Baltimore @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 7, 2011 ) Baltimore 4, Boston 10

THE STORY: Josh Beckett, Boston’s lone pitcher in the All-Star Game, takes the American League’s third-best ERA (2.12) to the mound Friday night when the Red Sox host the Baltimore Orioles in the second game of a three-game series at Fenway Park. Boston has dominated Baltimore at home, winning 40 of the last 53 meetings, and hammered the Orioles 10-4 on Thursday night in a game in which it belted six home runs. Baltimore will counter with rookie lefthander Zach Britton, who beat Boston 4-1 earlier in the season at Camden Yards.

TV: 7:10 p.m. MASN, NESN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles LH Zach Britton (6-6, 3.47 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Josh Beckett (7-3, 2.12 ERA).

Britton started the season 5-1 and had all the makings of a Rookie of the Year candidate. Since then he is just 1-5, only winning once since May 6. Opponents are batting .254 against the lefty, who limited Boston to just one run on five innings in his only appearance against the Red Sox. Still, despite his struggles to earn a victory over the past two months, Britton continues to compete and his ERA remains respectable.

Beckett bounced back from a poor outing against the Phillies to dominate Houston in his last start. Beckett breezed through the Astros’ lineup, allowing just five hits and a run in eight innings in a 2-1 victory. Beckett lost a 5-4 decision at Baltimore earlier in the season. He is 6-3 lifetime against the Orioles with a 3.68 ERA. Beckett has made 13 quality starts this season and Boston is 11-5 when he pitches. He is 2-0 at Fenway Park this season with a miniscule 1.17 ERA.

ABOUT THE RED SOX (52-35): Boston cracked six homers in Thursday’s assault to win for the third straight time and take over first place in the AL East. The Red Sox have also won seven of their last eight games and are 17 games over .500, their high point of the season. Dustin Pedroia is riding a nine-game hitting streak and he has reached base in 21 straight games. Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon keeps racking up the saves but he has a 6.75 ERA since June 1. Papelbon has converted saves in 19 of his 20 chances. Neither he nor Daniel Bard was needed in Thursday’s blowout. Bard has made 17 straight scoreless appearances.

ABOUT THE ORIOLES (36-49): The Orioles have lost four straight and nine of its last 10 games. Entering Thursday night’s game, the Orioles have a run differential of minus-80. Only Houston (-92) was worse. Baltimore has won 28 of its 100 games against the Red Sox. The Orioles have allowed at least four runs in 15 straight games. They wasted a 2-0 lead on Thursday in a game that reliever Pedro Viola allowed home runs to the first three batters he faced. All-Star catcher Matt Wieters has hit .320 his last 11 games, and .317 in 14 career games at Fenway.

FINAL PITCH: Adrian Gonzalez returned to the Boston lineup after missing Wednesday’s game with a stiff neck. Gonzalez is 12-for-23 against the Orioles this season. Boston is still missing Jed Lowrie and Carl Crawford from its starting nine. Brian Roberts and Luke Scott are sidelined for the Orioles.