Weekend preview: Boston at Baltimore

Game Preview Boston (59-42) at Orioles (44-57) The Orioles are trying to get their offense going again. Perhaps they are on their way after scoring 14 runs in beating Kansas City the last two days. After splitting that four-game series, the Orioles welcome Boston to town tonight to continue this seven-game homestand. Pitching Matchups: Fri, 705p - Jeremy Guthrie (7-9, 5.21) v. John Smoltz (1-4, 7.04) Sat, 705p - David Hernandez (3-2, 3.20) v. Josh Beckett (12-4, 3.44) Sun, 135p - Jason Berken (1-8, 6.21) v. Clay Buchholz (1-1, 3.52) After an eight-game stretch where they scored just 24 runs, the O's have posted back-to-back 7-3 wins over Kansas City. They have 22 hits, six doubles and a team average of .319 in those two wins. The O's have won three of their last five games. Over a longer stretch, they have lost nine of 13 and 20 of 32 games. The Orioles, 2-2 on this homestand, are 28-23 at home this season. They are 12-8 at home vs. AL East opponents. The Orioles are 11-7 over the last 18 home games. Nolan Reimold and Matt Wieters are batting a combined .447 vs. the Red Sox this year. Reimold is 11 for 23 and Wieters is 6 for 15. Reimold went 7 for 10 with three doubles in a three-game series last weekend at Fenway Park. Brian Roberts hit his AL-leading 36th double in Thursday's win over KC. It was the 400th extra-base hit off his career, good for 10th best in O's history. The O's split the four-game series with the Royals by winning the last two and are 13-15-5 in 33 series on the season. The Red Sox beat Oakland 8-5 on Thursday to complete a four-game split of that series. The Sox are second in the AL East, 2 ½ games behind New York. Boston is the AL wild card leader by a game and a half over the Texas Rangers. The Sox have lost three of five and eight of their last 12 games. Boston is only 5-8 since the All-Star break. The Sox are 12-12 in July and are 24-25 in road games this season. Tonight Boston is starting a nine-game road trip. Boston took two of three at Baltimore from June 29-July 1st. On the season, Boston is 8-2 vs. the Orioles. The Red Sox have won 11 of the last 13 games between these teams and 15 of the last 18. Boston has won eight straight series vs. the Orioles. Dustin Pedroia is batting .361 over his last 20 games, Jacoby Ellsbury is 13 for 30 (.433) over his last seven games and Mike Lowell is batting .406 with 9 RBI during a nine-game batting streak. Ellsbury is batting .435 (20 for 46) this year vs. Baltimore pitching with eight runs scored and six stolen bases in six tries. O's hitters, 2009 vs. Boston: Andino: 5-20/0/0 Huff: 4-36/0/2, 10K Izturis: 3-17/0/2 Jones: 3-25/0/1 Markakis: 14-42/2/13, 10K Mora: 2-16/0/1 Pie: 5-25/0/4, 9K Reimold: 11-23/0/1 Roberts: 11-41/0/2 Scott: 7-26/1/2 Wieters: 6-15/0/2 Wigginton: 10-33/1/4 Zaun: 1-19/0/0