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Lackey returns to face A's

Jun 5, 2011 - 2:33 PM (Sports Network) - Brett Anderson is just one of many promising arms for Oakland, but the southpaw has fallen on hard times recently and will look to get back on track this afternoon in the series finale against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Anderson opened the month of April in impressive fashion, but on April 30th the young hurler surrendered seven runs in a loss to Texas, and since then it has been all down hill. Including that matchup, Anderson has lost four of his last seven starts, but it is not solely due to his lack of effectiveness, as the A's have not given the lefty much run support.

However, the last time the 23-year-old was in action he was no match for the veteran lineup of the New York Yankees and in just 5 1/3 innings of work Anderson was tattooed for 10 runs -- nine earned -- on 11 hits.

Fortunately for Anderson and the Athletics, facing the Red Sox brings out the best in the Texas native, so he could find himself back in the win column. Earlier this season Anderson tossed eight shutout innings against the Red Sox, striking out eight batters, and in six career starts against the AL East powerhouse, the crafty lefty is an impressive 4-1 with a remarkable 2.08 earned run average.

Boston will counter with right-hander John Lackey, who will be making his first start since going on the disabled list back in the middle of May.

Lackey suffered an elbow sprain, and it was evident in his last two starts before his trip to the DL. In back-to-back losses to Anaheim and Toronto, the 32-year-old allowed 17 runs on 19 hits and eight walks in just over 10 innings of duty.

Lackey spent a good portion of his career in an Angels uniform, so he is no stranger to the Athletics. In 32 career starts against the A's, Lackey is an impressive 17-6 in those outings, and that comes along with a steady 2.86 earned run average. Earlier this season Lackey held Oakland to just one run through six innings, but a lack of run support left him in the loss column.

The Texas native will take the hill looking to land a sweep for the Red Sox after J.D. Drew ended a marathon battle on Saturday in the 14th inning, as his gapper to right plated Carl Crawford from second base to give Boston a hard-fought 9-8 win.

The starting time of the second meeting of this three-game series was moved up in an effort to appease Bruins fans hoping to devote their attention to Game 2 of the NHL's Stanley Cup Finals.

The five-hour, 17-minute bout ended less than two hours before the drop of the puck, culminating in a two-out rally off Oakland's ninth pitcher -- Guillermo Moscoso (2-1).

Crawford, who ended with four hits and three RBI, sparked things with a double down the left-field line, and the Athletics opted to walk Jed Lowrie to get to Drew. On the second pitch he saw, Drew laced one into the right-field gap to score Crawford without a play at the plate for Boston's second straight win.

Oakland dropped its fifth consecutive contest, but only after sending the game to extra innings with four runs off Jonathan Papelbon in the ninth. Papelbon was eventually ejected for arguing balls and strikes, as was catcher Jason Varitek.