Boston Red Sox (47-30) at Baltimore Orioles (35-42), 1:35 p.m.

Sports Network | July 1, 2009

(Sports Network) - After enduring a shocking late-inning loss on Tuesday, the Boston Red Sox will ask Josh Beckett to restore order in this afternoon's finale of a three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles from Camden Yards.

Boston appeared well on its way to earning a ninth consecutive win over the Orioles last night, but Baltimore erupted for 10 runs in the seventh and eighth innings to rally for a thrilling 11-10 victory. The nine-run deficit was the largest the Orioles overcame in the history of the franchise.

Nick Markakis completed the improbable comeback with a go-ahead, two-run double off Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon in the bottom of the eighth inning. Baltimore scored five times during the frame, with Matt Wieters and Brian Roberts each coming through with RBI singles.

Oscar Salazar also helped spark the Orioles' rally with a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh, while three Baltimore relievers combined to hold the Red Sox to just one run over the final 5 2/3 innings.

Mark Hendrickson (3-4) picked up the win after allowing one run over three innings, while George Sherrill tossed a scoreless ninth to notch his 17th save.

The Red Sox held a commanding 9-1 lead when the game was delayed for one hour and 11 minutes due to rain after four innings, then tacked on another run in the top of the seventh.

"It kind of happened real fast," said Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia of the collapse. "It seemed like the first five innings, whatever it is for the rain delay, we beat up on them pretty good. Then they beat up on us pretty good. It was a weird game, a terrible loss for us. It's upsetting."

Kevin Youkilis homered and finished with three RBI and two runs scored for Boston, which had its lead atop the American League East trimmed to 2 1/2 games after the second-place New York Yankees won on Tuesday.

Pedroia also drove in three runs for Boston, while Jacoby Ellsbury posted three hits and two RBI and Jeff Bailey went 3-for-4 and scored three times.

Bailey was recalled prior to the game from Triple-A Pawtucket to take the roster spot of third baseman Mike Lowell, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with a strained right hip.

Boston's John Smoltz made his second start of the season and allowed one run on three hits in a brief outing that was shortened to four innings due to the rain delay. He threw 52 pitches.

The Red Sox now look to rebound behind Beckett, who can join a group of four AL pitchers that includes teammate Tim Wakefield to have recorded double-digit victories on the season with a win tonight. The ace right-hander shouldn't have any trouble getting one if he duplicates his two most recent performances.

Beckett fired a five-hit shutout to defeat Atlanta at Fenway Park on June 20, then followed up with seven scoreless frames in Boston's 4-1 road win over the Braves this past Friday. Over his last seven starts, the 2003 World Series MVP has amassed a 5-1 record with a stupendous 1.24 earned run average and yielded just 33 hits in 50 2/3 innings of work. He has allowed one run or less in five of those games.

Beckett has also historically fared well pitching in Camden Yards, where he's gone 4-1 with a 2.98 ERA in six lifetime starts. The 29-year-old Texan is 5-2 with a 3.80 ERA over 10 overall matchups with Baltimore and beat the Orioles in Boston on April 18 after allowing four runs (3 earned) through six innings.

Brad Bergesen, who takes the hill tonight for Baltimore, has been putting together an impressive run of his own as of late. The rookie pitcher posted his fourth straight winning decision in Friday's 11-1 rout of Washington, limiting the Nationals to one run and four hits over six sharp innings.

Since being promoted from the minors into the Orioles' rotation in mid-May, Bergesen has recorded a 5-2 record with a 3.76 ERA in 13 starts. The 23-year- old has been particularly good at home, having produced a 5-1 mark and a 3.10 ERA over eight appearances.

Bergesen, who will be opposing the Red Sox for the first time, has pitched to an outstanding 2.23 ERA over his last six starts and hasn't lost since May 19.

The Orioles will be trying to win a series from Boston for the first time since sweeping a two-game set at Camden Yards from May 13-14, 2008. The Red Sox had won eight in a row and 12 of 13 the past matchups between the divisional foes before last night's loss.