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Scorching Drew leads Red Sox against Orioles

Jun 12, 2008 - 1:02 PM Baltimore (32-32) at Boston (41-27) 6:05 p.m. EDT

BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Boston Red Sox and new No. 3 hitter J.D. Drew will be looking to clinch a three-game series when they host the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday.

Drew has hit safely in 10 straight games since moving into the No. 3 hole when David Ortiz went on the disabled list June 1. He is batting .500 (16-for-32) with five homers, four doubles, a triple, 13 RBI, nine walks and a stolen base during that span.

Drew drove in the first run of Wednesday's 6-3 win in the first when he laced a double down the right-field line to score Jacoby Ellsbury. Drew then scored the Red Sox's second run on a wild pitch.

The victory improved Boston's home record to a major league-best 27-7. The Red Sox, who lost the series opener on Tuesday, have not dropped consecutive games at Fenway Park since April 23 and 24.

Clean-up batter Manny Ramirez - a big reason why Drew is getting more pitches to hit - extended his hitting streak to 15 consecutive games with a single on Wednesday. He has seven homers and 20 RBI during the streak.

Boston will send Jon Lester (4-3, 3.50 ERA) to the mound in the finale. The lefthander has been sharp at Fenway Park of late, going 3-0 over his last four starts while allowing just two runs in 29 1/3 total innings.

He picked up a win against Tampa Bay on June 5, allowing one run and eight hits in 6 1/3 while striking out five and not issuing a walk.

The Orioles will counter with righthander Jeremy Guthrie (3-6, 3.40). The 29-year-old has faced the Red Sox twice this season, going 1-0 while allowing five runs - four earned - in 12 1/3 innings.