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Boston Red Sox and
Minnesota Twins hope to get a pair of games in Wednesday, as they square off in a day-night doubleheader from Fenway Park.
Last night's opener of a quick two-game series was postponed due to rain, although the forecast continues to call for showers this evening.
After a slow start the Red Sox seem to have found their way. They will try to win their sixth straight game this afternoon. Boston completed a four-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles on Monday, as Dustin Pedroia went 4-for-6 with three RBI and three runs scored in a 12-1 blowout on Patriots Day.
Jacoby Ellsbury had three hits and scored three times, while David Ortiz and Mike Lowell each drove in two runs for the Red Sox, who have surged lately after starting the season with wins in just two of their first eight games.
Boston also improved to 5-2 in its building this season.
Justin Masterson (1-0), starting in place of the injured Daisuke Matsuzaka, got the win as he gave up just one run on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings of work.
The Red Sox will hand the ball this afternoon to veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, who carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning of his last start on Wednesday against the Oakland Athletics. Wakefield lost the no-no with one out in the eighth when Kurt Suzuki laced a singe back up the middle. Wakefield still got the win, surrendering a pair of runs and four hits in the complete- game effort.
Wakefield, 42, has faced the Twins 25 times (23 starts) and is 13-5 against them with a pair of saves and a 4.31 ERA.
Brad Penny is slated to take the hill in the nightcap, and he is 1-0 with an 11.00 ERA in two starts this season. Penny won his Boston debut on April 11 against the Los Angeles Angels, allowing three runs in six innings of a 5-4 victory. He didn't factor in the outcome of a 10-8 win versus Baltimore on April 17 despite giving up eight runs in only three innings.
The righty faced Minnesota once in his career on June 10, 2005 as a member of the LA Dodgers and did not record a decision in a 6-5 win. Penny allowed five runs and nine hits in six innings against the Twins
Minnesota, meanwhile, has also caught fire following a slow start. The Twins enter Wednesday's first game on the heels of taking all three games in their weekend series with the Toronto Blue Jays, including a 3-1 win to cap off the sweep at the Metrodome.
Jose Morales picked up two hits, an RBI and scored a run in Sunday's win, while Carlos Gomez went 3-for-3 and drove in a run for the Twins, who have won four of their last six games to get back to .500 (7-7).
Glen Perkins (1-1) yielded four hits and a run over eight innings to earn his first win of the season. Joe Nathan struck out two in a scoreless ninth for his third save.
Today the Twins turn to Scott Baker, who is coming off a disappointing season debut on Wednesday against Toronto. Originally slated to be the Twins' Opening Day starter, Baker started the year on the disabled list after experiencing soreness in his shoulder just before the start of the season. His initial start, though, lasted just four innings, as the Blue Jays tagged him for six runs on five hits - including a career- high four home runs - in a 12-2 loss.
Baker has faced the Red Sox twice (one start) without recording a decision, but has only allowed one run in 10 innings of those outings.
Francisco Liriano is still searching for his first win of the 2009 season and will counter Penny in the second game tonight. Liriano is 0-3 with a 5.09 ERA in three starts, and most recently suffered a loss to Toronto on April 16. He surrendered two runs -- one earned -- in six innings of a 9-2 defeat. The lefty, who allowed nine runs in his first two starts, has never faced Boston.
The Red Sox won four of their seven meetings with the Twins last season, including all three matchups at Fenway, where they have won five of their last six in the series.