Pitching matchup
BOS: RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (9-1, 2.84 ERA)
Matsuzaka was excellent against the Twins on Monday, blanking Minnesota through 7 1/3 innings. He scattered six hits and struck out five in his first outing of at least seven innings since May 10 -- also against the Twins. He's allowed just one run in his last three outings since his one-inning, seven-run loss to St. Louis on June 21.
BAL: RHP Daniel Cabrera (6-4, 4.40 ERA)
Cabrera rebounded from a disastrous June to post two solid starts in his last two outings, and he will look to finish the first half on a strong note against
the Red Sox. Cabrera has traditionally had a hard time against the Red Sox, notching a 2-9 record and a 7.11 ERA against them. This year, he's 1-0 with a
5.21 ERA in three starts against Boston.
Sox stuff
The Sox matched a season high for runs in an inning with seven in the third on Saturday. They accomplished it for the third time, and the first since
Wednesday, against the Twins. ... J.D. Drew's and Manny Ramirez's back-to-back homers marked the second time the duo put up such a feat this season.
The other time was against Cabrera. ... Ramirez belted his fifth home run in his last eight games against Baltimore on Saturday. His 36 homers against the
O's moves him past Kent Hrbek, Frank Howard and Jose Canseco for the ninth-highest total since 1956.
