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Angels-Red Sox Preview

Aug 18, 2010 - 3:37 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Los Angeles (60-59) at Boston (67-52), 7:10 p.m. EDT

John Lackey's first season with the Boston Red Sox hasn't gone exactly according to plan, but he's saved two of his best performances for his former team.

The right-hander has a chance to beat the Los Angeles Angels for the third time in as many starts, while Boston can improve to 9-0 against the Angels this season on Wednesday night.

Lackey (10-7, 4.54 ERA) has struggled with consistency after signing a five-year, $82.5 million contract with Boston in the offseason following a successful eight-year stint with the Angels.

But he has been sharp in two starts against Los Angeles, going 2-0 with a 1.88 ERA while allowing a total of nine hits in 14 1-3 innings. He was booed during a 4-2 win in his return to Anaheim on July 27.

"Nobody wants to get booed like that," Lackey said. "The scoreboard talks the loudest. ... That won't be forgotten, for sure."

Lackey is still searching for his first win since that outing. He's 0-2 with a 6.52 ERA in three August starts, with opponents hitting .321 against him.

Boston's season series with the Angels has included nothing but victories, an especially fulfilling outcome for the Red Sox after they were swept by Los Angeles in last year's AL division series.

The Red Sox (68-52) began their nine-game homestand by roughing up Angels ace Jered Weaver in a 6-0 win Tuesday night. While Dustin Pedroia was 0 for 4 in his return from a broken left foot, Boston got more than enough offense from Ryan Kalish's fourth-inning grand slam.

A strong performance on this homestand may be vital for the Red Sox as they attempt to shrink their 5 1/2-game deficit behind New York and Tampa Bay in the AL East.

The Angels (60-60) are even more desperate for wins, trailing Texas by eight games in the West. They continue to struggle on the road, losing 16 of their last 21 away from home.

"As an overall team we're just not getting it done," manager Mike Scioscia said. "It's been a very frustrating process."

Scott Kazmir (8-10, 6.36) is in the midst of a frustrating individual season, but he has won six of his last eight road outings.

The left-hander has also posted a pair of encouraging starts since a stint on the disabled list for shoulder fatigue. He limited Toronto to four hits and two runs in six innings Friday, but didn't get any run support in a 3-0 loss.

"I felt like I was a little erratic early on, but then I settled in after that third inning," Kazmir said. "I thought I was in a pretty good groove with all my pitches."

Kazmir was clobbered in an 11-6 loss at Fenway Park on May 6, but he's generally pitched well in Boston, going 6-5 with a 3.69 ERA in 14 starts.

Pedroia, however, has posed problems for Kazmir, going 16 for 31 against him. Red Sox catcher Victor Martinez, a switch-hitter who is batting .396 right-handed this year, is 7 for 13 with a home run in the matchup.