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Red Sox-Orioles Preview

Aug 30, 2010 - 5:22 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Boston (74-57) at Baltimore (48-83), 7:05 p.m. EDT

With August coming to a close, the Boston Red Sox must make a move if they're going to advance to the playoffs for the fourth straight season.

The Baltimore Orioles have made quite a surge this month despite being far out of the race.

Boston looks to rebound from a disappointing series Tuesday night at Camden Yards, where it opens a three-game set against an Orioles club finishing off its best month in more than two years.

After pulling within 4 1/2 games of the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay with Friday's 3-1 road win over the Rays, the Red Sox (74-57) dropped two straight over the weekend after leading late in both contests.

Boston also is 6 1/2 back for the AL wildcard.

"Well, there's still 30-something games left," catcher Victor Martinez told the Red Sox's official website following Sunday's 5-3 defeat. "... We come back Tuesday in Baltimore, keep playing hard, man."

Another solid start from Josh Beckett (4-3, 6.50 ERA) could help Boston. After going 0-2 with a 10.69 ERA in his previous three starts, the right-hander struck out seven and allowed three runs and four hits over 6 1-3 innings of Wednesday's 5-3 win over Seattle in the opener of a doubleheader.

Beckett is 5-1 with a 2.98 ERA in nine career starts in Baltimore.

He will face a resurgent club coming off its first three-game sweep on the road since June 19-21, 2009. Behind 8 1-3 innings from Jeremy Guthrie, Baltimore (48-83) defeated the Los Angeles Angels 1-0 on Sunday to record its first back-to-back shutouts since July 22-24, 2007.

"This is really unfamiliar territory, but hopefully we can make it one of those regular things," Guthrie told the Orioles' website following the team's 4-2 trip. "To pitch well, see one guy pitch well, follow it up with another one. All of a sudden the third guy pitches well, then you roll four out of five good outings. That's the way teams win."

The Orioles, who are 16-11 in August and will finish with their first winning month since going 15-12 in June 2008, look for another good outing from Brian Matusz (6-12, 4.79).

He's 3-1 with a 2.32 ERA in his last five starts, and allowed one run and three hits over seven innings in Wednesday's 4-2 victory at the Chicago White Sox.

Matusz is 1-0 with a 2.41 ERA in three starts versus Boston this season. He struck out a career high-tying eight in seven innings of a 6-1 victory at Fenway Park on July 4 in the teams' most recent matchup.

Left fielder Luke Scott hit .130 on the Orioles' trip, but is 8 for 18 (.444) with two homers off Beckett while first baseman Ty Wigginton has four homers in 29 career at-bats against Boston's starting pitcher.

Martinez, who batted .615 (8 for 13) with three solo homers over the weekend, is 2 for 5 with a home run versus Matusz.

David Ortiz has struck out five times while going hitless in six career at-bats against the left-hander. The Red Sox slugger has two hits - a pair of solo homers - in 23 plate appearances at Baltimore this year.

Boston and Baltimore have split 12 games this season with the Orioles winning four of six at home.