(Sports Network) - The Boston Red Sox have an opportunity for a rare road sweep, a feat the reigning world champions haven't accomplished too many times this season. But they'll have to get through the Seattle Mariners' best pitcher this afternoon in order to complete the task.

Felix Hernandez will be put in charge of preventing the Red Sox from a third straight victory over his Mariners today. The highly-regarded young righty has been one of the few bright spots in a dismal Seattle season, as Hernandez's 2.95 earned run average is the fourth-best number in the American League and he's recorded an impressive 109 strikeouts in 119 innings.

Hernandez picked up right where he left off in his first start after the All- Star break, tossing six strong innings to defeat Cleveland this past Friday at Safeco Field. The 22-year-old held the Indians to two runs and four hits while striking out eight batters.

The native Venezuelan has won five of his last six decisions, which includes a victory over the Red Sox at Fenway Park on June 6. Hernandez fired six shutout innings in that 8-0 Seattle triumph, which improved him to 3-1 with a 3.06 ERA over five career starts against Boston.

After beginning their current six-game road trip with three losses to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the Red Sox have turned things around at the expense of the lowly Mariners. After dealing Seattle a 4-0 defeat in Monday's opener, Boston received 7 2/3 solid innings out of Daisuke Matsuzaka in last night's 4-2 decision.

Matsuzaka took a shutout into the bottom of the eighth and allowed just two runs and five hits over his 99-pitch stint. After Hideki Okajima got the final two outs in the eighth, Jonathan Papelbon worked a perfect ninth to record his 30th save of the year.

J.D. Drew led Boston's offense by going 2-for-3 with a homer and two RBI. Mike Lowell and Jed Lowrie also knocked in runs for the Red Sox, who closed within a half-game of Tampa Bay for first place in the AL East standings.

Seattle starter R.A. Dickey (2-5) received the loss after surrendering four runs on nine hits over the first six innings.

Despite its back-to-back wins over the Mariners, Boston is just 23-32 as the visitor this season and has dropped 10 of its last 14 on the road.

Clay Buchholz, who will take the mound for the Red Sox this afternoon, has had his share of troubles in enemy parks as well. The promising young right-hander is 0-4 with an 8.49 ERA in six away starts this season, and the opposition is batting .326 against him in those games.

Buchholz's road problems continued in Friday's setback to the Angels, a game in which he was rocked for eight runs (4 earned) and eight hits before being yanked after 4 2/3 frames. The 23-year-old has failed to last five innings in three of his four most recent starts.

This will be Buchholz's first career matchup against the Mariners.

Boston holds a 5-3 edge on Seattle in this year's season series, but the Mariners are 11-6 against Boston at home dating back to the start of the 2006 campaign.