Red Sox, John Lackey Welcome Indians to Boston for Four-Game Set

With a pair of walk-off wins in their pocket, the Red Sox look to continue their recent hot stretch when they open a four-game series with the Cleveland Indians on Monday.

After scoring the game-winning run on a throwing error Sunday against Detroit, the Sox had won five of their last six games. It is a surge which has pulled them within 6 1/2 games of first-place New York in the American League East.

The Yankees are first up on a 10-game road trip which begins Friday.

John Lackey opposes Fausto Carmona in the opener vs. the Indians, who have won two in a row following a 1-6 stretch.

The teams split a four-game series in Cleveland earlier in the year.

WHEN AND WHERE

Indians (44-61) at Red Sox (60-45)
Monday, August 2, 7:10 p.m.
Fenway Park, Boston

HEAD TO HEAD

The Sox are 10-3 against the Indians at home since 2007.

PITCHING MATCHUP

RHP Fausto Carmona (10-8, 3.92 ERA) vs. RHP John Lackey (10-5, 4.26 ERA)

Lackey has settled in as the second half has begun, just as he said he would. In three starts since the All-Star break he is 1-0 with a 1.61 ERA.

In his return to Anaheim six days ago, Lackey allowed two runs in 7 1/3 innings to reach double figures in wins for the eighth straight season. He is 6-6 with a 3.71 ERA in 14 career starts vs. Cleveland.

Carmona has been excellent much of the season but is coming off a disastrous start against the New York Yankees on Wednesday. In just 2 2/3 innings of an 8-0 loss, he gave up seven runs on 10 hits.

The 26-year-old is 1-3 with a 5.16 mark vs. the Sox.

LINEUPS

Lineups will be posted approximately four hours before first pitch.

STAT SHEET

Red Sox

• The Sox' win Sunday was their first without an extra-base hit since July 23, 2008 at Seattle.
• Boston scored eight ninth-inning runs in the series vs. Detroit.
• Designated hitter David Ortiz is batting .310 (13-for-42) with four home runs and 12 RBIs during a 10-game hitting streak.

Indians

• Cleveland ranks 12th in the American League in runs scored.
• The Indians have won 18 of their last 32 games.
• The club has the youngest roster in the major leagues.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox

• Second baseman Dustin Pedroia had a CT scan Friday which revealed significant healing in his broken left foot. He is performing virtually all activities and could return soon.
• Catcher Jason Varitek also had a CT scan on his broken foot and was able to get rid of his crutches. He will remove his protective boot on Saturday and can slowly begin to incorporate more activities. Varitek remains weeks away.
• Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury (rib) was scheduled to be reevaluated after his second rehab game with Pawtucket on Sunday.
• Mike Lowell (hip) was expected to be activated from the DL on Friday but remains sidelined. A roster move involving Lowell could occur Monday. He was 11-for-22 with four homers in just five rehab games for the PawSox.
• Righty Junichi Tazawa underwent Tommy John surgery in March. He is out for the year.

Indians

• Designated hitter Travis Hafner is day-to-day with a sore right shoulder. He may be placed on the DL
• Right-hander Mitch Talbot was placed on the DL last week with a back strain.
• Left-hander Aaron Laffey is on the DL with a fatigued left shoulder.
• Center fielder Grady Sizemore (left knee surgery) is out for the year.
• Right-hander Anthony Reyes (Tommy John surgery) is on a minor league rehab assignment.

OUTLOOK

If the Indians are going to take any game in this series, this may be their best chance, simply because Carmona is on the mound. But if Lackey throws the way he has been of late, and if momentum means anything, it's the Sox' game for the taking.