Baltimore @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 8, 2011 ) Baltimore 3, Boston 10

THE STORY: After getting pounded by the Boston Red Sox for the second straight night, the Baltimore Orioles reached their boiling point on Friday when Kevin Gregg battled David Ortiz in the main bout of a bench-clearing brawl. Gregg incited the fracas with a couple of fastballs aimed at the designated hitter and they eventually threw wild punches (none landed) after Ortiz flew out later in the at-bat. The two teams face off again Saturday night as Boston's John Lackey goes against spot starter Alfredo Simon. Lackey didn’t get out of the third inning of his last outing.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Baltimore), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Alfredo Simon (1-1, 4.64 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH John Lackey (5-8, 7.47).

Baltimore had planned on starting Chris Jakubauskas, but the righthander appeared out of the bullpen in emergency situations the past two games. That will thrust Simon into the lion’s den to face the high-powered Red Sox' offense. Simon has appeared in six games against the Red Sox in his career - all in relief - and has one save and a 5.40 ERA. Simon has not started a game since 2009 and has made only three major league starts in his career. The Orioles can’t expect much from their part-time closer last season. Only a rash of injuries has kept Lackey in the starting rotation. With Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz and Daisuke Matsuzaka all on the disabled list, Lackey simply has to perform. Lackey is dealing with family issues and was sidelined with an elbow strain earlier in the season. On the field, he has been awful and lasted only 2 1/3 innings in his last outing, allowing seven runs on nine hits against the Blue Jays.

ABOUT THE RED SOX (53-35): Following Friday night’s brawl, Ortiz is clearly headed for a suspension, which will likely happen after the All-Star break. The Red Sox have won four straight and eight of their last nine, and lead the American League by one game over the New York Yankees. With its starting rotation in shambles, the Red Sox certainly seem to realize how important it is to score a boatload of runs and have scored 60 in their last nine games. Starter Josh Beckett left Friday night’s game with a mildly hyperextended left knee after he slipped on a wet mound following a pitch.

ABOUT THE ORIOLES (36-50): While the Red Sox pitching staff is loaded with injuries, the Orioles staff is simply ineffective. Baltimore has allowed at least four runs in a game in its last 16 outings and Friday night, it gave up eight runs in the first inning. Baltimore, which has lost five straight and 10 of its last 11, has sunk to the bottom of the American League East. It is even worse for the Orioles at Fenway. Baltimore has lost 40 of its last 52 games at Boston. Derrek Lee homered in a three-run fifth inning Friday night, but Lee and Vlad Guerrero have been major disappointments this season. The two are hitting a combined .179 with runners in scoring position.

FINAL PITCH: Boston finally got some good news on the pitching front. Clay Buchholz received a cortisone injection in his lower back and was told by a specialist that his condition was muscle related and should subside. Buchholz hopes to begin throwing Sunday.