(Sports Network) - The Boston Red Sox continue their chase for the top spot in the American League East with tonight's opener of a three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park.

Boston has won five of its last seven games but has actually lost ground in the division race to front-running Tampa Bay, which posted its fifth straight victory on Sunday. The Red Sox fell to 5 1/2 games behind the Rays after dropping a 4-2 decision to Chicago yesterday afternoon.

The White Sox reached Tim Wakefield (8-9) for three runs on six hits over the first six innings, snapping the knuckle-baller's two-start win streak.

Jacoby Ellsbury and Jed Lowrie knocked in the runs for the Red Sox, who had taken the first two tests of the weekend set.

Boston still remains the leader in the AL Wild Card standings, owning a 2 1/2- game advantage on Minnesota.

The Red Sox will attempt to regroup against a Baltimore club its had plenty of success against at home in recent years. The Orioles are 6-20 over their last 26 games at Fenway Park and haven't won a series in Boston since sweeping a two-gamer from April 25-26, 2005.

Boston is 9-6 against Baltimore so far this season, including a 4-2 mark at Fenway.

Paul Byrd gets the call for the Sox tonight and will be making his fourth start since being acquired from Cleveland on August 12. The veteran right- hander has gone 2-1 with a 4.67 earned run average following the trade, having won two straight starts after losing his Boston debut.

Byrd endeared himself to Red Sox fans with Wednesday's performance in New York, where he defeated the hated Yankees by allowing two runs and five hits over six solid innings.

Since July 21, Byrd has recorded a 6-1 record and a 2.61 ERA in seven starts.

The 37-year-old is just 1-4 with a 4.15 ERA in six career outings against Baltimore, however. This will be Byrd's first battle with the Orioles this season.

The Orioles began a tough six-game road trip by losing all three matchups with the red-hot Rays over the weekend. Tampa Bay completed the sweep with Sunday's 10-4 rout.

Baltimore starter Brian Burres (7-9) was shelled for seven runs and nine hits over five-plus innings of work.

Luke Scott had a two-run double for the Orioles, while Jay Payton and Aubrey Huff both collected a pair of hits on the afternoon.

With rosters expanding on Monday, Baltimore plans to call up Garrett Olson from Triple-A Norfolk to start tonight's tilt. The left-hander was sent to the minors shortly after being rocked for five runs and issuing three walks in a 1 2/3-inning stint at Detroit on August 17.

Olson has recorded an 8-6 record in 21 starts with the Orioles, but has an ugly 6.38 ERA over that span. In his last three major league starts, he allowed 16 runs (15 earned) in just 10 1/3 innings.

The 24-year-old has never previously beaten Boston, having gone 0-3 with a 7.36 ERA in five career starts against the Red Sox.