Game Preview: Sox @ Baltimore GM2

Beckett (14-5, 3.31) vs. Olson (1-0, 3.86)
Camden Yards 3:55 FOX

The Sox will try to put the bitter memories of last night's late inning collapse behind them today, and they get just the right pitching matchup necessary to make it possible to do so.

ML co-wins leader Josh Beckett will try and right the ship for Boston, which has lost 3 of its last 4 games; Becks bounced back from a two-game losing skid with a 1-run, 9K gem in Seattle last weekend, but he has still dropped 4 of his last 6 decisions after starting the season 9-0.

His mound opponent will be rookie lefty Garrett Olson; Olson was just recalled from AAA to replace struggling starter Brian Burres and will be making just his 3rd career start, and Boston needs to capitalize on the combination of playing a horrible team with a young starter on the mound.

Last night's gut-punching loss left the Sox with a slim 5-game lead over the streaking Stanks, who after knocking off the Indians in Cleveland have now won 9 of 11 games and 21 of 29 since the break.

It's up to the horse of the Sox rotation to get the team back on track and stop this latest slide from becoming a division lead-imploding funk.

And with the way the quote/unquote best bullpen in baseball has fared recently and the offense has struggled to score runs, he might just have to hurl a complete game shutout to do so.