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White Sox seek to maintain Fenway mastery over Red Sox

Jun 1, 2011 - 2:42 PM (Sports Network) - The Boston Red Sox have worked hard to put their miserable start to the season long behind them, but another setback to the Chicago White Sox could stir up some season-opening memories.

Boston tries to avoid a fourth straight loss and a three-game sweep at the hands of Chicago, which itself takes aim at a seventh straight victory at Fenway Park this afternoon in the finale of its 10-game swing.

Victories in 13 of 15 games from May 13-29 helped vault the Red Sox into first place in the American League East, but their current three-game slide has dropped them a game back of the New York Yankees in the standings. Another loss tonight would give Boston four straight setbacks, its longest skid since it opened the season 0-6.

The White Sox, meanwhile, have enjoyed their trip to Fenway Park much more than was expected. In taking the first two games of this series, Chicago has run its winning streak at the historic ballpark to six straight for the first time since it won seven in a row there from July 12, 1958-May 14, 1959.

Having won 12 of their past 14 meetings with the Red Sox overall, the White Sox will be looking to win a season-high three straight games for the third time this season and can wrap a 10-game road trip with a 5-5 mark with a victory today.

Alexei Ramirez paced last night's 10-7 victory with four hits and three RBI, while Gordon Beckham had three hits and also drove in a run. Philip Humber got the win, limiting the Red Sox to four runs over 7 2/3 innings.

"They're really good, man -- especially in this ballpark," said Humber of the Red Sox. "Even though we scored 10 runs, no lead is safe against that lineup."

Boston did make a charge towards the end, getting a late three-run homer from David Ortiz, but it wasn't enough. Jason Varitek had a solo homer earlier in the game and Drew Sutton drove in two runs.

Red Sox starter Alfredo Aceves took the loss after getting tagged for eight runs -- six earned -- in five-plus innings.

"I didn't think he executed like he has -- certainly -- the last couple of outings," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona of Aceves. "He wasn't quite as sharp as he's been."

Hoping to break out the brooms today for the White Sox will be Gavin Floyd, who has never lost to Boston in his career. He is 4-0 with a 3.53 earned run average in six games, including five starts, versus the club.

Floyd was slated to start last night's meeting, but his short relief appearance on Saturday caused the White Sox to flip him with Humber. Floyd pitched a perfect 13th inning versus the Toronto Blue Jays that day, but saw his 1-2 fastball to lead off the 14th taken deep for a walk-off homer by Corey Patterson.

"I got into a great count," said Floyd, "and I made a really bad pitch."

That relief appearance, Floyd's first since Aug. 24 of last year, followed a tough loss at Texas last Wednesday in which the 28-year-old righty suffered a 2-1 defeat despite allowing just two runs -- one earned -- on three hits over seven innings of work. He is now 5-5 with a 3.69 earned run average in 11 appearances this year.

The ageless Tim Wakefield will try to post his third straight winning start this afternoon for the Red Sox.

Like Aceves, Wakefield was summoned from a relief role into the rotation because of injury and has responded well. He has given up just three runs over 13 2/3 innings in his back-to-back wins and has pitched to a 3.80 ERA in his four overall starts this year. It marks the first time Wakefield has won back- to-back outings since a three-game run from June 4-16, 2009.

The right-handed knuckler beat the Tigers on Friday, giving up two runs on five hits over a season-long seven innings of work in what was also his longest outing since July 2 of last year. He picked up career victory No. 195 and his 181st with the Red Sox, 11 shy of the club's all-time mark shared by Cy Young and Roger Clemens.

"He got some fly balls, which he always does, he got some popups," said manager Terry Francona on Boston's website. "It seemed like he kind of took the sting out [of Detroit's bats]. He was at 83 [pitches], that's pretty good. We wanted to kind of hold him around 85 if we could, so it worked out really well."

Wakefield, 44, is 2-1 with a 4.14 ERA in 13 overall outings this year and holds an all-time mark of 7-12 with a save and a 4.93 ERA against the White Sox.