Red Sox Go for Series Win Behind John Lackey

After a painful, marathon loss in 12 innings Saturday night, the Red Sox have a quick turnaround before the finale of a three-game series with the Detroit Tigers.

Just before midnight Saturday, the Tigers got a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the 12th to steal a 7-6 win over the Sox, who once held a five-run lead.

The loss for Boston prevented the club from getting three games above .500 for the first time all year.

For the third straight game in the series the Sox figure to have a decided advantage on the mound, where steady John Lackey opposes Armando Galarraga, who is being called up from Triple-A Toledo for the start.

Despite the frustrating loss, Boston has still won eight of 12 and can win a series for the sixth time in eight tries with a victory Sunday.

WHEN AND WHERE

Red Sox (19-18) vs. Tigers (21-16)
Sunday, May 16, 1 p.m.
Comerica Park, Detroit

HEAD TO HEAD

The Sox are 12-4 against the Tigers over the past three years.

PITCHING MATCHUP

RHP John Lackey (4-1, 4.60 ERA) vs. RHP Armando Galarraga (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Lackey allowed six runs in six innings in his last start, but still got plenty of credit in the Red Sox clubhouse for working around some early struggles and getting a lead to the bullpen.

The workmanlike effort gave Lackey three wins in four starts since his nightmarish start against Tampa Bay on Patriots’ Day.

Lackey is 6-1 with a 3.73 ERA in nine career starts against the Tigers. He is 4-0 at Comerica Park.

Galarraga was a 13-game winner two seasons ago when he finished tied for fourth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting. He followed that up with a rough sophomore season and started this season in the minors.

With the way Max Scherzer is struggling for the Tigers, this could be an important audition for Galarraga.

LINEUPS

STAT SHEET

Red Sox

• Boston drew a season-high 12 walks Saturday. First baseman Kevin Youkilis had a career high with five.
• Closer Jonathan Papelbon has thrown 8 1/3 straight scoreless innings.
• Designated hitter David Ortiz had his first three-hit game of the year Saturday and is now hitting .359 (14-for-39) with 13 RBIs in May.

Tigers

• Closer Jose Valverde got the win Saturday with his 16th straight scoreless outing.
• Right fielder Magglio Ordonez is now hitting .352 (117-for-332) in his career against the Red Sox.
• Rookie outfielder Brennan Boesch has 19 RBIs in just 18 games this year.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox

• Starter Josh Beckett got through his side session Saturday without an issue and will start Tuesday in New York. Beckett, whose start Friday was scratched due to back spasms, threw long tosses when the team arrived in Detroit.
• 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 and word came down Saturday that he may be headed to Pawtucket for a Monday game.
• 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 Zach Miner, out with a sore right elbow, has recently thrown in extended spring training.

OUTLOOK

The Sox have been forced to continuously scrape themselves off the mat due to a host of difficult losses this year. Saturday’s setback is no exception, putting plenty of pressure squarely on the shoulders of John Lackey.

The big righty may be the right man for the job. He has performed well in this park and is almost always a good candidate to spare the bullpen, a critical need after five Boston relievers threw 4 1/3 innings Saturday.