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Streaking Red Sox look to carry success to the road

May 23, 2008 - 1:50 PM Boston (31-19) at Oakland (25-23) 10:05 pm EDT

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) - The Boston Red Sox go for their eighth straight win Friday when they visit the Oakland Athletics in the opener of a three-game series.

Boston finished off a perfect 7-0 homestand with an 11-8 victory over Kansas City on Thursday, improving its major league-best home record to 21-5.

But the Red Sox, who are beginning a 10-game road trip, are just 10-14 away from Fenway Park this season.

Righthander Tim Wakefield (3-2, 4.33 ERA) hopes to carry over Boston's recent home success to the McAfee Coliseum when he takes the hill.

In his last start, the 41-year-old knuckleballer allowed three runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings but did not factor in the decision during Saturday's 7-6 victory over Milwaukee.

While the Red Sox have been playing well, the A's have struggled of late, dropping nine of their past 12 games.

Oakland lost two out of three to Tampa Bay in its last series, but won the series finale, 9-1, on Wednesday.

The A's will send righthander Rich Harden (2-0, 2.91 ERA) to the mound, as he looks to win his second straight start. The 26-year-old gave up one run and four hits in seven innings, walking one while striking out eight in Oakland's 5-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Saturday.

Harden has faced Boston twice this season, going 1-0 while allowing one run in 11 innings with 15 strikeouts.