Boston @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 2, 2012 ) Boston 1, Oakland 6

As the Boston Red Sox continue their ascent in the American League, they will need left-hander Jon Lester to get going. Facing the worst offensive team in the AL in their spacious park may help Lester find his groove as the Red Sox visit the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday in the second of their three-game series. Oakland, though, exploded for five runs in the first two innings en route to a 6-1 victory Monday. The Athletics have won three of four this season against the Red Sox, who have lost 12 of their last 16 games at Oakland.

Lester is 81-39 lifetime, but a .500 pitcher in 2012. Although he has won two of his last three starts, his ERA of 4.36 during that span isn’t indicative of a dominant pitcher with a career ERA of 3.63. Also, Lester is averaging 7.0 strikeouts per nine innings this season – his career number is 8.3.

Lester will oppose Oakland’s Bartolo Colon, who will make his first start since an oblique injury knocked him out of his last outing June 14. Colon allowed eight runs in four June starts covering 22 innings.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), CS California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Jon Lester (5-5, 4.53 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Bartolo Colon (6-7, 4.22 ERA)

Lester allowed four runs and seven hits (two home runs) in seven innings in his last start, a 10-4 victory over Toronto on Wednesday. Lester is 3-3 in nine career starts against the Athletics, including 1-2 in three outings at Oakland. The Athletics’ roster is hitting .208 against him, with Jonny Gomes 4-for-12 with a homer during his time with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Colon, who left after two innings against San Diego, was rocked for five runs and nine hits in five innings in his previous start at Colorado - but earned the victory. In Colon's two prior starts, he allowed two runs in 15 innings. Colon is 8-11 in 25 games (24 starts) against the Red Sox. Boston’s roster is batting .186 against him, with David Ortiz 5-for-43 (15 strikeouts). Adrian Gonzalez has two homers in 15 at-bats.

WALK-OFFS

1. Ortiz hasn’t homered in five games since hitting No. 399 on Wednesday.

2. Oakland’s Brandon Moss, who began his career by playing parts of two seasons in Boston, has homered in two straight games.

3. The Red Sox, who are second in the major leagues with 407 runs, have scored only 10 in the first five games of their road trip.