Buchholz seeks to extend win streak in Red Sox-Blue Jays clash

Baseball Betting Lines

08/22/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Clay Buchholz will attempt to win his fifth straight decision today, as the Boston Red Sox conclude a three-game set with the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park.

Buchholz has emerged victorious in each of his past three starts and has lasted at least seven innings in five consecutive outings. On Tuesday, he tossed seven shutout innings of five-hit ball in a 6-0 blanking of the Angels. He improved to 6-3 with a 2.51 ERA in 10 home starts.

The right-hander has made nine career appearances -- eight starts -- against the Blue Jays, going 5-3 with a 2.79 ERA. Buchholz beat them earlier this month, surrendering one run and five hits over eight innings of a 10-1 victory on August 11th.

Shaun Marcum was the losing pitcher in that matchup with Buchholz, as he allowed eight earned runs, including four homers, in just four innings of work. The right-hander, though, is still 5-3 with a 3.92 ERA in 14 lifetime appearances -- nine starts -- against Boston.

On Monday, Marcum bounced back nicely from that disastrous start, going the distance in a 3-1 win over Oakland. He allow just one hit, a homer, and fanned five in snapping a two-game slide.

Marcum will try to give Toronto its first series win of the season over Boston after the Blue Jays were edged, 5-4, in 11 innings on Saturday.

Jed Lowrie led off the bottom of the 11th inning with the game-winning homer, as Boston outlasted Toronto in the middle test of a three-game set from Fenway Park.

Lowrie crushed a Casey Janssen (4-2) offering into the bullpen in right field, giving the Sox a measure of revenge for being on the wrong end of a 16-2 blowout loss Friday in the series opener.

The hit made a winner of Jonathan Papelbon (5-5), who turned in a scoreless top of the frame.

Victor Martinez finished 3-for-5 and drove in three runs for the Red Sox, who stopped a two-game slide. Daisuke Matsuzaka started and allowed six hits and four runs with eight strikeouts and three walks over eight innings.

Lyle Overbay hit a two-run shot while John Buck and John McDonald knocked in a run each for the Blue Jays, who have lost three of four.

Ricky Romero got the nod for Toronto and gave up nine hits and four runs while fanning eight over seven full frames.

Boston has won 10 of its 14 previous meetings with Toronto so far this season and took two of three bouts between the divisional foes in Beantown back in May. The Blue Jays are just 5-11 in their last 16 games played at Fenway Park.

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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

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