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Red Sox look to get back on track against Orioles

Sep 1, 2007 - 3:06 PM Baltimore (59-74) at Boston (80-55) 7:05 pm EDT

BOSTON (Ticker) - After losing their last four games, the Boston Red Sox will look to get back on track when they continue their weekend series with the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday.

The Red Sox were swept by the New York Yankees this week before dropping Friday's opener to the Orioles, 9-8. Despite the losing streak, Boston remains five games in front of the New York Yankees (75-60) in the American League East.

The Orioles' win snapped a nine-game losing streak. Baltimore ended their 10-game homestand with a 1-9 record before picking up a win in the first game of a six-game road trip.

Rookie Garrett Olson (1-2, 7.33 ERA) will look to give the Orioles back-to-back victories when he starts in place of ace Erik Bedard, who will miss his turn in the rotation due to an oblique injury. During his last start, Olson allowed six runs and five hits over five innings, but did not factor in the decision of a 9-7 setback to the Texas Rangers on August 22.

Olson has faced the Red Sox once this season, surrendering four runs and eight hits over 6 1/3 innings of a 6-2 loss on August 11.

Olson will be heading up against another young pitcher in Clay Buchholz (1-0, 4.50), who will be making his second career start.

In his major league debut on August 17, Buchholz allowed four runs - three earned - and six hits in six innings for the win in an 8-4 decision over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Buchholz will take the mound for the Red Sox after the rotation was moved up a day. Julian Tavarez was scheduled to pitch on Saturday but started on Friday instead after Tim Wakefield was scratched with a sore back.