Seattle @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( May 1, 2011 ) Seattle 2, Boston 3

THE STORY: With designated hitter David Ortiz back in the lineup, the Boston Red Sox return to Fenway Park to open a prolonged homestand on Friday night when they host the Seattle Mariners. Ortiz has finished his three-game suspension and will be back to bolster baseball’s best offense as Boston begins to play 14 of its next 17 games at home. John Lackey pitches for the Red Sox. Ace Felix Hernandez will provide the opposition for the Mariners, who have lost 12 straight games.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ROOT, NESN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (8-8, 3.26 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH John Lackey (7-8, 6.70 ERA)

Even "King" Felix hasn’t been able to bail out the Mariners during their recent slide. Hernandez has lost his last two decisions. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, Hernandez is 4-1 in his career against Boston with a 2.70 ERA. He didn’t figure in the decision against the Red Sox earlier in the season, but was dominant in fanning 10 over seven innings while allowing two runs.

Lackey has been improving recently. He has seemed to regain his strikeout pitch again and has won two straight starts, fanning 14 batters over 12 1/3 innings in the process. Lackey’s ERA and WHIP are still atrocious but has pitched well against Seattle in his career, posting a 13-10 mark with a 3.62 ERA. Lackey has stuck around for a decision in all 15 of his starts on the season.

ABOUT THE RED SOX (59-37): Dustin Pedroia continues to be the hottest hitter in the game. He is currently riding an 18-game hitting streak with a pair of game-winning hits over the past week. Adrian Gonzalez snapped out of his brief slump with four hits in Wednesday’s game at Baltimore. With Ortiz back in the lineup, it will be interesting to see who plays right field as rookie Josh Reddick is on a torrid hitting pace and J.D. Drew looks to be nearing the end of the line. "I don’t think you have to cast your lot on one player and completely bury another,” Boston general manager Theo Epstein said. Jacoby Ellsbury (.316) is also sizzling at the plate. He belted two homers on Thursday and has a career high 15 on the season.

ABOUT THE MARINERS (43-55): On Thursday, Miguel Olivo erased a four-run deficit for his team by hitting Seattle’s first grand slam of the season in the top of the eighth. That tied the game at 5-5, but Mariners couldn’t anything more in a 7-5 loss at Toronto. Adding in the All-Star break, Seattle hasn’t won a game since defeating the Athletics in Oakland on July 5. The 12-game skid is the Mariners' longest since dropping 12 straight from Sept. 11-22, 2008. Surprisingly, Seattle has an 11-10 record against AL East teams this season. The Mariners lead the season series 2-1, but is just 10-21 in recent years at Fenway Park.

FINAL PITCH: Daniel Bard set a franchise record with his 21st consecutive scoreless appearance on Wednesday. Bard hasn’t allowed a run in 22 2/3 innings, dating back to May 23. That’s the longest streak for a Red Sox pitcher since Bob Stanley threw 27 consecutive scoreless innings in 1980.