Red Sox-Orioles Preview

By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Boston (47-30) at Baltimore (35-42), 1:35 p.m. EDT

After dominating the same opponent his last two starts, Josh Beckett may be disappointed to face a different team Wednesday.

His Boston Red Sox teammates could be especially dismayed to see that it's still the Baltimore Orioles.

One day after Boston's vaunted bullpen suffered a historic meltdown to end the club's eight-game win streak against the Orioles, the Red Sox turn to Beckett to help them bounce back against Baltimore at Camden Yards.

Beckett (9-3, 3.48 ERA) brings a string of 16 consecutive scoreless innings into the game, but that streak came entirely against Atlanta. He pitched a five-hitter in a 3-0 home win June 20, then threw seven more innings without a run in a 4-1 victory at Turner Field on Friday.

The right-hander didn't walk a batter for the third straight start.

"I'm just trying to do the same things I do every time I'm out there," Beckett said.

Beckett can tie five others, including teammate Tim Wakefield, for the major league lead in victories. He'll be looking to reach double digits in wins for the fifth consecutive year.

He beat the Orioles 6-4 on April 18 to move to 5-2 with a 3.80 ERA in 10 career starts versus Baltimore.

The Red Sox (47-30) carried their domination of the Orioles into this season, winning the first five matchups after sweeping three games at Fenway Park in September. Boston has won 49 of the last 65 meetings.

None of that, however, mattered Tuesday. A 71-minute rain delay forced Boston starter John Smoltz to depart after four innings, but the Red Sox led 10-1 going into the bottom of the seventh - a lead that seemed safe in the hands of a bullpen that came in with a major league-best 2.89 ERA.

The Orioles, however, pulled off the biggest comeback in franchise history, scoring five runs in the seventh and five in the eighth to win 11-10.

"I think it shows we can score with anybody and we can score off anybody," second baseman Brian Roberts told the team's official Web site. "But we need to do it a little earlier and more often, probably."

The Red Sox's AL East lead slipped to 2 1/2 games over New York after five Boston relievers - including closer Jonathan Papelbon - couldn't stop the surge, allowing 13 hits and 10 runs.

"Give the other team credit. They put pressure on our bullpen tonight and we pretty much imploded," Papelbon said. "I can't think of any other word that describes it better."

The comeback came after last-place Baltimore (35-42) lost 4-0 in the opener of the three-game set, and it didn't involve center fielder Adam Jones, who left after running into the outfield wall. His status for Thursday is unclear.

The Orioles are 6-14 in day games, but seem to have a good chance to improve that record with rookie Brad Bergesen looking to continue his impressive run. Bergesen (5-2, 3.76) has not lost since May 19 and is 4-0 with a 2.23 ERA in his last six starts.

He struggled at times Friday against Washington, but allowed four hits in six innings of an 11-1 win. The right-hander has never faced Boston.