. They've scored eight or more runs five times in their last seven home games, although they missed out on a three-game sweep of Philadelphia with Sunday's 5-3 defeat.

Arizona (26-38) was swept three times on its last road trip, an 0-9 debacle that featured walk-off defeats in each of the last four games - including a 1-0, 14-inning loss to the Dodgers in the finale June 2.

"I wouldn't wish this road trip on anybody," manager A.J. Hinch said after that game.

It has been nearly a month since the Diamondbacks' last road win, a 5-1 win at Florida on May 17, and it may not be easy to end the drought with Buchholz (8-4, 2.52 ERA) on the mound.

The emerging right-hander's five-start winning streak was snapped Wednesday, but he posted his sixth consecutive quality start, holding Cleveland to three runs and three hits in seven innings of an 11-0 loss.

Still, Buchholz hopes to have better command after walking four Indians.

"The first four innings, all I could throw for strikes was a fastball," Buchholz told the Red Sox's official website.

The 25-year-old faces an Arizona lineup that has not scored a run in its last 31 innings on the road, although the Diamondbacks' hitters showed signs of life during a 6-4 homestand, scoring seven runs five times.

Chris Young hit his 11th and 12th home runs in Sunday's 7-5 win over St. Louis, including a walk-off shot in the ninth inning.

Arizona is still hoping for more contributions from slugger Justin Upton, who had Sunday off after going 4 for 26 (.154) with 14 strikeouts and no extra-base hits in his previous seven games.

Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia had also been slumping before going 8 for 17 (.471) with three doubles and three RBIs in his last four games.

"Physically, I'm feeling better, which is a good thing," said Pedroia, who has been bothered by a sore knee. "I'm seeing the ball better. I'm working hard and just translating into the game now, which is when it gets fun."

Kevin Youkilis missed Sunday's game after getting hit by a pitch on his arm Saturday, but he'll hope to be back in the lineup against Arizona's Ian Kennedy. The right-hander made his first 14 major league appearances as a member of the Yankees, but he has never faced Boston.

Kennedy (3-3, 3.17) has blossomed in the NL after he was traded to Arizona in the offseason. Although he's winless in his last four starts, Kennedy worked around five walks and three hits to post seven shutout innings in the Diamondbacks' 2-1 victory over Atlanta on Wednesday.

Arizona has gone 4-2 in two previous visits to Fenway, including a three-game sweep June 7-9, 2002.