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Red Sox go for sweep vs. Hernandez, Mariners

Jul 23, 2008 - 10:11 AM Boston (59-43) at Seattle (38-62) 4:40 p.m. EDT

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- The Boston Red Sox will face a tough test Wednesday when they go for a sweep against nemesis Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.

The Red Sox have earned wins in the first two games of the series based on dominant starting pitching, with Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka combining to allow two runs in 14 2/3 innings.

J.D. Drew did the damage at the plate on Tuesday, hitting a solo homer in the first and adding a sacrifice fly in a three-run fifth en route to a 4-2 victory.

Drew and company will face their toughest test in the series finale with Hernandez, who has dominated Boston in his short career. The 22-year-old righthander is 3-1 with a 3.06 ERA in five career starts against Boston, but took a loss at Safeco on May 26, allowing one run through the first seven innings before tiring in the eighth.

Overall, Hernandez is is 5-1 with a 1.84 ERA in his last seven starts, including a six-inning performance against the Red Sox on June 6 in which he struck out five and did not allow a run.

The Red Sox will counter with struggling rookie Clay Buchholz (2-5, 5.88). The 23-year-old righthander has lost each of his two starts since being recall from Class AAA Pawtucket on July 11, allowing 12 runs - eight earned - in 9 2/3 combined innings and issuing seven walks.

In his last four major league starts overall, Buchholz is 0-3 with a 10.00 ERA and 13 walks in 18 innings.