Boston @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 1, 2010 ) Boston 9, Baltimore 6

One big inning did a lot for the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.

Another victory over Baltimore would accomplish even more.

The Red Sox look to build on a thrilling victory when they take on the Orioles in the finale of the three-game series Thursday night.

Boston's 9-6 win over the Baltimore Orioles, forged by a six-run seventh inning, provided plenty of positives. It snapped a three-game losing streak, put a much-needed spark back in the Red Sox offense and, most notably, kept the team's sagging playoff hopes alive – if only temporarily.

Boston still trails the Tampa Bay Rays by seven games in the American League wild card race with just 29 games remaining. The Red Sox are also eight games off the pace of the division-leading New York Yankees in the AL East.

Baltimore has had a lot to do with Boston’s current predicament. Despite sitting 26 games behind the Red Sox in the division standings, the Orioles have split 14 meetings with them this season.

Oft-injured Daisuke Matsuzaka takes the mound for Boston in his first start since Aug. 21. He was forced to skip his last turn after developing tightness in his back.

While the Japanese right-hander is 3-2 in seven lifetime starts against Baltimore, he has a bloated 5.65 ERA and has walked 25 in 36 2/3 innings.

The Orioles gave Matsuzaka a rude welcome when he came off the disabled list to make his first start of the season on May 1. He failed to make it out of the fifth inning, surrendering six runs on seven hits – including a three-run homer by Matt Wieters and a solo shot by Ty Wigginton.

Wieters is 4-for-6 lifetime and second baseman Brian Roberts is batting .467 (7-for-15) with three doubles against Matsuzaka, who is winless in his last three outings and has allowed four runs in each of them.

Brad Bergesen will make his third start against the Red Sox this season. He got the victory in the May 1 matchup with Matsuzaka despite giving up four runs and seven hits in five innings.

The 24-year-old right-hander actually pitched better at Boston on July 2, but took the loss after allowing three runs on five hits in 7 2/3 innings.

Bergesen has turned his season around in the last month, going 3-0 with three no-decisions in his last six starts. That’s a marked turnaround from a dreadful 2 1/2-month stretch that saw him go 0-7 over a span of 10 starts.

J.D. Drew (.417), Marco Scutaro (.385) and Adrian Beltre (.333) have given Bergesen the most trouble among Boston’s hitters. All three players homered in Wednesday’s victory, with Beltre belting a three-run shot and Scutaro adding a two-run blast in the decisive seventh inning.