Oakland @ Boston preview
Fenway Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 2, 2010 ) Oakland 4, Boston 6
On the day that David Ortiz was named the American League Player of the Month of May, he picked things right up in June.
Ortiz's two-out, two-run homer in the fifth inning propelled the Boston Red Sox to a 6-4 win over the Oakland Athletics. The two teams complete a three-game series at Fenway Park Thursday afternoon.
Ortiz cracked his 12th homer of the year off Ben Sheets as the Red Sox rallied for the second straight day. The Red Sox designated hitter was 2-for-2 in the game, lifting his average to .275 on the season. Boston is a season-high eight games over .500.
Jon Lester, who went 5-0 in April, was named the league's pitcher of the month. Lester allowed just 24 hits in 44 innings.
Boston hopes that Tim Wakefield can join the party Thursday. Wakefield was hammered by the Kansas City Royals in his last start, allowing 12 hits and nine runs in just 3 2/3 innings.
Even though Josh Beckett is eligible to come off the disabled list Thursday, the Red Sox will be counting on Wakefield for at least two more starts and possibly several more. Beckett has not thrown in several days and the Red Sox want him to rest 10 more days before he begins again.
The Red Sox received better news on the injury front when tests came back negative on outfielder Mike Cameron.
Cameron missed his second straight game Wednesday with soreness in his abdomen. Cameron has a tear on one side of his abdomen, but has reported soreness on the other side. He is expected to return for the weekend series against the Baltimore Orioles.
Despite all the injuries, however, Boston continues its winning ways. Wednesday's victory was its ninth in its last 12 home games.
Oakland is hoping that Brett Anderson can stop its losing streak at two games. The Athletics have fallen a game behind the Texas Rangers in the AL West standings.
Anderson returned from a long stint on the disabled with elbow and forearm problems to help shut out the Detroit Tigers, 6-0, last week. He threw 5 2/3 innings in his first start since April 25 striking out four while allowing just three hits and no walks. He's walked just four batters in 28 innings this season.
After the game, Detroit manager Jim Leyland called Anderson one of the best pitchers in the league. The hard-throwing left-hander was a second-round pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2006 and was acquired by the A's in a trade that sent Dan Haren to Arizona.
The A's may juggle things in the infield. Shortstop Cliff Pennington is mired in a 1-for-30 slump. Kevin Kouzmanoff pinch hit for Pennington in the ninth inning of Wednesday's game and homered off Jonathan Papelbon. Adam Rosales got the start at third base and went 1-for-4.
Oakland is looking for more power. The A's entered Wednesday's game tied for last in the AL in home runs with 31.