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Red Sox, D'backs set for rubber match at Fenway

Aug 4, 2013 - 12:28 PM (Sports Network) - The Boston Red Sox will put the finishing touches on their homestand when they close out a three-game series versus the Arizona Diamondbacks Sunday at Fenway Park.

The AL East-leading Red Sox earned a split of this set thanks to Saturday's 5-2 win and bounced back from a 7-6 setback in the series opener. The Red Sox unveiled their new toy in right-hander Jake Peavy and he fanned seven batters through seven innings of two-run ball for the win.

Peavy was acquired from the Chicago White Sox in a three-team deal before the trade deadline.

"Outstanding debut for us," Red Sox manager John Farrell said on Peavy's performance. "A number of swing and miss, with three different pitches -- fastball, cutter and slider. He was efficient and as advertised."

Koji Uehara hurled a scoreless ninth to earn his 10th save.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a two-run homer to give Boston some breathing room in the eighth and Shane Victorino also homered and added two RBI. Boston has won six of eight games and remained a game in front of Tampa Bay for the division lead. The Red Sox, who are 4-2 on the homestand, will open a 10-game road trip Monday at Houston.

Toeing the rubber for the Red Sox Sunday will be Felix Doubront. Doubront, whose start was pushed back for Peavy's debut on Saturday, has dropped consecutive starts since winning three in a row and allowed two runs in five innings of Monday's 2-1 loss to the Rays.

Doubront dropped to 7-5 in 20 games (19 starts) this season to go along with a 3.77 earned run average. He has never pitched against Arizona and is 3-3 in 10 games, nine of which have been starts, on the road.

The D'backs fell for the fifth time in seven tries on Saturday, as Patrick Corbin failed in an attempt for his 13th win of the season. Corbin (12-3) gave up three runs in six innings to absorb the loss.

Paul Goldschmidt homered and Aaron Hill ended with two hits and an RBI for Arizona, which is now 4 1/2 games behind the surging Los Angeles Dodgers for the NL West lead. Goldschmidt has four homers in his last seven games.

Arizona is 2-3 on its six-game trek and will return to the desert Tuesday to start an eight-game homestand.

Brandon McCarthy's first season with the Diamondbacks has been mired by shoulder inflammation and he is slated to take the hill Sunday. The right- hander has been on the disabled list since late May and lasted only 2 2/3 innings of a 9-5 loss at Texas on May 30.

Signed by Arizona as a free agent in the offseason, McCarthy was tagged for nine hits and six runs to fall to 2-4 in 11 starts with a 5.00 earned run average. He had won back-to-back outings from May 18-24. In nine career games (6 starts) against Boston, the former Oakland hurler is 3-3 with a 4.82 ERA.

TheD'backs and Red Sox are meeting for the first time since Boston swept a three-game set back in 2010.