Jon Lester, Dontrelle Willis Clash in Battle of Lefties in Detroit

While the Red Sox faced a daunting schedule to finish up the month of May, the series in Detroit seemed to favor them a bit.

Not only have the Sox enjoyed themselves in Comerica Park over the years, but they had a notable advantage in the pitching matchups throughout the set. And after Friday’s 7-2 win in the series opener, things are looking up.

David Ortiz slugged two home runs and drove in four to back Clay Buchholz‘s solid 6 1/3 innings as Boston improved to 8-3 in its last 11 games.

The Sox have a good opportunity to stay hot when they start the streaking Jon Lester on Saturday opposite the shaky Dontrelle Willis.

WHEN AND WHERE

Red Sox (19-17) vs. Tigers (20-16)
Saturday, May 15, 2010, 7 p.m.
Comerica Park, Detroit

HEAD TO HEAD

The Sox are 12-3 against the Tigers over the past three years.

PITCHING MATCHUP

In three straight wins, the power lefty — who is making his 100th career start — has allowed just three runs in 22 innings while striking out 23.

Amazingly, Lester has faced Detroit just once in his previous 99 starts, allowing four runs in 5 1/3 innings and taking the loss.

However, the southpaw was not effective in his last start against the Sox. In fact, he was absolutely awful. Facing Boston at Comerica last June, Willis somehow gave up five runs on no hits and five walks in 2 1/3 innings.

Willis started the third inning of that contest by hitting a batter and then walking four of the next five, including two with the bases loaded. He was replaced by Zach Miner, who allowed three inherited runners to come home.

LINEUPS

STAT SHEET

• Boston has won five straight against Detroit and is now 26-16 at Comerica Park.
• Ortiz is hitting .310 (11-for-33) with four home runs and 11 RBIs this month.
• Outfielder Darnell McDonald is hitting .400 (10-for-25) against lefties.

Tigers

• Right fielder Magglio Ordonez is 5-for-7 in his last two games.
• Center fielder Austin Jackson added two strikeouts to his league-leading total Friday. He now has 45.
• Detroit has managed to score 12 earned runs against Red Sox starters in the last eight games at Comerica Park, a span of 49 2/3 innings.

BLACK AND BLUE

• Starter Josh Beckett will throw a side session on Saturday and is hoping to start Tuesday in New York. Beckett, whose start Friday was scratched due to back spasms, threw long tosses when the team arrived in Detroit. If he is unable to go Tuesday, Tim Wakefield will get another start.
• Center fielder Mike Cameron hit a two-run homer and singled in four at-bats in his fourth rehab game for Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday. Cameron, out since April 18 with an abdominal strain, is hoping to return when the Sox go to New York.
• Left fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, also out since April 18 with fractured ribs, is with the team in Detroit. Manager Terry Francona said that if Ellsbury was left behind when the team began its road trip he would be close to returning. The fact that he’s with the team means he is still several days away.
• Righty Boof Bonser allowed two hits in four scoreless innings Wednesday in his fourth rehab start for Pawtucket.

Tigers

• Outfielder Carlos Guillen is on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring.
• Right-hander Miner, out with a sore right elbow, has recently thrown in extended spring training.

OUTLOOK

Put it all together and you have the recipe for success Saturday night. And with success, the Sox will move three games above .500 for the first time all year — no small feat after they started 4-9.