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Orioles-Red Sox Preview

Jul 2, 2010 - 4:20 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Baltimore (24-53) at Boston (47-32), 7:10 p.m. EDT

It's been nearly a year since Tim Wakefield recorded a win in Boston, but Friday night he'll have extra motivation as he seeks to snap his winless streak there.

Wakefield will set a club record for most starts at Fenway Park when he takes the mound for the Red Sox in the opener of a three-game series against the AL-worst Baltimore Orioles.

The 43-year-old knuckleballer will be making his 201st career start at Fenway on Friday, passing Roger Clemens for the all-time record. Setting the record would likely mean more to Wakefield (2-6, 5.21 ERA) if he can get his first win at home since July 8 against Oakland.

The right-hander is 0-5 with a 6.32 ERA in nine starts and two relief appearances in Boston since that victory. The Red Sox (47-32) are 2-5 in his starts at Fenway this year, and he leads the team in total losses.

"Either way, we're obviously going to be proud of what he accomplished," manager Terry Francona told the Red Sox's official website. "When he gets the win, that makes it a lot better."

Francona will turn to Wakefield after the Red Sox had their three-game winning streak snapped with a 9-4 loss to Tampa Bay on Wednesday. Reliever Manny Delcarmen faced five batters in the eighth and all of them scored.

Francona said the reliever is dealing with a sore elbow, adding to concerns about a bullpen that has given up 25 runs and 33 hits over its last 20 2-3 innings pitched.

Despite those struggles, Boston is 1 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East.

Wakefield will try to help the Red Sox make up some ground after allowing four runs and 11 hits in seven innings of a 5-4 loss at San Francisco on Friday.

Wakefield has no record and a 7.00 ERA in two games - one start - against the Orioles this season, allowing three homers over nine innings.

He'll face a Baltimore team, however, that dropped two of three to Oakland after winning its previous four. The Orioles (24-54) lost 8-1 Thursday, giving up 15 hits while committing two errors.

The loss came hours after team president Andy MacPhail confirmed he interviewed former Indians manager Eric Wedge and Orioles broadcaster and former player Rick Dempsey for the club's manager position. MacPhail would not say whether interim manager Juan Samuel, who took over for the fired Dave Trembley on June 4, would finish out the season.

"I think the energy level has picked up some since Juan has been here and certainly the results," MacPhail told the Orioles' official website before Thursday's loss dropped the team to 9-15 under Samuel.

Brad Bergesen (3-4, 6.83) will take the mound Friday after returning from a stint in the minors last week. The right-hander gave up five runs and six hits and lasted only four innings Saturday, but the Orioles still went on to beat Washington 6-5.

Bergesen, who is winless since beating Seattle on May 12, gave up four runs and seven hits in five innings of a 12-9 win over the Red Sox on May 1.

He won't be able to count on Luke Scott's production Friday. The outfielder was placed on the 15-day disabled list before Thursday's game because of a strained left hamstring.