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CWS@CLE: Masterson limits the White Sox to two runs

Justin Masterson is back at Fenway Park, this time as a visitor.

The Cleveland right-hander spent nearly two years in Boston before being traded to the Indians in 2009. He split time as a reliever and a starter with the Red Sox but is now fully entrenched in the Cleveland rotation. Still, he's glad to be back in the city where his big league career began.

"It's a fun place to play at, usually a good atmosphere and a nice crowd," said Masterson, who is 3-0 against Boston in four starts. "It's one of my favorites, and I love all the people here. That's what makes it fun."

Masterson takes the mound on Sunday against his former team looking to cut down on the walks that have plagued him this season. He's issued 25 in 42 1/3 innings after walking 65 in 216 innings a year ago.

"When I kind of need that strike to get in there, it's not always there," he said.

Masterson, a sinkerballer, has had trouble controlling his four-seem fastball. He has walked at least five in three of his last four outings, but the statistic hasn't shaken his confidence.

"There's been times where I walked quite a bit of people but the stuff is still good because there is a lot of movement," he said. "When the stuff is good, I can walk them and still get the double play or still get a ground ball to keep the guy at first or get a popup. It's not like my stuff is bad, we're just missing close. The confidence is there because the movement is there."

Opposing Masterson will be former reliever Daniel Bard, who is making the sixth start of his career for Boston.

Bard went a career-high seven innings in his most recent outing, allowing five runs in a 6-4 defeat at Kansas City on Tuesday.

The Red Sox are hoping that Bard can give the team its third consecutive quality start, something that has been a struggle for the pitching staff this season.

Boston has won two in a row on the heels of Felix Doubront's six strong frames on Saturday and Clay Buchholz's 6 1/3-inning performance on Friday.

"We need guys to go out there with confidence and pitch with conviction," said Boston outfielder Cody Ross, who homered over the Green Monster on Saturday. "That gives us as players and fielders confidence, and as hitters confidence. It's just fun playing behind that."

Indians: Pestano piling up strikeouts
Reliever Vinnie Pestano has at least one strikeout in his last 18 relief appearances dating back to last season. That streak is the second longest by an Indians reliever since 1918, trailing Paul Shuey's 21-game stretch from Aug. 20, 1999 to April 10, 2000.

Pestano has at least one strikeout in all 16 of his appearances this season, including one in the eighth inning of Friday's 7-5 loss to the Red Sox. It's the longest streak by a Cleveland reliever to begin a season since 1918.

Pestano has inherited 10 runners this season, none has scored. Still, the right-hander issued three walks in one inning on Friday.

Red Sox: Pedroia runs hit streak to 13
Dustin Pedroia singled in the first inning on Saturday, extending his hitting streak to 13 games.

It's the longest active streak in the Majors, and the longest streak by a Red Sox player this season. Pedroia began the streak on April 29 vs. the White Sox.

The second baseman added an RBI double in the third inning and finished the night 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Pedroia has hit in 20 of his last 21 games since April 20 and reached base in 30 of 33 contests in 2012. He is 1-for-10 against Masterson with a RBI and a walk.

Worth noting
• Cleveland is 14-7 against right-handed starters this year.

• Boston leads the Majors in doubles, with 95.

• The Red Sox are 3-10 in day games this season.

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