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Red-hot Red Sox look to close out White Sox

Jul 22, 2007 - 1:01 PM Chi White Sox (43-53) at Boston (58-39) 2:05 pm EDT

BOSTON (Ticker) - The Boston Red Sox have broken out of their collective offensive funk in a big way this weekend. They will look to keep the bats alive when they finish up a four-game series against the visiting Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

While the Red Sox were struggling through a stretch of eight losses in 11 games, the offense was the biggest problem. In the eight losses, they averaged just over three runs per contest.

In the last two games, however, the bats have come alive. Boston has outscored the White Sox, 21-5, with Coco Crisp exploding for eight combined RBI and J.D. Drew overcoming a sore hamstring with three doubles in the two games.

Attempting to put the clamps on Red Sox's bats will be righthander Jon Garland (7-6, 3.88 ERA). The 27-year-old has settled down nicely after allowing 12 runs in 3 1/3 innings July 6 against Minnesota. Since then, he has allowed five runs in 13 innings, going 1-0 in two starts at Baltimore and at Cleveland.

He has never had great success against Boston, owning a 3-3 career mark with a 4.76 ERA in 10 games - seven starts. He has allowed 69 baserunners in 45 1/3 frames against the Red Sox.

Countering for Boston will be knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (10-9, 4.69). The veteran righthander had a three-start winning streak snapped last Tuesday when he yielded six runs and nine hits in 6 1/3 innings against Kansas City.

Chicago has always been a tough matchup for the 40-year-old, pounding him for a 5-10 mark with a 5.42 ERA in 25 games - 16 starts.