Arizona @ Boston preview
Fenway Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 25, 2008 ) Arizona 0, Boston 5
Clay Buchholz and the Boston Red Sox look to start a new streak on Tuesday when they host the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first of a three-game interleague series at Fenway Park.
The Red Sox dropped the finale of a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.
They've won six of their last eight games at home.
Buchholz saw his personal string of five wins end with a loss at the Cleveland Indians last week. Buchholz battled through some early control problems and the Red Sox couldn't solve former mate Justin Masterson in the 11-0 setback.
Masterson allowed just one hit in the game.
The Diamondbacks enter Fenway with the one of the road worst records in the National League. Arizona, which is just 9-22 away from home, will start Ian Kennedy (3-3).
While Kennedy began his career with the New York Yankees, he's never faced Boston. The Diamondbacks have won the last two games that Kennedy has started but the right-hander has not figured in the decision. He has a solid 3.17 ERA on the season but has allowed 14 home runs in the 82 innings while fanning 71.
Arizona enters the series winners of two straight. On Sunday, the Diamondbacks' bullpen blew a three-run lead in the ninth inning but Chris Young belted his second homer of the game in the bottom of the frame to give Arizona a 9-7 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.
The day before, ace Dan Haren beat the Cardinals.
It is the bullpen that has failed Arizona, however. The Diamondbacks will use newly acquired Dontrelle Willis out of the pen as a situational lefty against the Red Sox.
Boston is hoping to get both starting pitchers Daisuke Matsuzaka and Josh Beckett back from the disabled list within the next couple of weeks. Matsuzaka, who was placed on the disabled list before his scheduled start on Saturday, will not have an MRI on his arm. Manager Terry Francona said that was a positive sign.
Beckett has continued to throw on the side with no discomfort, but there is no definitive timetable on his return.
Second baseman Dustin Pedroia, whose recent slump was attributed to an ailing knee, has hit safely in eight for his last 17 at the plate and said he is feeling fine.
The Boston outfield, however, remains a mess. Further testing on Jacoby Ellsbury revealed another broken rib, giving him five in all. The Red Sox hope to have him back in the lineup by the All-Star break. Jeremy Hermida also has five broken ribs and is on the 15-day disabled list.
Rookie Daniel Nava, who hit a grand slam in his first major league at-bat on Saturday, had an RBI single in Sunday's loss to the Phillies and should continue to see action until one of them returns.