Boston @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 19, 2011 ) Boston 2, Baltimore 6

THE STORY: Until Tuesday night, the Boston Red Sox-Baltimore Orioles series looked like a huge mismatch. Boston had won seven straight meetings, many of them by lopsided scores. But Baltimore finally got a well-pitched game against Boston as Jeremy Guthrie held the Red Sox in check over seven innings and allowed two runs as the Orioles recorded a 6-2 victory. The two teams will wrap up their three-game series on Wednesday afternoon in Baltimore as the Red Sox' Andrew Miller faces the Orioles' Jake Arrieta in a rematch of their meeting earlier in the month, won by Boston 10-4.

TV: 12:35 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), MASN (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Andrew Miller (3-1, 5.68 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Jake Arrieta (9-6, 5.10).

Miller lost his first game as a member of the Red Sox in his last start. The tall lefthander has struggled with his control in the past and the demons came back to haunt him again in the 9-6 loss to Tampa Bay on Friday as he walked five and allowed seven runs in 2 2/3 innings. Miller beat Baltimore prior to the All-Star break when he allowed three runs on six hits in five innings, but he walked four. He has allowed 16 walks in 25 innings with Boston. The Red Sox belted a pair of homers against Arrieta in their last meeting. The 25-year-old has allowed 14 runs in his last 14 innings and has surrendered 17 homers this season. Arrieta has been solid at home (5-2).

ABOUT THE RED SOX (58-37): There could be something to the home run derby jinx after all as Adrian Gonzalez has gone 2-for-24 since the All-Star spectacle. Gonzalez homered in the All-Star game but has looked like a shell of himself recently. He went 0-for-4 on Tuesday. Dustin Pedroia reached on an infield hit to extend his hitting streak to 17 games, which ties his career high. Gonzalez knocked into a double play, however, to end the inning. Boston manager Terry Francona said he may use Kevin Youkilis at designated hitter Wednesday while David Ortiz serves the final game of his suspension. Carl Crawford served as the DH on Tuesday night.

ABOUT THE ORIOLES (39-55): When Derrek Lee and Mark Reynolds hit back-to-back homers in the eighth inning Tuesday, it was the first time all season Baltimore had gone back-to-back. Lee has 10 RBIs in 10 games against Boston this season. Baltimore allowed less than four runs Tuesday for only the second time in their last 24 games. Guthrie may have pitched his way out of Baltimore with his solid performance on Tuesday. Several teams, including the Detroit Tigers, have been scouting Guthrie despite his 4-13 record.

FINAL PITCH: Boston has won 9 of 11 and 13 of its last 16 games. With New York’s loss to Tampa Bay on Tuesday, the Red Sox maintained their 1½-game lead over the Yankees in the American League East.