Baltimore @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 19, 2011 ) Baltimore 9, Boston 18

THE STORY: The desperate Boston Red Sox salvaged the second game of a day-night doubleheader Monday to remain two games ahead of the hard-charging Tampa Bay Rays in the American League wild card race. After dropping the first game 6-5, Boston hammered out 20 hits on the way to a much-needed 18-9 victory. The Red Sox host the Orioles on Tuesday having lost 12 of their last 16 games, and start the oft-injured Erik Bedard against Rick VandenHurk.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Rick VandenHurk (0-0, 6.00 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Erik Bedard (5-9, 3.50).

VandenHurk was pulled from his last start against the Blue Jays after surrendering two home runs in 2 1/3 innings. The 26-year-old righthander had a 5.79 ERA in 44 major league appearances (33 starts) on the season. He has allowed three homers in his six innings with the Orioles this season. The lanky righthander has faced Boston twice in his career allowing a run in two innings in a stint with the Marlins. Bedard will make his first start in 17 days after experiencing a couple injuries. The Red Sox will not let him go above 100 pitches in the game which has been his norm for the bulk of the season. After losing five straight decisions, the veteran finally got a win when he bested Texas 12-7, allowing three runs on six hits. Bedard is 1-0 against his former teammates in his career with a 2.70 ERA.

ABOUT THE ORIOLES (63-90): Baltimore had lost five straight at Boston this season before winning Monday’s opener. Overall, the Orioles have lost 42 of their last 54 games at Boston but enter Tuesday’s game winners of five of their last eight games overall with all coming against wild card playoff contenders. Adam Jones is nursing a thumb injury and Mark Reynolds has not played since getting hit in the head with a pitch on Saturday. Nick Markakis is also in a big slump but had two hits and two RBIs in Monday’s nightcap. Baltimore had 21 hits in the two games Monday and shortstop J.J. Hardy belted his career-best 28th homer.

ABOUT THE RED SOX (88-66): Even in Monday's victory, Boston looked dreadful at times. John Lackey couldn’t make it out of the fifth inning and the Red Sox made three errors. Carl Crawford was scratched from Monday’s twinbill because of a stiff neck. Crawford, who wrote an apology to the Boston fans for how awful he has played this season, was missed badly in the doubleheader as his replacement, Darnell McDonald dropped two straight flyballs in the opener. McDonald had another adventurous game in the nightcap playing right field and running the bases. The Red Sox certainly aren’t sporting a playoff-worthy lineup with Conor Jackson and McDonald in the fray. Jackson was 1 for his last 34 before hitting a grand slam in the second game. Kevin Youkilis may be finished for the year with a sports hernia.

FINAL PITCH: Boston has fallen behind in seven straight games - they have allowed 13 first-inning runs in the last 10 games. David Ortiz told reporters after Monday’s first game that Alfredo Aceves should be allowed to start. He pitched three scoreless innings Monday.