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Red Sox shoot for four-game sweep of Orioles

Jul 10, 2011 - 2:39 PM (Sports Network) - The Boston Red Sox hope to head into the All Star break in sole possession of first place in the AL East, and a win over the Baltimore Orioles in the finale of this four-game set at Fenway Park would assure that.

Boston currently owns a one-game lead over second-place New York, while Baltimore is a staggering 17 games off the pace.

Expect to see Mitch Atkins on the hill for the Orioles this afternoon. Atkins made the first start of his MLB career on Tuesday against a powerful Texas squad and allowed just one earned run in six innings of action. He did scatter eight hits but found a way to work out of trouble on a couple of occasions.

The righty, who has never faced Boston, made seven relief appearances in the majors before starting against the Rangers.

Because of an injury to Jon Lester, Kyle Weiland will make his big league debut today for the Red Sox. The 24-year-old rookie is 6-foot-4 and went 8-6 with a 3.00 ERA in 17 starts with Triple-A Pawtucket. The righty played college ball at Notre Dame.

John Lackey pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning and combined with a pair of relievers on a four-hit blanking in Boston's 4-0 win over the struggling Orioles on Saturday.

Josh Reddick's two-run double capped a three-run fifth inning, as the Red Sox won for the ninth time in 10 games. The AL East leaders have outscored Baltimore, 24-7, over the first three games of this series.

The teams were playing one night after Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz charged the mound and exchanged swings with reliever Kevin Gregg. Cooler heads prevailed Saturday evening, but home plate umpire Jeff Nelson issued warnings to both benches in the seventh when Lackey pegged Derrek Lee with a pitch on the left thigh.

Lackey (6-8) allowed three hits, a walk and fanned seven batters over 6 2/3 frames to snap a three-start losing streak in which he surrendered 14 runs over 13 1/3 innings.

"I was locating a little bit better but honestly, not a whole lot," Lackey said. "Velocity was pretty much the same and told you [media] my arm felt pretty good the other day so hopefully, moving forward, I'll keep it going."

He moved to 11-4 lifetime against the Orioles. Daniel Bard threw 1 1/3 innings in his 17th straight scoreless appearance and Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth inning.

"He was so good, that was fun to watch," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said of Lackey. "He threw his breaking ball real effectively, really just pitched."

Kevin Youkilis had three hits and drove in two runs, while Jacoby Ellsbury came up a homer shy of the cycle.

Alfredo Simon (1-2) was charged with seven hits and three runs over 4 2/3 innings in Baltimore's sixth straight loss. The O's have fallen in 11 of their last 12 games.

The Red Sox have won five of their seven matchups with the Orioles this season.