(Sports Network) - Homer Bailey will try to pitch the Cincinnati Reds to their first victory in Boston on Tuesday night in the opener of a quick two- game set with the Red Sox.
This marks just the third all-time series between the clubs, with the Red Sox holding a 5-1 edge. They swept a three-game set at home in 2005 before taking two of three in Cincinnati back in 2008.
Bailey lost the finale of that series and was hit hard by Boston in the 9-0 setback. The righty was charged with five runs, four hits, three homers and three walks over just 2 1/3 innings of that June 15 meeting.
Bailey turned 28 on Saturday and celebrated early by beating the Milwaukee brewers on Thursday. He gave up three runs on eight hits and a walk over eight innings to even his record at 2-2 on the season with a 5.50 earned run average.
The Reds took three of four from the Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend, claiming Sunday's finale 4-3 in 10 innings. Chris Heisey drew a two-out walk and Todd Frazier followed with an RBI double into the left-field corner.
"I was glad it went hard so it hit the wall to give Heisey a couple of extra steps," said Frazier. "He's fast, so there was not a doubt in my mind. Once I hit it, I was waving him all the way. I touched first and I was still waving him. It was pretty fun."
Frazier finished with two RBI, while Brandon Phillips and Brayan Pena each delivered solo homers in the win.
Outfielder Jay Bruce was scratched from Sunday's lineup and underwent surgery on Monday to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. Bruce is hitting just .216 on the year with three homers and 14 RBI in 30 games and could miss a month of action.
The Red Sox also are coming off a series victory, though they failed to sweep a three-game set with the Oakland Athletics by losing Sunday's finale 3-2 in 10 innings.
A.J. Pierzynski hit his third homer of the season and Grady Sizemore went 2- for-2 with an RBI for the Red Sox, who had plated 13 runs in winning the first two games of the series.
"This was a day in which we tried to manufacture runs to tie it up or just get a one-run lead," said Red Sox manager John Farrell.
Boston will look to get Felix Doubront on track with tonight's start as he is winless since getting a victory in his season debut on April 3. He has lost three decisions over five starts and is coming off a no-decision on Thursday versus Tampa Bay.
The left-handed Doubront was charged with four runs (3 earned) on five hits and a walk over six innings. He yielded a pair of homers and fanned five in Boston's 6-5 setback.
Doubront, 26, is pitching to a 5.70 ERA on the year and has never faced the Reds. However, the hurler is 5-1 in six career starts against the NL with a 3.89 ERA.
[SportsNetwork.com]
