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Red Sox-Athletics Preview

Sep 11, 2010 - 6:25 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Boston (78-62) at Oakland (69-70), 9:05 p.m. EDT

Boston did little at the plate during its series-opening loss at Oakland. The Red Sox have only been slightly better with John Lackey on the mound of late.

The Red Sox hope to bounce back and give Lackey some support as he tries to avoid losing a third straight start by continuing his success against the Athletics on Saturday night.

Clinging to fading postseason hopes, Boston (78-63) managed three hits in a 5-0 loss to the A's on Friday. The Red Sox have lost eight of 12 and are nine games behind the AL East-leading Yankees, and 7 1/2 back of Tampa Bay in the wild-card race.

Boston has averaged 3.1 runs while losing eight of 10 at Oakland.

Lackey (12-9, 4.48 ERA) has posted a 4.05 ERA while losing his last two starts, but his teammates have totaled four runs in those games. He gave up three runs and struck out seven in seven innings of a 3-1 loss to the White Sox in the nightcap of a doubleheader last Saturday.

"It is what it is," Lackey said of the recent lack of run support. "We've got a lot of guys grinding, a lot of guys filling in some spots and really keeping us in a race."

The right-hander seems to get enough support while going 17-4 with a 2.86 ERA in 30 starts versus Oakland. Lackey, 3-0 with a 3.21 ERA in his last four starts against the A's, gave up four runs and a season-high 12 hits in six innings of a 9-4 victory over Oakland on June 1.

Victor Martinez, Adrian Beltre and Josh Reddick each had hits Friday for the Red Sox. Beltre is 13 for 31 (.419) with three homers this season against the A's (70-70).

After Trevor Cahill pitched seven solid innings to help Oakland record its 14th shutout of the season, Brett Anderson (4-6, 2.97) looks to build on his first win in a month Saturday.

The left-hander was 0-4 with a 3.21 ERA in his previous five starts before he allowed a run and four hits in 7 2-3 innings of a 6-2 win over Seattle on Monday. Anderson is 2-5 with a 3.38 ERA in eight starts since returning from his second stint on the disabled list this year because of elbow problems.

"You've just got to grind it out a couple more starts," Anderson said. "I've pitched fairly well since coming off the DL the second time."

Anderson preceded his second trip to the DL by leaving with a sore elbow after he allowed two runs in two innings of a 9-8 win at Fenway Park on June 3. He is 2-1 with a 2.63 ERA in four starts versus Boston.

Former Red Sox outfielder Coco Crisp had three hits and matched his career high with three stolen bases Friday as the A's won for the fifth time in seven games.

Crisp, 9 for 17 with seven RBIs in his last five games, also robbed Ryan Kalish of a potential leadoff home run Friday.

"He's just a really dynamic player. He can do everything," Oakland manager Bob Geren said.

Crisp, however, is 4 for 22 with two home runs against Lackey.