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Pitchers' duel on tap at Fenway

Jun 4, 2011 - 2:42 PM (Sports Network) - Two of the top pitchers in the American League will collide this afternoon in the second installment of a three-game series between the Oakland Athletics and Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

The Athletics will hand the ball to Trevor Cahill, one of the rising stars in the American League, who currently possesses the sixth best earned run average in the league at 2.31.

However, the young right-hander has run into some trouble over the past couple of weeks, losing three of his last four outings. In his most recent appearance, the 23-year-old struggled against the Yankees, allowing four runs on four hits and five walks. It was the second consecutive game that Cahill allowed four runs and issued five walks.

If the young hurler is going to return to the win column he will have to do so against another juggernaut from the east in the Red Sox. Boston has been troublesome for Cahill in his brief career, as the crafty hurler is just 1-2 against them with a very rickety ERA of 5.19.

Cahill is clearly one of the young elite arms on the rise in today's game, and his counterpart this afternoon was also seen in the same light during his earlier years.

In his 10 seasons Josh Beckett is no longer seen as a promising star on the rise, but instead he is considered a veteran hurler with a laundry list of accomplishments under his belt, including two World Series titles and a World Series MVP.

Last year the right-handed hurler from Texas scuffled throughout the season and many thought the 31-year-old was reaching the end of the line. However, those people forgot to inform Beckett, who is currently leading the American League with an astonishing 1.80 earned run average.

Beckett has clearly been the most consistent pitcher for the Red Sox, but the veteran was unable to lead his team to victory in his last outing. In a 3-0 loss to Detroit, Beckett allowed two runs on five hits, but also issued five walks.

The battle-scarred hurler will try to return to the win column against a team that has given him trouble in the past. Beckett is only 5-3 in eight starts against the A's and has a less than appetizing ERA of 4.41.

However, maybe that will change this afternoon at home, where the ace has been virtually impeccable, allowing just two runs in 32 1/3 innings of production.

While this evening's contest has all the makings of a low-scoring pitchers duel, Friday's opener was just the opposite, as Carl Crawford's two-run hit in the seventh inning pulled the Red Sox ahead for good in an 8-6 triumph.

David Ortiz collected two hits and drove in two runs, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia added a solo homer for the Red Sox, who snapped a four-game skid.

Bobby Jenks (2-2) turned in one inning of scoreless relief for the win, and Jonathan Papelbon worked a perfect ninth to earn his 11th save.

Daric Barton and Mark Ellis knocked in two runs each for the Athletics, who have lost four straight games.

Joey Devine (0-1) was charged in defeat with two runs while recording two outs.