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Orioles-Red Sox Preview

Jul 4, 2010 - 3:49 AM By MATT BROWN STATS Editor

Baltimore (24-55) at Boston (48-32), 1:35 p.m. EDT

John Lackey hasn't dominated many opponents in 2010, but he keeps on winning. Such is life as a starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox.

Brian Matusz has numbers similar to Lackey, but hasn't won since April. Such is life in the Baltimore Orioles' rotation.

Lackey and Matusz will oppose each other Sunday as the Red Sox go for a three-game sweep of the Orioles at Fenway Park.

Lackey (9-3, 4.46 ERA) and Matusz (2-9, 4.90) have similar ERA's, and Matusz actually has the better opponent batting average - .280 to Lackey's .297. However, Lackey is in position to earn his 10th win - and sixth straight - Sunday, while Matusz will seek to avoid his 10th consecutive loss.

Run support is the biggest reason for the disparity in their fortunes. Lackey has received 37 runs from the Boston offense in his five consecutive wins. Matusz, meanwhile, has gotten one run of support or less in eight of his last 12 outings. His 3.27 run support average is third-lowest among AL starters.

"I'm frustrated now but I'm not going to carry it over to tomorrow," Matusz said. "I'll prepare for my next start and let it go. Because if I start worrying about that, it's not going to make things any easier."

Despite yielding three runs or fewer in five of his last six outings, the 23-year-old left-hander is 0-9 in 13 starts since April 18. He had another respectable start Tuesday, allowing three runs over 6 1-3 innings, but got saddled with a 4-2 loss to Oakland.

"That's how it goes sometimes. You can't control that. Things haven't gone my way."

Matusz has faced the Red Sox twice without receiving a decision, giving up five runs over 11 2-3 innings in those starts. He's been opposed both times by Lackey, who is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three starts this season versus Baltimore (24-56), and 9-3 with a 3.13 ERA in 13 starts lifetime.

The Boston right-hander had more hits allowed than innings pitched for the 11th time in 16 starts Tuesday, but earned an 8-5 win over Tampa Bay after limiting the Rays to one run in seven innings. Lackey is 5-0 with a 3.72 ERA and an 8.80 run support average over his last seven starts.

The Red Sox offense gave Jon Lester and two relievers plenty of support Saturday, scoring four times in the first inning en route to a 9-3 rout. Kevin Youkilis had a homer and double, and David Ortiz and J.D. Drew added three hits apiece to put Boston in position to sweep after winning Friday's series opener 3-2.

It was the second straight strong game for Drew, who had a pair of solo homers Friday.

"When you see him hit the ball to left field, he's feeling pretty good about himself," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona, whose club is exactly 49-32 at the season's midway point for the third consecutive year.

Baltimore has dropped four of five since a season-high four-game winning streak. The Orioles have lost 17 of their last 19 games at Fenway Park.