Baltimore @ Boston preview
Fenway Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 2, 2010 ) Baltimore 2, Boston 3
The only constant with the Boston Red Sox these days is manager Terry Francona. So far, that's been good enough.
Francona, who led Boston to World Series titles in 2004 and 2007, is working magic with the Red Sox this season. With 10 players currently on the disabled list, the Red Sox not only keep on winning, they are near the top of the AL East standings.
Boston plays host to the Baltimore Orioles Saturday at Fenway Park in the second of a three-game series. The Red Sox won the opener, 3-2, on Friday to climb within a half-game of the New York Yankees for the division lead.
The banged-up Red Sox placed catcher Jason Varitek and reliever Manny Delcarmen on the disabled list on Thursday. The next day, with another of Francona's makeshift lineups, Tim Wakefield dazzled on the mound with the help of former backstop Kevin Cash.
Wakefield scattered seven hits over eight innings to win his first game in nearly a month - and first overall at Fenway this season.
Cash, who was acquired from the Houston Astros on Thursday after the Red Sox discovered Varitek's injury, went 0-for-3 at the plate, but threw out a runner and allowed just one passed ball with Wakefield's dancing knuckleball.
The Red Sox called up right-handed reliever Robert Manuel and infielder Niuman Romero from Triple-A Pawtucket before Friday's game.
Varitek suffered a broken right foot when he took a foul ball in the eighth inning of Wednesday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. He is expected to miss around six weeks. Cash will see the bulk of the action until Victor Martinez returns from a broken thumb after the All-Star break.
Boston's long list of disabled players also includes second baseman Dustin Pedroia, right-hander Josh Beckett, outfielders Jacoby Ellsbury and Jeremy Hermida and third baseman Mike Lowell.
The Red Sox will bank on pitching and defense again Saturday as Jon Lester makes the start. Lester, a strong candidate to start the All-Star Game, is 9-3 on the season with a 2.86 ERA.
Lester has allowed two runs or less in seven of his last eight starts. He rebounded from a 2-1 loss at the Colorado Rockies to defeat the San Francisco Giants, 5-1, on Sunday in a matchup against Tim Lincecum.
The Orioles turn to Jeremy Guthrie, who is 3-9 with a 4.30 ERA. Guthrie is 1-6 in his career against Boston and lost an 8-2 decision to the Red Sox on June 5 at Camden Yards.
Overall, he's lost his last five decisions.
Nick Markakis homered for the Baltimore in Friday's loss. Highly-touted outfielder Josh Bell made his second appearance in an Orioles uniform this season and went 1-for-4.