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Red Sox aim to continue surge against Cubs

May 21, 2011 - 2:44 PM (Sports Network) - Six straight losses to open the season had Boston off to its worst start since 1945. Now the club has a chance to take over the top spot in the American League East before the end of May.

The Red Sox try to extend their season-high seven-game winning streak this evening as they continue a three-game series tonight with the Chicago Cubs, who are making their first trip to Fenway Park in nearly a century.

The Cubs, though, looked like a team that hadn't visited the historic field since the 1918 World Series as they committed four errors and watched the Red Sox pound out a season-high 19 hits in a 15-5 loss to Boston.

Adrian Gonzalez had four hits and drove in four runs, Kevin Youkilis and Jarrod Saltalamacchia both homered and Jacoby Ellsbury had three hits and two RBI. All that helped pitcher Jon Lester win his sixth straight decision despite allowing 12 hits and five runs over six innings.

"It was good to get the big lead and cruise the last three innings," Gonzalez said. "It was nice and relaxing."

What Boston did was cruise to a 22-10 record since a 2-10 start and move past the Yankees for second place in the AL East. The Red Sox are a half-game up on New York and trail first-place Tampa Bay by a half-game as well.

The excitement of Chicago's rare trip to Fenway quickly wore off as Doug Davis allowed seven runs over just 3 2/3 innings and Chicago lost for the fourth time in six games. Jeff Baker had four hits and scored twice, while Reed Johnson added two hits and a pair of RBI in defeat.

"The loss kind of put an end to my enthusiasm for this wonderful, momentous occasion," Cubs manager Mike Quade said.

Quade will hope for happier times tonight with Carlos Zambrano set to take the hill. It will be Zambrano's first start since having a string of 10 straight road victories dating back to last year end in Cincinnati on Monday. The right-hander matched a season high by allowing six runs in addition to six hits and three walks over 5 1/3 innings, falling to 4-2 with a 4.89 earned run average in nine starts this season.

"I don't like the performance for myself. As a starter, I have to get better," said Zambrano, who had a three-start unbeaten streak end (2-0) with his first setback since April 24.

Zambrano, 29, is 8-8 with a 4.82 ERA in his career during interleague play and faced Boston just once before on June 11, 2005. He got a no-decision, yielding four runs on five hits over five innings of work.

With Daisuke Matsuzaka on the disabled list with a sprained right elbow, Alfredo Aceves will make his first start since July 9, 2009 with the Yankees and the sixth of his career overall tonight.

Aceves did make two starts with Triple-A Pawtucket this year and is 1-0 with a 2.60 earned run average in 11 relief appearances with Boston. He picked up that victory on Monday versus Baltimore, giving up a run over three innings.

The 29-year-old righty has been solid in five career relief outings during interleague play, going 1-0 with a 1.04 ERA. He has never before faced the Cubs.

These two clubs last met in 2005, with the Cubs winning two of three from the Red Sox at equally-historic Wrigley Field.

Boston went 13-5 in interleague play last season, while Chicago was 8-10 versus the AL.