June 14th @ Minnesota

[TheKilo]

First gamethread mojo. Need a big start from Matt Clement.

 

 

http://espn.go.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/65x90/6099.jpg VS.http://espn.go.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/65x90/5337.jpg

 

 

Matt Clement (5-4, 6.68 ERA) VS. Brad Radke (4-7, 6.17 ERA)

 

(AP)

If the Boston Red Sox want to end their current skid, they need to turn around their play at the Metrodome.

 

The Red Sox (36-26) try to avoid losing their sixth straight series there when they play the Minnesota Twins in the middle contest of a three-game set on Wednesday.

 

Boston has lost 11 of its last 15 games at the Metrodome, including a 5-2, 12-inning thriller on Tuesday. The Red Sox have not taken a series there since 2000.

 

The two teams pitted their aces against each other in the series opener as Boston's Curt Schilling and Johan Santana for Minnesota (29-34) each allowed just one run through eight innings. Twins rookie Jason Kubel, who missed last season with a knee injury, hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 12th to give his team its fourth win in five games.

 

"It's all starting to come back now," said Kubel, who is hitting .414 (12-for-29) with two homers and eight RBIs in his last six games.

 

Twins first baseman Justin Morneau had three hits in the win and is batting .588 (10-for-17) with nine RBIs over the last four games. Catcher Joe Mauer has recorded a hit in 20 of his last 21 games and is batting .489 (43-for-88) during that span.

 

Matt Clement (5-4, 6.68 ERA) will do his best to quiet the Twins' bats when he makes his first start for Boston since an 8-3 victory on June 4 and his first career appearance against the Twins.

 

The right-hander held Detroit to three runs and six hits over six innings in that win, but left the game with fatigue. He was scratched from his scheduled start against Texas on Sunday due to spasms in his right arm.

 

Before the win over Detroit, Clement had allowed 14 runs and 16 hits in his previous two starts spanning just 7 2-3 innings. He is 4-1 with a 5.77 ERA on the road this season and will try to help the Red Sox avoid losing three in a row for the first time since April 26-28.

 

Boston has dropped five of its last eight games to fall into a first-place tie with the New York Yankees in the AL East.

 

Brad Radke (4-7, 6.17) tries to earn his first win in a month when he takes the ball for Minnesota. The right-hander is winless in his last five starts recording three losses, but has showed improvement in his last two outings giving up just three earned runs through 12 2-3 innings.

 

Radke allowed two earned runs, seven hits, walked three and struck out two Friday, but left after 5 2-3 innings and did not receive a decision in a 7-5 victory over Baltimore.

 

"It was disappointing because he was throwing the ball very, very good, and we wanted him to get through that inning with a lead and a chance to give him a win also," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.

 

The 33-year-old veteran is 9-6 with a 4.83 ERA in 22 career starts against the Red Sox. He pitched seven shutout innings in his last appearance against them, a 12-0 victory on Aug. 5, giving up only four hits and one walk while striking out eight.

[NomahsHammSammich]

we better f***ing win this game. I am sick of all the close calls..and excuses about guys being banged up.. This Twins team sucks, plain and simple. Not taking 2 of 3 is an embarrassment. Good teams, championship caliber teams take 2 of 3 on the road vs. inferior teams.. Is this the type of team we are? We'll see.

[mtbykr]

Those pics make clement and radke look like brothers! We'd better win this game; after the sox got "tavarez'd" last night, we need a win to make last night go away. Let's come out swinging and give clement a nice cushion!

[riverside sluggers]

Brad Radke (22 games vs Boston, 9-6 record with a 4.83 ERA---Career at Metrodome in 189 games, 80-69 record with a 4.00 ERA)

Kevin Youkilis, 1 for 3 (.333 avg)

Mark Loretta, 3 for 13 (.231 avg) Double, RBI, 2 Ks

David Ortiz, 2 for 10 (.200 avg) 2 HRs, 2 RBIs, 2 Walks, 2 Ks

Manny Ramirez, 25 for 68 (.368 avg) 6 Doubles, Triple, 6 HRs, 20 RBIs, Walk, 16 Ks

Trot Nixon, 6 for 21 (.286 avg) 2 Doubles, RBI, Walk, 4 Ks

Jason Varitek, 5 for 21 (.238 avg) Double, HR, RBI, 2 Walks, 4 Ks

Mike Lowell --

Coco Crisp, 7 for 26 (.269 avg) Double, HR, RBI, 3 Ks, SB

Alex Gonzalez --

///

Alex Cora, 2 for 6 (.333 avg) Double, K

Willie Harris, 2 for 12 (.167 avg) 2 Ks, 2 SBs

Doug Mirabelli, 1 for 3 (.333 avg) K

J.T. Snow, 0 for 8, 2 Walks, K

 

Matt Clement (1st career appearance vs Minnesota)

Luis Castillo, 6 for 25 (.240 avg) Double, 4 Walks, 2 Ks, 3 SBs

Nick Punto --

Joe Mauer --

Michael Cuddyer --

Justin Morneau --

Torri Hunter --

Jason Kubel --

Rondell White, 4 for 11 (.364 avg) Double, 2 RBIs, 3 Walks, 2 Ks

Jason Bartlett --

///

Juan Castro, 1 for 8 (.125 avg) HR, 2 RBIs, 2 Ks

Mike Redmond, Walk

[CrespoBlows]

Youkilis will be leading off tonight.

[Papelbon58]

Youk!!!

[DrewDaGreat]

Red Sox

1. Kevin Youkilis, 1B

2. Mark Loretta, 2B

3. David Ortiz, DH

4. Manny Ramirez, LF

5. Trot Nixon, RF

6. Jason Varitek, C

7. Mike Lowell, 3B

8. Coco Crisp, CF

9. Alex Gonzalez, SS

Matt Clement -- P

 

Twins

1. Luis Castillo, 2B

2. Nick Punto, 3B

3. Joe Mauer, C

4. Michael Cuddyer, RF

5. Justin Morneau, 1B

6. Torii Hunter, CF

7. Jason Kubel, LF

8. Rondell White, DH

9. Jason Bartlett, SS

Brad Radke -- P

[RedSoxRooter]

And Nixon behind Manny.

[riverside sluggers]

Tonight is Papi's 500th game as a Red Sox :thumbsup:

 

He's got the mojo to send 1, maybe 2 balls deep

[RoyNHSox]

Youkilis will be leading off tonight.

 

Every time I look at a new lineup the first thing I check out is where Youk is batting.

 

Good move Youks leading off. The Sox were leading the league in runs scored in May. In

June they rank 11th as of today.

[NomahsHammSammich]

Finally Francoma gets Youks back in his rightful spot. If he can only convince Theo to DFA that piece of crap Tavarez we will be moving in the right direction.

[mtbykr]

Youk, never missed a beat in the leadoff spot!

[Youk Of The Nation]

Youk at leadoff. Your tax dollars at work.

[mtbykr]

Let's get to Radke in the 1st, that's where he has most of the trouble!

[Papelbon58]

that was a little bit of 5000th game luck

[mtbykr]

the crapdome hurting the home team

[Papelbon58]

green light?

[Papelbon58]

yep, but not a good result

[yankeessuck013]

c'mon trot

 

give us some retribution for last nights grand slam by hitting one...

[yankeessuck013]

or not..

[Papelbon58]

crap, but at least it wasnt a DP

[Youk Of The Nation]

A couple more feet and that wouldve been out.

[mtbykr]

Way to crap the bed guys the crapdome gives us an extra out and we can't do anything with it on a clement night! let's hope clement can pitch well and keep his head in the game!

[Youk Of The Nation]

Pitchers night in the NL:

 

Byun-Hung Kim: 2-2

Zach Duke: 2-2, 3 RBI

[mtbykr]

Nice job by clement to pitch out of the lead-off infield single! A good sign!

[Youk Of The Nation]

f***ing Kubel.

[riverside sluggers]

decent 5th starter my ass

 

Clement Im looking forward very much so to the headline: Clement Gone!!

[Beckett95]

Clement is a Grade A scumbag

[yankeessuck013]

who the f*** is this kubel dudette

[Beckett95]

f***ing Kubel.

 

Dude, any left handed hitter with any power what so ever could hit that pitch out.

 

Clement left a MEATBALL right down the plate and it got tattooed