(Sports Network) - The beaten and battered Boston Red Sox will try to the stay on top in the AL East when they take on the Seattle Mariners in middle contest of a three-game series at Fenway Park.

Heading to the hill today for the Red Sox will be Tim Wakefield, who has fallen on tough times of late, losing four of his last seven starts. The last time the knuckleballer took the hill, the Red Sox were defeated by Baltimore, 6-3. Although he could not lead his team to a victory, the 41-year-old did a commendable job, tossing seven strong innings, while allowing just two runs on five hits and four walks.

Earlier this season Wakefield suffered a very tough loss against Seattle, as the right-hander threw eight outstanding innings, surrendering just one run on five hits, while striking out eight batters.

Wakefield has made 24 appearances against the Mariners, 14 of which have been starts, and although he has four complete games against Seattle, he comes into this matchup with only three wins against nine losses.

Much like his counterpart, Seattle starter Miguel Batista will try to turn the page on his current slump. In his last eight starts, Batista has just one victory and four losses.

Batista's struggles continued this past Monday, as the right-hander lasted just 5 1/3 innings in a 7-5 loss to Detroit. Although the 37-year-old did not factor in the setback, he did, however, allow three runs on five hits and four walks.

In his career against the Red Sox, Batista has struggled as a starter and a reliever. In 18 appearances (nine starts) he is just 4-5 with two saves and has a terrible ERA of 5.79.

On Friday, Richie Sexson finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored as Seattle pounded Boston, 8-0. Ichiro Suzuki and Jose Vidro also drove in two runs each for the Mariners, who snapped a four-game losing streak in convincing fashion.

Felix Hernandez (4-5) threw six shutout innings for the win, scattering six hits while fanning five and issuing three walks.

Sean Casey added three hits and J.D. Drew collected two for the Red Sox, who lost for the second time in their last eight games and saw their 13-game home win streak ended.

Boston, which has been playing without slugger David Ortiz due to a wrist injury, also missed outfielder Manny Ramirez, who was not in the lineup due to a knee injury sustained late in Thursday's game against Tampa Bay.

Bartolo Colon (3-1) suffered his first defeat with the Sox and was torched for eight hits and six runs -- three earned -- over five innings.

Earlier Friday, Major League Baseball suspended eight players from Thursday's Tampa Bay Rays-Red Sox brawl. On the Boston side, outfielder Coco Crisp received a seven-game ban but is appealing and was in the starting lineup, going hitless in four at-bats.

Starting pitcher Jon Lester was given a five-game ban and began his sentence Friday. Casey was given a three-gamer but his appeal is pending since he is not scheduled to serve it until June 14.

For a brief period of time, the Mariners have dominated the Red Sox, winning seven of the last 10 contest against Boston.