Baltimore, MD (My Sportsbook) - The Boston Red Sox will try to keep their long-shot hopes of winning the wild card alive this evening, when they finish up their four- game set with the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.

Boston has swept the first three of this series and has won five of its last seven overall. The Red Sox sit 6 1/2 games behind struggling Anaheim for the wild card. Boston must win out and hope for the Angels to lose their final six contests if it expects to force a one-game playoff for the wild card.

On Sunday, the Red Sox registered a 13-2 shellacking of the Orioles. Pedro Martinez won his 20th game of the season to lead the Red Sox to the victory. Martinez allowed two runs on seven hits in six innings, with one walk and six strikeouts.

Martinez (20-4) became the American League's third 20-game winner, joining teammate Derek Lowe and Oakland's Barry Zito. The last time Boston had two 20- game winners in a season was 1949, when Mel Parnell (25-7) and Ellis Kinder (23-6) accomplished the feat.

Trot Nixon belted a grand slam, while Johnny Damon hit two homers in the win. Nomar Garciaparra and Cliff Floyd also went deep for Boston, which outhit the Orioles 14-9.

Chris Singleton and Tony Batista each drove in a run for Baltimore, which has lost five straight.

Sidney Ponson (7-8) suffered his third straight loss, permitting seven runs on 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings. He also walked two and struck out six.

Boston will hand the ball to red hot knuckleballer Tim Wakefield this evening. Wakefield has won four straight starts and hasn't lost August 24 against Anaheim. Last time on the hill, Wakefield allowed just five hits and one run over eight innings en route to the victory. Wakefield fanned four and walked one in the winning effort.

Wakefield has given up no more than one earned run in each of his last seven straight starts. The last time he allowed more than one earned run was August 6 against Oakland.

Wakefield has struggled a bit against Baltimore this year, going 0-0 with a 7.71 ERA. For his career, Wakefield is 7-8 with a 3.90 ERA versus the Orioles.

Wakefield has been nearly unbeatable on the road this year, going 6-1 with a 1.83 ERA in 20 contests.

Baltimore will reply by sending Australian righthander John Stephens to the hill. Stephens snapped a two-decision losing streak in his last start, as he beat Toronto. The righty limited the Blue Jays to six hits and four runs over six innings, while fanning six and walking four.

Stephens will be toeing the rubber against Red Sox for the first time in his career. The Australian has been solid at home this year, posting a 2-1 record with a 4.68 ERA.

Boston leads the season series, 12-6, including seven wins in nine tries at Camden Yards. The Red Sox own a 22-15 advantage in this series since the beginning of the 2001 campaign.

Boston is 49-28 on the road and 48-24 versus the East, while Baltimore is 34-43 at home and 26-43 within the division.