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Red Sox search for more success against Indians

May 12, 2012 - 5:02 PM (Sports Network) - Boston will try to build on Friday's success, as the Red Sox continue a four-game series against the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox ended a six-game home losing streak last night, as Dustin Pedroia went 3-for-4 with three runs batted in and a run scored, helping Boston to a 7-5 win.

Clay Buchholz (4-1) went 6 1/3 innings and gave up three earned runs on eight hits to help Boston halt its skid.

Adrian Gonzalez hit two doubles and walked twice in his four plate appearances and Ryan Sweeney went 2-for-5 at the plate to help Boston end its three-game overall losing streak. Boston may be without David Ortiz, who left Friday's game with a sore left heel.

The Red Sox are still 2-8 in their last 10 games and have a lot of work to do to work their way out of the basement in the AL East.

"Very disappointed," said Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine. "Couldn't be more disappointed is the bad news. And the good news is it's going to get a lot better, and I think it's going to do that real soon. I see the fight in the guys. I see what we have out there. Against the competition, I think we will prevail."

Friday's win provided optimism for the usually-contending Red Sox.

"Today we were able to get a win and get things going in the direction that everyone here obviously wants to get going," Red Sox left fielder Daniel Nava said.

Boston will be attempting to win back-to-back games for the first time since April 28, when it defeated the Chicago White Sox to earn its final victory of a six-game winning streak.

Felix Doubront (2-1) will take the mound Saturday and aims to follow-up Buchholz's winning performance. Doubront picked up a win his last time out after he went a season high 6 1/3 innings while giving up seven hits and four earned runs to Kansas City on May 7. The lefty has a 5.29 ERA, but has shown potential so far in his first season as a full-time starter.

Cleveland, meanwhile, sits at the top of the AL Central standings and has a 10-4 record on the road.

The Indians were scheduled to send right-hander Josh Tomlin to the mound tonight, but a sore right wrist will open the door for Zach McAllister.

McAllister will make his sixth career start tonight and second of the season. He won his only start on Monday in an 8-6 win over the Chicago White Sox, as he allowed four runs -- two earned -- and six hits in six innings for his first major league win. The right-hander has never faced the Red Sox.

Cleveland's second baseman Jason Kipnis is 4-of-9 at the plate with a home run and three runs scored in the first two games of the series. Asdrubal Cabrera has scored three of the four times he has been on base in the series.

Former Boston outfielder Johnny Damon extended his hitting streak at Fenway Park to seven games with a seventh inning single on Friday. But the Indians' leadoff man is struggling since joining the team on May 1.

"He's had some good swings," Cleveland manager Manny Acta said. "He's hit some balls hard. Hopefully he starts contributing for us."

Cleveland was 6-4 last season versus the Red Sox.