Game 2: Red Sox at Orioles - Lackey looks to get Sox into the win column

Ben Whitehead
Contributing Writer

After a day at the White House, the Boston Red Sox are back at it in Baltimore against the Orioles. The two teams squared off in a pitcher's duel on Opening Day, with the O's taking a 2-1 victory, thanks to a Nelson Cruz home run.

The Red Sox try to put a "W" on the board and will do so behind John Lackey. Lackey returned to form last season after a dismal first two-plus seasons in Boston. Following Tommy John surgery, Lackey came out in 2013 and posted a 3.52 ERA. Although his 10-13 record wasn't much to write home about, Lackey did his job night in and night out. He never received solid run support throughout the season, but when the Postseason came, he was lights out. Lackey went 3-1 in four starts with a 2.77 ERA, including winning the clinching game of the World Series for the second time in his career.

As the Red Sox prepare for Game 2, here is the starting lineup (first pitch - 7:05 pm ET):

1) Nava, RF
2) Pedroia, 2B
3) Ortiz, DH
4) Napoli, 1B
5) Gomes, LF
6) Sizemore, CF
7) Bogaerts, SS
8) Pierzynski, C
9) Middlebrooks, 3B

Lackey, P

Making his Orioles debut is Ubaldo Jimenez. The right-hander went 13-9 with a 3.30 ERA in Cleveland last year.

Sizing it up
Grady Sizemore had a memorable debut in a Sox uniform, going 2-for-4 with a home run in his second at bat. It was his first home run in nearly 1,000 days and his first MLB game since September 2011. Sizemore gets the nod again tonight in center and manager John Farrell hopes he has the same kind of impact as the season progresses.

Going, going, Gomes!
Welcome to the 2014 season, Jonny Gomes. One question to Farrell after Game 1 was why he didn't use Gomes in a pinch-hit situation late in the game. Gomes took it all in stride and gets the chance to state his case for full-time (or at least majority time) starter in left field. His patriotic sport coat at the White House was a big hit with the media ... let's see if he can provide some big hits tonight.

Pedey makes his mark
Dustin Pedroia knocked a base hit in his first at bat Monday, giving him at least one hit in every Opening Day he's played with the Red Sox. That streak is now eight games and he became the first Sox player to record a hit in his first eight Opening Day games in the last 100 years.

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