Red Sox Look to John Lackey to Halt Two-Game Skid as Phillies Come to Fenway

When the Red Sox took two of three at Philadelphia last month, it sent the Phillies into an offensive tailspin from which they have not recovered.

John Lackey, who actually struggled in his outing against the Phillies in that series, will look to keep the two-time defending NL champs down when he gets the call for Boston.

Since Lackey's start in the opener of that series in Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia has scored an average of 2.3 runs in 17 games. The Phils have been shut out six times in that stretch, including Thursday at home against Florida.

The Sox are coming off back-to-back losses in Cleveland. Daniel Bard blew a save in Thursday's 8-7 setback.

WHEN AND WHERE

Phillies (31-27) at Red Sox (35-27)
Friday, June 11, 7:10 p.m.
Fenway Park, Boston

HEAD TO HEAD

The Sox have won 16 of the last 21 meetings between the teams.

PITCHING MATCHUP

LHP Jamie Moyer (6-5, 3.98 ERA) vs. RHP John Lackey (6-3, 4.72 ERA)

Lackey has won his last two decisions and five of his last seven overall. He allowed two runs in seven innings of a game the Sox eventually lost in extra innings Sunday in Baltimore.

In that outing, the big righty walked three and struck out just two, continuing a season-long pattern of rising walk totals and sinking strikeouts totals. In his last five starts, Lackey has issued 18 free passes while fanning just 14. Included in that stretch was a rocky outing in Philadelphia on May 21. In a 5-1 loss to the Phils, Lackey gave up four runs and walked five in five innings.

Moyer, on the other hand, has walked only 14 in 72 1/3 innings all year and continues to amaze at the age of 47. He is coming off the 33rd complete game of his career, a 6-2 win over San Diego six days ago.

Moyer, who pitched in 23 games for the Red Sox in 1996, is 6-12 with a 6.57 ERA against Boston, the worst mark he has against any major league team.

LINEUPS

Lineups will be posted approximately four hours before first pitch.

STAT SHEET

Red Sox

• The Sox have won or split 13 of their last 16 series.
• Designated hitter David Ortiz is hitting .091 (3-for-33) in June after posting a .363 mark in May.
• Reliever Manny Delcarmen has given up five hits and four walks in two innings over his last three outings.

Phillies

• With his complete-game win last Saturday, Moyer became the third pitcher in baseball history to win 100 games after turning 40.
• Ace Roy Halladay made his 300th career start Thursday.
• Second baseman Chase Utley is hitting .172 (5-for-29) in June and has not homered since May 20.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox

• An MRI revealed a new fracture in outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury's ribs, team officials announced Thursday. Ellsbury, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list May 28 for the second time this year, will head to the Athletes' Performance center in Arizona for at least two weeks of rest and recovery.
• First baseman Kevin Youkilis left Thursday's game with mild back spasms.
• Josh Beckett still has yet to throw since having a bullpen session cut short May 28. He may get a chance to throw Saturday, but that is tentative. Beckett is on the DL with a lower back strain.
• Infielder Jed Lowrie continues to try to work back from mononucleosis.

Phillies

• Shortstop Jimmy Rollins is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment June 14. He has been on the DL twice this year with a right calf strain.
• Lefty J.A. Happ is on a rehab assignment of his own as he tries to work his way back from left forearm soreness.
• Right-handed reliever Ryan Madson has begun to throw long toss. He went on the DL in late April with a broken right big toe.

OUTLOOK

Following a pair of ugly losses in Cleveland, the Sox could use some interleague play. They are 129-103 against NL teams, and while the Phillies have been considered the cream of the crop in the senior circuit, they come in searching for some offensive punch and have struggled mightily against Boston over the years.

It could offer up a great chance for the Sox to put the past two days behind them.