Free Live Odds - Scores and Odds - Sports News - Sports Information - Live Scores - Sports Statistics - Sports Articles - Sports Standings - Live Scoreboard - Live Odds - Sporting Events - Live Lines

(Sports Network) - Few teams exit a three-game sweep of an opponent worse off than before the series started. However, that may be the case for the Boston Red Sox, who continue their nine-game homestand tonight with the opener of a three-game set with the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park.

While Boston isn't in a worse situation in regards to the American League East after sweeping Tampa Bay -- the Red Sox now lead the division by 1 1/2 games over the Rays -- the club is limping into this set with the Mariners.

With designated hitter David Ortiz already sidelined with a partially torn tendon sheath in his left wrist, both Manny Ramirez and Jacoby Ellsbury left Thursday's win due to injury.

For Ramirez, yesterday marked an action-packed day. The slugger, filling in at the DH spot for Ortiz, hit a home run and drove in five runs during the 7-1 victory, but left in the seventh inning after an apparent hamstring injury. That came after he and teammate Kevin Youkilis got into a dugout scuffle at the end of the fourth inning.

It wasn't the first fight of the game, as Rays starter James Shields and Boston's Coco Crisp exchanged glancing blows in the bottom of the second inning after Crisp was hit by a Shields offering on the right thigh. Crisp, who was involved in a questionable take-out slide in Wednesday's contest that riled up both clubs, took exception to the blow and charged the mound while the benches and bullpens both emptied.

After several punches were thrown by members of both teams, Crisp, Shields and Rays' designated hitter Jonny Gomes, who threw several shots at Crisp on the ground, were all ejected by home plate umpire Jeff Kellogg following the melee.

Meanwhile, Ellsbury exited after the fourth frame after he injured his right wrist on a diving catch in center field. X-rays taken after the incident were negative. He is doubtful for tonight's game, while Ramirez is questionable.

Boston has won 13 straight at Fenway Park and posted its sixth win in its last seven games overall. The Red Sox are an excellent 24-5 at home this year.

Seattle, on the other hand, is an AL-worst 7-20 on the road this year and holds the poorest overall mark in the majors at 21-39. The club's horrid play this year prompted manager John McLaren to unleash an expletive-filled rant following Wednesday's loss to the Angels towards a team that was expected to be major players in the race for the AL West.

Jose Lopez hit a solo homer and had three RBI in Wednesday's 5-4 loss, as Seattle ended a nine-game homestand 3-6 after dropping the last four tests of the residency.

Lopez homered in each of the three games against the Angels while batting .462 (6-for-13) with six RBI and four runs scored in the set. He has a hit and at least one run scored in each of his last five games.

Carlos Silva (3-6) allowed five runs on eight hits in eight innings for the Mariners. A free-agent acquisition in the offseason, Silva has lost six straight decisions.

Felix Hernandez has also struggled for the Mariners this year, but seemed to turn things around last time and starts tonight. The 22-year-old halted a seven-start skid (0-5) Saturday against Detroit, giving up just two hits in seven shutout frames with seven strikeouts and no walks.

Only tightness in his right calf prevented Hernandez from going deeper in the game, but the ailment shouldn't prevent him from starting tonight.

The right-hander is 3-5 with a 3.29 earned run average this year and lost to Boston on May 26. In his career, Hernandez is 2-1 with a 3.68 ERA versus the Red Sox.

Boston counters with Bartolo Colon, who has won all three of his starts this year with a 3.50 ERA. Against Baltimore on Sunday, the right-hander gave up four runs on seven hits with five strikeouts in six innings of work.

Colon is 13-10 with three complete games and a 4.27 ERA in 27 career starts against the Mariners. He faced them in Seattle on May 26, beating Hernandez behind seven innings of one-run ball.

Seattle, though, took two out of three in that series and has won six of its last nine versus the Red Sox.