The Chicago White Sox aim for a series sweep over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday afternoon at Fenway Park

Chicago White Sox at Boston Red Sox

Chicago aims for a series sweep Wednesday afternoon after outscoring Boston 17-10 in the first two games of a three-game set.  The White Sox came into Beantown having lost three straight on their 10-game road trip, but Fenway Park has helped them forget about their troubles.  The club has taken 12 of the last 14 overall meetings at the historic ball park.  Second baseman Alexei Ramirez has been carrying the offense and posted an impressive May, hitting .313 with 14 doubles and 20 RBIs.  He his hitting .68 with 16 RBIs in his last 13 games, but is 1 for 9 against today’s opposing starter.  Chicago is 10-12 in day games this season and 67-65 over the past three years.

White Sox starting pitcher Gavin Floyd is expected to make his 12th start of the season (13th appearance), posting an even 5-5 mark and 3.69 ERA.  The right-hander is 0-3 with a 5.11 ERA in his last three outings on the road (two starts).  He suffered a loss in his last start on May 25 in Texas despite allowing just two runs (one earned) on three hits over seven innings.  Floyd is a perfect 4-0 with a 3.53 ERA in six games (five starts) versus the Red Sox, including a 2-0 mark and 1.93 ERA in his last three all at Fenway.

Boston has dropped three games in a row after reeling off 15 wins in 17 games, while falling to second place in the American League East following the Yankees’ 10-3 win versus the Athletics.  “We faced good pitching the last game of the doubleheader in Detroit.  You’re not going to score 10 runs every game,” said designated hitter David Ortiz.  “Things happen.  All we can do is regroup and come back tomorrow and try to score some runs for our pitchers.”  Ortiz is one Red Sox player that is enjoying this series, going 4 for 7 through the first two games, as he finished batting .342 with 10 homers in May.  Boston is 11-5 in day games this season and 21-17 versus right-handed starters.

Red Sox starting pitcher Tim Wakefield is 2-1 with a 4.14 ERA in 13 games (four starts) and earned his 195th career win in Boston’s 6-3 victory at Detroit last time out.  The right-hander has actually won back-to-back outings for the first time since a three-game stretch in June 2009.  Wakefield pitched twice in relief against the White Sox in 2010, going 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA, after starting each of his previous 12 appearances, posting a 3-8 mark and 4.84 ERA in that stretch.  He is an even 1-1 with a 4.94 ERA in seven home outings (three starts), issuing seven walks and collecting eight strikeouts in 23 2/3 frames.

Bettors will likely back the White Sox due to their 6-0 mark in Floyd’s last six meetings in Boston, while the Red Sox are 2-6 in Wakefield’s last eight starts versus the AL Central division