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Indians-Red Sox Preview

Aug 3, 2010 - 4:30 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Cleveland (44-61) at Boston (60-45), 7:10 p.m. EDT

If the Boston Red Sox are going to get back in either the AL East or wild-card race, they'll need to limit their losses to non-contenders like the Cleveland Indians.

They also could use a dominating stretch of pitching from Josh Beckett.

The Red Sox hope their one-time ace can continue his resurgence Tuesday night, but they'll likely be without Kevin Youkilis as they continue their four-game series with the Indians.

Any momentum from back-to-back walk-off victories over Detroit didn't help the Red Sox (60-46) win Monday's opener against Cleveland, which withstood a late comeback attempt in its 6-5 victory.

Boston, which is 6 1/2 games behind New York and Tampa Bay in the East, is hoping to make up ground on its division rivals before a four-game series at Yankee Stadium this weekend.

The Red Sox had won 19 of 24 in the regular season against the Indians (45-61) before losing the final two games of a four-game set in Cleveland on June 9 and 10 and Monday's series opener. They haven't lost four in a row to the Indians since 2001.

"I think for the rest of the year you're going to see a lot of people playing with no fear," Cleveland outfielder Shelley Duncan said. "I think we'll be fun to watch."

Beckett (2-1, 6.33 ERA) has also struggled against the Indians. He beat them twice during the 2007 AL championship series, but is 2-4 with a 6.56 ERA in the regular season against Cleveland.

The right-hander, who signed a four-year contract extension through 2014 in April, recently spent two months on the disabled list with a back strain.

But he has posted a 2.84 ERA in two starts since returning, pitching seven innings in a 7-3 win over the Angels on Wednesday to pick up his first victory since April 10.

"We've still got more guys to get healthy, but a lot of us are coming back now," Beckett said. "I feel like I'm strong."

Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury are still on the disabled list, and Youkilis needs an MRI after leaving the series opener with a jammed right thumb.

"He's pretty sore," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "He's had a bone a bruise in that area. It swelled up quickly."

The game was also costly for the Indians, who lost catcher Carlos Santana to a knee injury. The standout rookie collided with Boston's Ryan Kalish while blocking home plate and tagging Kalish out and will return to Cleveland for tests.

That leaves Chris Gimenez to catch David Huff (2-9, 6.04) in his first start since June 19, when he walked six and allowed five runs in five innings of a 6-4 loss at Pittsburgh.

The left-hander was sent to Triple-A Columbus the next day, and he regrouped by going 6-0 with a 3.80 ERA in seven minor league starts.

"He has pitched well and still has room for improvement of the fastball command," manager Manny Acta told the Indians' official website. "He is working hard, listening and doing what we want him to do."

Huff pitched six solid innings against Boston on June 8, but lost 3-2. He gave up three unearned runs in the fourth after outfielder Trevor Crowe dropped a fly ball to give the Red Sox an extra out.