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Red Sox hope to take care of business in DH with O's

Sep 19, 2011 - 2:53 PM (Sports Network) - Panic is starting to set in for the Boston Red Sox, but they can go a long way in easing their fans' minds this week by taking care of business against the hapless Baltimore Orioles. That starts today with a day/night doubleheader at Fenway Park.

Boston has handled the Orioles all season, going 8-3 against them, including a perfect 5-0 mark in Beantown.

That's more than can be said for the way they have played the Tampa Bay Rays, who took three of four from the Red Sox this past weekend after sweeping a three-game set from them last weekend.

On Sunday the Red Sox lost for the ninth time in 11 chances and saw their lead atop the wild card dwindled to two games over the Rays. Tampa, though, plays seven of its final 10 games against the New York Yankees, putting Boston's fanbase in the odd position of rooting for their hated rivals, who hold a 4 1/2-game edge on them in the American League East and sit five games ahead in the loss column.

Boston, which also has three games remaining with the Yankees, sends young Kyle Weiland to the hill in the first game, as he takes another crack at the first win of his career. Weiland fell to 0-2 on Thursday against Tampa, allowing four runs and three hits in just three innings.

This will be his third start of the season against the O's, who have reached him for nine runs and 14 hits in 10 innings.

Going for Boston in game two will be right-hander John Lackey, who is winless in his last four starts and is 12-12 on the year with a 6.19 ERA. Lackey did not get a decision on Wednesday against Toronto, but pitched well, as he allowed two runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Lackey pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings to beat the Orioles the last time he faced them and is 11-4 lifetime against them with a 2.89 ERA in 18 games.

Baltimore, meanwhile, relished its role of spoiler over the weekend, as it took the first two games of its series with the playoff-hopeful Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, before getting blown out on Sunday, 11-2.

Alfredo Simon (4-9) was tagged for six runs on eight hits over five innings for Baltimore, which had won four in a row.

Heading to the hill for the O's in the first game will be righty Jeremy Guthrie, who has won his last two starts. Guthrie beat Tampa Bay on Wednesday, holding it to two runs and three hits in seven innings. Guthrie also struck out 10, as he improved to 8-17 on the year to go along with a 4.22 ERA.

Guthrie, though, is just 2-8 lifetime versus the Red Sox with a 4.41 ERA in 18 games (16 starts). However, one of those wins came the last time he faced them back on July 19 when he gave up two runs in seven innings.

Baltimore will pin its hopes on struggling lefty Brian Matusz in the nightcap. He is just 1-7 on the year and hasn't won since beating Oakland on June 6. Matusz hasn't pitched since September 5 when he failed to get out of the second inning agonist the New York Yankees. He has lost his last seven decisions.