Boston’s Kevin Youkilis reacts after being tagged out at third base by Houston’s Ty Wigginton in the sixth inning. Youkilis was trying to stretch a two-run double.

AP / Pat Sullivan

HOUSTON — The more Hideki Okajima struggles, the more the Red Sox’ interest in Colorado’s Brian Fuentes might grow.

Okajima came into Friday night’s game, and after recording two outs, gave up a long homer to Reggie Abercrombie and a hard line single off the scoreboard in left to Miguel Tejada.

In his last seven games, he’s allowed six runs on 13 hits in six innings. Over his last 10 appearances, he’s yielded 10 runs, sending his ERA from 0.72 to 3.21 — and that doesn’t factor in his struggles with inherited runners. Eleven of the 14 base runners Okajima inherited this season have scored, but, of course, aren’t reflected in his ERA.

Opposing hitters are hitting .265 against the lefty; last year, by contrast, they hit just .202.

“He set the bar so high last year,” said Terry Francona of Okajima’s recent woes. “The idea is to get him on a roll. But when he (has a hard time the way he did) in the eighth and (Jonathan Papelbon) is behind him, he’s got to come out.”

Fuentes, who is eligible for free agency this fall, has drawn interest from at least five teams: the Sox, New York Yankees, New York Mets, Oakland A’s and Philadelphia Phillies, all of whom are interested in the hard-throwing lefty.

Mindful of the problems Eric Gagne experienced after coming to Boston last season and switching from closer to set-up work, the Sox are wary of dealing for relievers and changing their roles. But Fuentes has had success in both the ninth inning (98 career saves) and in a set-up capacity.

The Sox have been linked to Fuentes in the past, though indications are that they’ve never gotten deep into talks with the Rockies for the reliever. This year, however, the club is monitoring him more closely.

Assessing the stars

Francona faces a busy week in front of him as the manager of the American League All-Star Team.

Player voting is winding down this weekend and fan balloting will close out soon.

It will be up to Francona and his staff to help select six players — four pitchers and two position players — after the players and fans have their votes tabulated.

“Basically,” said Francona. “the way this shakes out is — the fans vote, the players vote and then we clean up the rest.”

The All-Star teams will be announced July 6, a week from today.

Pedroia’s bat on fire

J.D. Drew might have gotten off to a better start, but teammate Dustin Pedroia is closing out this month as the team’s hottest hitter.

Pedroia enjoyed another four-hit game last night, giving him a stretch of three games in which he’s had three or more hits. The four-hit game was Pedroia’s third of this season.

He has multiple-hit games in six of his last eight games and since June 18, he’s hitting a scorching .550 (22-for-40).

Pedroia has hits in seven of his last nine at-bats and has boosted his average to .302, up 40 points from the season-low of .260 he had earlier this month.

Drew sizzles at N.L. ballparks

A career-long National Leaguer until signing with the Red Sox in December 2006, Drew still thrives in N.L. parks.

Drew hit a three-run homer in the series opener Friday night, his fourth homer in seven interleague road contests this year.

Including last year, Drew is hitting .375 with eight homers and 18 RBI in 16 games in National League parks since joining the Sox.

Friday night, Drew said he was unaware of his success in N.L. parks.

Acknowledging that the numbers were “silly,” Francona had no logical explanation for them.

“I don’t know if there’s a rhyme or reason for that,” said Francona. “Maybe it’s familiarity. Sometimes, (success like that is just a) coincidence.”

Ramirez gets back up to speed

Manny Ramirez played left field Friday night, his first return to the outfield since the last road trip, and came through the experience fine, according to Francona.

Ramirez continues to get treatment for some tight hamstrings and was removed from the game in the eighth inning last night to provide some rest.

When the Sox move to Tampa Bay tomorrow night and can again utilize the DH, Ramirez will probably play one game in the outfield and two as the DH.

“That cuts back on [Sean] Casey’s at-bats,” said Francona, “but it keeps Manny healthy and that’s what we’re shooting for.”

Around the bases

Francona checked on the rules and regulations and found that Coco Crisp, who began serving his five-game suspension last night, can take part in pregame activities, but must leave the dugout and clubhouse when the game starts. … Entering last night, Red Sox’ pitchers had yet to get a hit in interleague play this season, going a collective 0-for-19 with 14 strikeouts. Dating back to last season, Red Sox pitchers are hitless in their last 21 at-bats. The last pitcher to get a hit was Josh Beckett, who singled last June 24 in San Diego. … Officials were on hand to administer tests for a handful of Red Sox players yesterday as part of MLB’s drug-testing program. … Mike Lowell’s four-hit game was his first since Sept. 11, 2007 against Tampa Bay. Lowell, who didn’t get his first RBI until May 5, now has 46 this season and 10 in his last nine games. … Jon Lester saw his string of games in which he allowed three runs or fewer stop at 11 last night. That had been the longest run for a Sox starter since Pedro Martinez had a 16-game stretch in 2003. The six runs allowed by Lester were the most in a single start since he allowed a career-high of seven on Aug. 18, 2006 against the Yankees.

smcadam@projo.com