Red Sox Gunning for Split of Season Series in Finale With Orioles

The Red Sox will look to pick up the pieces after a painful loss to the Baltimore Orioles when the two teams meet Wednesday night at Fenway Park.

The Orioles scored nine runs from the sixth inning on to secure a 9-1 win Tuesday.

The Sox left 11 men on base and committed two errors in falling to 1-4 on their current homestand.

Boston remains 6 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay in the wild card race. Only 11 games remain as Red Sox Nation keeps a sharp eye on the standings.

WHEN AND WHERE

Orioles (61-90) at Red Sox (83-68)
Wednesday, Sept. 22, 7:10 p.m. NESN
Fenway Park, Boston

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HEAD TO HEAD

Baltimore leads the season series 9-8.

PITCHING MATCHUP

RHP Kevin Millwood (3-15, 5.14 ERA) vs. RHP John Lackey (12-11, 4.63 ERA)

Lackey has lost four straight starts for the first time in his career (he dropped four decisions in a row in 2004, but over the course of five starts) after a rough outing to start the homestand.

In 4 1/3 innings of an 11-9 loss to Toronto, Lackey gave up seven runs — six earned — on eight hits. He is 2-6 with a 5.49 ERA in his last nine starts.

The righty is 6-3 with a 2.66 ERA in his last 12 outings vs. Baltimore.

It has been a difficult season for Millwood but like a lot of Orioles he has been better lately. Over a span of eight starts his record is just 1-4 but his ERA is a solid 3.02. He gave up just a run in seven innings against the New York Yankees his last time out.

Millwood is 4-1 with a 2.90 ERA in eight career starts at Fenway Park.

LINEUPS

STAT SHEET

Red Sox

• Catcher Victor Martinez is batting .373 (19-for-51) during a 13-game home hitting streak.
• Left-hander Hideki Okajima has retired 11 straight batters and has thrown 10 scoreless innings overall since coming off the disabled list last month.
• Infielder Jed Lowrie has reached safely in each of his last 17 starts.

Orioles

• With a win Wednesday Baltimore would sweep a three-game set at Fenway Park for the first time since 1994.
• First baseman Ty Wigginton has 13 career homers against Boston, more than any other team.
• The O's are 29-17 under manager Buck Showalter.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox

• Second baseman Dustin Pedroia had season-ending surgery Sept. 3 on his broken left foot. He is expected to be fully healed for spring training.
• Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury (ribs) will not resume any baseball-related activities until after the season ends.
• Center fielder Mike Cameron had season-ending surgery Friday to repair an abdominal tear.
• First baseman Kevin Youkilis had successful surgery to repair the torn right adductor muscle on his right hand. He will miss the remainder of the season.
• Left-hander Felix Doubront has pain behind his left clavicle. He has not pitched since Aug. 31 and has no return date set. Doubront will be reevaluated Monday but may be done for the year.
• Right-hander Junichi Tazawa underwent Tommy John surgery in March. He is out for the year.

Orioles

• Infielder Julio Lugo has been bothered by headaches.
• Right-hander Jason Berken went on the DL in August with a slight tear in his right labrum and a frayed rotator cuff. He is expected to be able to rehab the shoulder and avoid surgery.

OUTLOOK

This homestand had some promise before it began but much of that was lost just a few innings into the opener, in large part due to John Lackey. He can at least finish it on a good note and send the Sox to New York for the last time with a little bounce in their step. There isn't much of that right now.