(Sports Network) - The Oakland Athletics will be facing an old nemesis when the surprising American League West leaders head to historic Fenway Park tonight to begin a three-game series with the Boston Red Sox. Patriots Chad Ochocinco Jersey . John Lackey tormented the As for years while a member of the division-rival Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, with the accomplished right-hander owning an eye-opening 16-4 record and a 2.76 earned run average over 29 career starts against tonights opponent. He faced Oakland three times last year in his final season with the Halos, going 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA. Lackey joined the Red Sox as a free agent over the winter and has garnered mixed results so far with his new team, posting a 5-3 record with a so-so 4.87 ERA through his first 10 starts. He has gone 3-1 in five Fenway Park mound trips, but has pitched to a 5.52 ERA and served up four homers in 29 1/3 innings at home. The 31-year-old was able to snap a two-start losing streak his last time out by limiting AL East-leading Tampa Bay to two runs over 6 1/3 innings in Bostons 11-3 triumph over the Rays last Wednesday. Lackey will be taking on an Oakland team that heads to Beantown having won eight of its past 10 tests and presently holds a one-game edge on Texas for first place in the AL West. The As extended that margin on Monday, coming through with a 4-1 decision over slumping Detroit in the finale of a four-game set. Trevor Cahill (4-2) held the Tigers to one run on five hits over the first 6 1/3 innings, with three relievers combining for 2 2/3 scoreless frames to protect the lead. Andrew Bailey got the final four outs to notch his 11th save of the season and seal the win, Oaklands third of the series. This was a great series, Athletics manager Bob Geren said after the game. You come in here against these guys and win three of four and you have to be satisfied with the effort, It doesnt get any easier from here, but I like what Im seeing. Rajai Davis went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a pair of stolen bases for Oakland, which improved to 5-2 on its current 10-game road trip. Boston has been playing good ball as well lately, having registered wins in 10 of its past 13 contests to move to 29-23 on the season. The Red Sox did lose the first two tilts of a four-game weekend series with visiting Kansas City, but bounced back with back-to-back victories and evened the set with Sundays 8-1 verdict. Jon Lester continued an outstanding recent run by firing seven strong innings in Sundays win, while David Ortiz clubbed a three-run homer to pace the offense and cap a terrific month of May. Lester (6-2) yielded just one run on four hits while striking out five to win his sixth consecutive decision, with the tough left-hander lowering his season ERA to 2.97 in the process. He always made a big pitch when he needed to, to kind of limit the damage, said Royals manager Ned Yost of Lesters outing. Ortizs homer was his 10th during May, and the veteran slugger batted a robust .363 with 27 RBI over the course of the month. Marco Scutaro and Mike Cameron each knocked in two runs for Boston, with Scutaro finishing 3-for-5 on the afternoon. Jason Varitek added a solo homer as part of a 2-for-4 performance in the rout. The Red Sox will be taking their swings tonight off Gio Gonzalez, whos solid pitching has helped the Athletics surge to the top of the division pack. The young lefty has posted a 5-3 record with a 3.54 ERA in 10 starts this season and has gone 2-0 with a 2.53 ERA over his three most recent appearances. Gonzalez surrendered just two hits and a walk in an eight-inning gem against San Francisco on May 22, leading Oakland to a 1-0 win, then worked 6 1/3 innings at Baltimore this past Thursday. He did not factor in the decision of his teams 7-5 win after giving up three runs and fanning six. The 24-year-old has faced Boston only once previously, also getting a no- decision in a July 30 matchup at Fenway Park. Gonzalez allowed three runs and struck out eight Red Sox hitters in 5 1/3 innings that day. These teams split 10 meetings a year ago, with the Red Sox winning four of the seven bouts held at Fenway. Premier Wes Welker Jersey .m. on NHL Network and NHL.com and broadcast on XM Radio. Among those scheduled to appear to speak with co-hosts Don La Greca and E.J. Hradek are Caps TV play-by-play man Joe Beninati, as well as TV analysts Kevin Weekes and Mike Milbury. The Caps and Penguins will meet again on Jan. Replica Troy Polamalu Jersey . Ryan Miller, qui en était à son 11e départ consécutif, a récolté sa 199e victoire en carrière dans la LNH. Corey Perry a privé Miller dun blanchissage lorsquil a marqué le premier de ses deux buts en avantage numérique, à 15:36 de la troisième période. Buffalo Bills Shawne Merriman Jersey . Related readings: Viruses hit almost one-third of EU Internet users China National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center issued a circular warning computer users not to open spam with Valentine messages in the title line as it may contain worms like Worm_ Blebla. New England Patriots Chad Ochocinco Jersey . "Welcome to Colorado!" bellowed Rockies first baseman Jason Giambi. Patriots Wes Welker Jersey . 5 Pitt cruised to an 82-58 victory over Penn at Petersen Events Center. J.J. Moore and Dante Taylor posted 11 points each for the Panthers (7-0), who will host intra-city rival Duquesne on Wednesday. Steve Johnson Jersey . Jackson complained about the fine after practice Wednesday, and said he intends to file an appeal. Jackson was surprised by the punishment because hes been wearing "DIII" -- which stands for his Division III college football background -- since the Coe College product first broke into the league with Buffalo in 2007. Lawrence Taylor Jersey . Sundin, who signed with the team as a free agent last month, said following Tuesdays practice he wanted to play against the Oilers. The veteran centre, who has 555 career goals, participated in two full practices with the Canucks and played alongside forwards Kyle Wellwood and Mason Raymond. 49ers Crabtree Jersey . - The Minnesota Vikings will be without Pro Bowl cornerback Antoine Winfield when they face the Green Bay Packers in a pivotal NFC North game on Sunday. St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Jake Westbrook threw seven strong innings in outpitching Cliff Lee, as the Cardinals edged the Phillies, 3-1, in the opener of a two-game set. Westbrook (3-3) gave up one run on four hits and three walks, and picked up his first win since April 24. The performance helped St. Louis recover from this past weekend, when it was swept in three games by Cincinnati. Its always big to end a losing streak, Westbrook said. You always want to be out there, the guy who shuts it down and gets a win. The performance also helped the Cardinals beat Lee (2-4), who allowed all three St. Louis runs in 6 1/3 innings and issued a career-high six walks. The left-hander had walked just seven batters in his first eight starts this season, and only 18 in 2010, when he pitched 212 1/3 innings. Lee also allowed six hits and struck out four as the Phillies lost their season-high third straight game. I felt like I threw a lot of strikes that were called balls, but whatever, it is what it is, Lee said. Im the pitcher and hes the umpire, and its his job to call balls and strikes, and he felt like they were balls, I guess. Lees outing was hardly the only aberration in Mondays game, which featured Albert Pujols starting at third base. Manager Tony La Russa was back in the dugout after missing the Cardinals recent six-game road trip because of an eye problem, and initially had Pujols playing at his usual first base position, according to MLB.com. But the report said La Russa made the switch after Pujols offered to play third, and he started there for the first time since 2002. The shift put Lance Berkman at first base, Nick Punto at second and Ryan Theriot at shortstop. D Brickashaw Ferguson Jersey. With Westbrook, a sinker ball pitcher, on the mound, the infield handled the 12 groundouts he induced without an error. Westbrook didnt allow the Phillies many opportunities. They had only three chances with runners in scoring position and took advantage once. That was in the second inning, when John Mayberry Jr. grounded into a fielders choice, stole second and scored on Ben Franciscos single. But otherwise Philadelphia came up empty. After Jimmy Rollins hit a ground- rule double in the third, Wilson Valdez grounded out to end the inning. He also grounded into a fielders choice with two on and two away in the fifth. Lee, on the other hand, battled through a rare lack of control. He had escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first and faced the minimum in the second and third, but couldnt avoid trouble after walking Matt Holliday and Berkman to begin the fourth. Yadier Molina reached on an infield single to load the bases with one out, and Punto delivered by lining a single to right field. After Westbrook struck out, Theriot plated Berkman with a single to right, though Molina was thrown out at home on the play. St. Louis scored its third run in the seventh, which Punto began with a single. After he moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, Lee walked Theriot and Jon Jay hit an RBI single to center. The Cardinals bullpen made the lead stand. Eduardo Sanchez worked a scoreless eighth and Fernando Salas pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his fourth save. GAME NOTES:Ryan Howard walked three times for the Phillies...Lee threw 122 pitches, 72 for strikes...The teams split eight meetings last season. Wholesale NFL Jerseys. Bourque, whose father played most of his career with the Bruins, wristed a shot past Tim Thomas on a power play with 2:15 remaining in the third period. The Bruins (2-2-1) fizzled on several third-period power plays, including a 5-on-3 after Petteri Nokelainen tied it at 3. ' ' '
