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Mets-Red Sox Preview

May 24, 2009 - 5:05 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

New York (22-19) at Boston (25-17), 1:35 p.m. EDT

The New York Mets got a little help from technology to complete a late rally and win a second consecutive game.

Now, they'll attempt to close out a 10-game road trip by completing their first sweep of the Boston Red Sox on Sunday as the teams conclude their three-game interleague series at Fenway Park.

The Mets (23-19) overcame a one-run, ninth-inning deficit for a 3-2 win on Saturday. The victory, though, appeared to be in doubt as Omir Santos' drive off closer Jonathan Papelbon hit the top of the Green Monster and was ruled a double, preventing Gary Sheffield from scoring the tying run.

The umpires, however, used video replay to overturn the call, and New York took the lead.

"That's what the replay is for," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. "We could have easily gotten out of there without the two runs and could have had a loss."

The Mets, who are 5-4 during their trip, also took the series opener 5-3 to end a four-game slide. They're now one-half game behind NL East-leading Philadelphia.

New York, though, could be without closer Francisco Rodriguez, who was unavailable Saturday after being taken to the hospital for back spasms. The closer, who pitched a perfect ninth Friday, is 1-0 with a 0.87 ERA in 20 games, and has converted all 12 of his save chances.

If the injury persists, Manuel could use J.J. Putz after he got his second save of the season Saturday.

"He was in a tough position," Manuel said of Rodriguez. "He couldn't walk. He was in bad shape. Spasms was the word that they used. How long spasms last? What is his history with that? I really don't know. So we'll see where he is tomorrow."

New York will have to contend with 42-year-old knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (5-2, 3.59 ERA) as he looks to continue his home success. The right-hander is 5-0 with a 1.80 ERA in his last six starts at Fenway.

He kept that streak intact Tuesday, yielding only a solo home run and four singles in eight innings of a 2-1 win over AL East-leading Toronto.

"Swings and misses and popups are usually good signs the ball is moving pretty well," said Wakefield, who got 16 of his 24 outs on fly balls - eight that never left the infield.

Wakefield hasn't faced the Mets since a loss at Shea Stadium on July 12, 2001, and his last victory against them came with Pittsburgh on Oct. 4, 1992. Since then, he's 0-3 with a 3.66 ERA in four games with three starts.

The Mets hope veteran Tim Redding (0-0, 3.00 ERA) can give them another quality start after an impressive debut.

The right-hander allowed two runs and two hits with four strikeouts and four walks in six innings of a 3-2, 11-inning loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers after being activated from the disabled list on Monday.

Redding had missed the first six weeks of the season with right shoulder fatigue after signing a one-year, free-agent contract in January.

He's lost both of his career starts against the Red Sox on the road, surrendering 12 runs - eight earned - and 12 hits with seven walks over 5 2-3 innings. However, he hasn't faced them since being chased after an inning of a loss with the New York Yankees on July 15, 2005.