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Orioles go for sweep of struggling Red Sox

May 14, 2008 - 12:36 PM Boston (24-18) at Baltimore (20-19) 3:05 pm EDT

BALTIMORE (Ticker) - The Baltimore Orioles will send their hottest pitcher to the mound Wednesday in search of a two-game series sweep of the struggling Boston Red Sox, who will be finishing up a 10-game road trip.

The trip began well for the Red Sox when they took three out of four from the Detroit Tigers, but they have dropped four of five since and will have to deal with Daniel Cabrera before getting a day off.

Cabrera (3-1, 3.54 ERA) has been surprisingly strong this season, posting quality starts in each of his last six outings while limiting opponents to a .191 batting average. The Dominican righthander was the subject of trade rumors last season and figures to be a hot topic at the July 31 deadline this summer as well.

Teams were reluctant to make much of an offer for Cabrera over the winter because he was coming off a 2007 campaign when he went 9-18 with a 5.55 ERA while leading the American League in walks and earned runs allowed.

But Cabrera has displayed command to a certain extent of late, issuing just 15 walks in his last six starts - seven coming in one outing. He earned his third win last Thursday, allowing one run and three hits while walking one and striking out seven in a complete game effort at Kansas City.

The Red Sox have always been a problem for Cabrera, however, as he owns just a 1-9 career mark with a 7.84 ERA in 11 outings against the division rivals.

Boston will counter with lefthander Jon Lester (2-2, 4.06). The 24-year-old is 1-0 over his last six starts, lasting longer than 6 1/3 innings just once during that span.

He is coming off a no decision Friday at Minnesota in which he allowed five runs - three earned - and eight hits in 5 1/3 frames in an eventual 7-6 loss.

Baltimore won the series opener Tuesday, pounding Josh Beckett for five runs and 11 hits in 5 2/3 frames.

Boston slugger David Ortiz personified Boston's recent frustration when he was ejected in the ninth inning for arguing with umpire Laz Diaz, who called him out after check swing with the count full.