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(Sports Network) - The Boston Red Sox try to finish up the first half of the 2008 campaign with a flurry this afternoon as they entertain the Baltimore Orioles in the finale of a three-game set at Fenway Park.

On Saturday night the Red Sox avenged a series-opening loss to the O's by blasting the visitors, 12-1. The win for Boston was the team's fourth in the last five games and, coupled with a Tampa Bay loss, drew the squad to within a half game of first place in the American League East.

The hero on the night had to be Kevin Youkilis, who upped his batting average to .316 (fifth in the AL) by connecting on his first career grand slam in the third inning. Youkilis finished with a career-best six RBI on just two hits. Manny Ramirez and J.D. Drew both stroked home runs of their own, the former scoring three runs as well.

Tim Wakefield carved out his sixth win of the season by allowing just one earned run on two hits, while striking out six in seven innings of work.

Radhames Liz appeared overwhelmed during his 2 1/3 innings on the hill for the Orioles. The youngster was tagged for eight runs on six hits and three walks, giving up three home runs during his stay, before a quartet of relievers finished off the night for the visitors.

The lone run for Baltimore came courtesy of Ramon Hernandez and his solo home run in the top of the third inning.

Were it not for a 2-9 career mark against the Red Sox, Daniel Cabrera would actually be an even .500 for his career overall as he heads into the final game before the All-Star break.

The right-hander, who is already 1-0 versus Boston in 2008, should have added another win to his record for this campaign on Tuesday, but the Orioles bullpen was unable to get the job done in a 7-6 loss to Toronto on the road. In that contest the fifth-year veteran surrendered four runs on six hits and walked four, while striking out just three in 6 1/3 innings of work.

Since winning three straight starts of Cabrera's in the middle of May, Baltimore has come out on the losing end in six of his last eight appearances.

Gunning for his first-ever win versus the O's today will be Japanese hurler Daisuke Matsuzaka, now just 1-1 in his last five starts since opening 2008 with a perfect 8-0 mark.

Matsuzaka had a very strong outing on Tuesday when he held Minnesota scoreless over the course of 7 1/3 innings, giving up just six hits and walking three, while fanning five batters. However, the right-hander failed to factor into the decision for the second straight game

Thanks to the efforts of regulars like Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia (.312) and Mike Lowell (.301), the Red Sox lead the American League in team batting at the moment with an average of .282. The squad is also second in slugging (.452), thanks to 108 home runs in 96 games.

One of four other clubs in the AL with triple-digit home runs, the O's (101) have managed to produce a respectable slugging percentage (.423) as well, even though the team ranks near the bottom in overall batting with an average of just .259.

As is often the case around this time of the season, Baltimore is last in the AL East, 9 1/2 games out of contention and two games under .500.

Not helping their cause any is the fact that over the last week the team is batting just .250, despite a .417 mark from Nick Markakis in 24 at-bats. Hernandez may have had a home run last night for the O's, but that still doesn't make up for the fact that he is hitting only .095 in his last six starts. Nevertheless, that's still better than left fielder Luke Scott who has just one single in his last 17 at-bats (.059).