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Red Sox-Indians Preview

Apr 28, 2009 - 3:58 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Boston (12-6) at Cleveland (7-12), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The last time the Boston Red Sox lost, they were alone in last place in the AL East.

Two weeks later, they're now in first.

The Red Sox keep finding new ways to win, and they'll try to extend their winning streak to an even dozen when they continue their three-game series in Cleveland on Tuesday night.

After Boston lost 6-5 in 12 innings at Oakland on April 14, David Ortiz was hitting .172, Daisuke Matsuzaka was headed to the disabled list and the Red Sox were looking for answers at 2-6.

It hasn't taken them long to find a variety of solutions, from a bullpen that has a 1.39 ERA in its last 11 games to an offense averaging 7.5 runs and batting .314 over that span.

The Red Sox (13-6) didn't manage a run in eight innings against Indians starter Cliff Lee on Monday, and the opener to Boston's nine-game road trip was scoreless going to the ninth. But Jason Bay hit a three-run home run off closer Kerry Wood, sparking the Red Sox to a 3-1 win - their 11th straight victory.

"There's going to be a bounty out on me," Bay said Monday.

The Canadian outfielder helped extend Boston's longest winning streak since a 12-game run in June 2006. The Red Sox now lead Toronto by percentage points in the AL East.

Bay is 9-for-14 with eight RBIs in his last four games, including a two-run homer off New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera to tie Friday's game. The Red Sox won that contest in 11 innings, and went on to a three-game sweep that capped their 9-0 homestand.

Despite an uneven start to his Red Sox career, Brad Penny has contributed to the team's surge as Boston has won all three games Penny (2-0, 7.80 ERA) has started.

The right-hander had perhaps his best outing Wednesday against Minnesota, beating the Twins with six strong innings in which he allowed three runs - two earned - and walked just one. He received ample run support in the 7-3 victory, boosting his run support average to 9.60.

"In the National League, you give up two or three runs, you might get a loss that night," Penny said. "Here, who knows what's going to happen? It's an exciting game. It's an offensive division over here."

Penny has never faced the Indians, nor has expected Cleveland starter Anthony Reyes pitched against Boston.

Also a relative newcomer to the AL, Reyes (1-0, 4.76) has held opponents to a .190 batting average this season, but has walked 10 in 17 innings.

He issued four free passes Thursday against Kansas City, but still allowed only two runs in six innings, although he did not receive a decision in the Indians' 5-2 win.

Still, Cleveland (7-13) can't seem to string together victories as the Indians remain in last place in the AL Central. The club's struggling offense has managed just 12 runs in the last six games, and the Indians had only one hit in seven innings against Boston's Tim Wakefield on Monday.

"Obviously we're not happy with where we are," Lee said. "We think we are a better team than this."

They haven't been very good against Boston lately. After Monday's loss, the Indians have dropped nine of their last 10 against the Red Sox, including the final three games of the AL Championship Series in 2007.