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HOU@PHI: Lee fans 10 over eight dominant innings

The Red Sox and Phillies each send their ace to the mound on Sunday for the rubber match of a three-game series.

Josh Beckett starts for Boston, looking to win back-to-back starts for the first time this season. Beckett's had an up-and-down year, but Philadelphia starter Cliff Lee is still searching for his first win of 2012.

Lee has a 1.95 ERA in five starts, but is 0-1 with four no-decisions. The Phils average 2.6 runs when the left-hander starts and are 1-4 in those games.

"That's something that's out of my control," Lee said. "All I can do is control what I can control."

Still, Lee could receive better run support on Sunday as Philadelphia has scored 11 runs in two games against Boston pitching, with three home runs.

The Red Sox ended the Phis' season-high six-game win streak with a 7-5 victory on Saturday night and are hoping Beckett can string together a pair of strong starts for the first time in 2012. Boston has won seven of its last nine after dropping eight of its previous nine.

Beckett is coming off his best outing of the year. He struck out nine in seven innings and didn't allow a run against the Mariners on Tuesday. The right-hander has fanned at least seven in three of his last five starts, but getting strikeouts hasn't been his focus.

"I don't know, I don't think that I'm out there trying to strike guys out unless you're in a situation where guy's on third base less than two outs, then I think you're really kind of focused on trying to get a strikeout," Beckett said.

The Red Sox homered four times on Saturday night after belting three homers in Friday's 6-4 loss in the series-opener at Citizens Bank Park. Shortstop Mike Aviles has two home runs in the series.

Phillies: Polanco could return on Sunday
Placido Polanco was held out of the lineup on Saturday for the third straight game as he recovers from a bruised left knee.

Manager Charlie Manuel said the third baseman was improving, but still sore.

"There's no sense in me playing him if he can't move good," Manuel said. "He's day to day. He might play [on Sunday]."

Ty Wigginton has started at third in Polanco's absence. Wigginton went 2-for-5 with a run scored on Saturday night after going 0-for-6 in his previous two games.

Polanco is batting .291 with one home run and eight RBIs in 35 games this year.

Red Sox: Ross banged up, limping
Cody Ross was favoring his left foot in the Red Sox's clubhouse before Saturday's game, a day after he fouled a ball off the top of his foot.

Ross went for X-rays after Friday's 6-4 loss, but they came back negative. Manager Bobby Valentine said Ross was available to pinch-hit on Saturday. but the outfielder did not play.

Valentine acknowledged that further tests on Ross are a possibility once the swelling in the foot goes down.

"We'll see how quickly we can get the swelling out," Valentine said when asked if Ross could end up on disabled-list. "The initial X-rays were negative. There could be follow-up once the swelling gets down."

Ross homered for the second time in as many games Friday before injuring his foot. Adrian Gonzalez started in right field Saturday for the first time this season

Worth noting
• Gonzalez is 7-for-13 against Lee in his career with one homer, three doubles and three RBIs.

• The Phillies are 3-3 on Sundays.

• The Red Sox are 5-10 in day games and 7-6 against left-handed starters.

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