July 12th vs. Toronto

[BoSox34]

Red Sox vs. Blue Jays

7:05 PM; Boston, MA

NESN

 

 

Tim Wakefield (9-8, 4.39 ERA)

http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/topstory/sports/wakefield_tim1013.jpg

 

 

VS.

 

Roy Halladay (10-3, 4.46 ERA)

http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2007/04/02/NhWzZYzo.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

Despite having the best record in the majors and the largest division lead, the Boston Red Sox stumbled into the All-Star break.

 

The Red Sox look to open the second half with a victory and avoid the same letdown they had after the break last year when they face the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday at Fenway Park .

 

Boston (53-34) cruised through the first half of the season, opening up a 12-game lead in the AL East on July 5. The Red Sox still own a 10-game lead over the second-place Blue Jays (43-44) and New York Yankees, but they've lost eight of their last 13 and were swept in Detroit in their final series before the break.

 

"We've played ourselves into whatever our record is," Boston manager Terry Francona told the team's official Web site. "From here on out, whatever we do is what matters."

 

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Last season, the Red Sox had the third-best record in the majors at the All-Star break at 53-33, and led the Yankees by three games. In the second half, though, Boston struggled to a 33-43 mark and finished 11 games behind New York to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

 

Tim Wakefield (9-8, 4.39 ERA) will look to get the Red Sox back on track and win his third straight start when he takes the mound Thursday.

 

Wakefield is 4-1 with a 4.78 ERA in his last five starts after going 1-4 with a 7.98 ERA in the previous five outings. He has not won three starts in a row since Aug. 26-Sept. 6, 2005.

 

In his last outing July 4th, the right-hander departed after 6 1-3 innings with a 7-1 lead, but ended up getting charged with four runs in a 7-5 victory at Fenway. The knuckleballer, who has posted a 3.71 ERA during a four-start home winning streak, hasn't won five straight starts at Fenway since Aug. 2-Sept. 6, 2005.

 

Boston has the fourth-best home record in the majors at 28-14 and has won eight of its last 10 at Fenway.

 

Wakefield is 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA in three starts against the Blue Jays this season, although he gave up four runs in six innings of a 7-3 home loss to them April 23. He's 14-9 with a save and a 3.75 ERA in 43 games - 33 starts - overall against Toronto, and 7-2 with a 2.72 ERA in nine starts against them since the start of the 2004 season.

 

The Blue Jays will counter Wakefield with staff ace Roy Halladay (10-3, 4.46), who's 6-1 with a 4.56 ERA in eight starts since coming off the disabled list May 31 after a bout with appendicitis.

 

Halladay was shaky his last time out, though, giving up five runs and nine hits in 5 2-3 innings of an 8-6 victory over Cleveland on Friday.

 

"More than anything, my curveball wasn't as good as it has been. It's something I need to work on," the right-hander told the team's official Web site.

 

The 2003 AL Cy Young Award winner is 9-8 with a 4.67 ERA in 30 games - 27 starts - against the Red Sox, and 1-1 with a 5.31 ERA in three starts against them this season.

 

The Blue Jays have won three of their last four and defeated Cleveland 1-0 in their last game Sunday, as All-Star Alex Rios hit an RBI single in the ninth.

 

Rios, who finished second in Monday's Home Run Derby, caught the final out of Tuesday's All-Star game to give the AL a 5-4 victory. He's batting .409 (9-for-22) with two doubles and eight RBIs during a six-game hitting streak, but is 5-for-24 (.208) with a homer in his career against Wakefield.

 

The Red Sox have won five of eight against the Blue Jays this season, but lost the only two games played at Fenway.

 

Updated on Wednesday, Jul 11, 2007 10:36 pm EDT

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/preview;_ylt=AgtDhk6.2L6QgTDP82Vv0mMRvLYF?gid=270712102

 

Predcition: Somewhat of a pitcher's duel between Wakefield and Halladay, however Toronto's underrated offense takes advantage of Wakefield towards the middle of the game and Halladay continues to silence the Sox bats into the the 7th. The Red Sox go on to destroy the Blue Jays' bullpen and Boston wins 8-6.

[BSN07]

Knock Halladay around early and get into the BP. Let's go Sox!

[redsoxrules]

halladay has been knocked around in his last 2 starts , lets hope it continues

[mtbykr]

Just heard on WEEI that the lineup is:

 

1. J.D. Drew, RF

2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B

3. David Ortiz, DH

4. Manny Ramirez, LF

5. Kevin Youkilis, 1b

6. Mike Lowell, 3B

7. Coco Crisp, CF

8. Doug Mirabelli, C

9. Julio Lugo, SS

-- Tim Wakefield, SP

[riverside sluggers]

Roy Halladay (31 games vs Boston, 9-9 with a 4.80 ERA---Career at Fenway Park in 14 games, 4-5 with a 4.92 ERA)

J.D. Drew, 4 for 10 (.400 avg) 2 Walks, K

Dustin Pedroia, 0 for 11, Walk, K

David Ortiz, 21 for 69 (.304 avg) 6 Doubles, 5 HRs, 19 RBIs, 3 Walks, 10 Ks

Manny Ramirez, 19 for 71 (.268 avg) 4 Doubles, 3 HRs, 12 RBIs, 6 Walks, 15 Ks

Kevin Youkilis, 8 for 25 (.320 avg) 2 Doubles, 3 RBIs, 5 Walks, 3 Ks

Mike Lowell, 6 for 17 (.353 avg) 3 HRs, 9 RBIs, Walk, 3 Ks

Coco Crisp, 8 for 24 (.333 avg) Double, HR, RBI, 2 Ks, SB

Doug Mirabelli, 2 for 14 (.143 avg) Double, HR, 3 RBIs, Walk, 3 Ks

Julio Lugo, 11 for 39 (.282 avg) HR, 2 RBIs, 2 Walks, 6 Ks, 6 SBs

///

Alex Cora, 3 for 15 (.200 avg) HR, 2 RBIs, Walk, 2 Ks

Eric Hinske, 2 for 9 (.222 avg) 2 RBIs, 4 Ks

Wily Mo Pena, 2 for 7 (.286 avg) Double, 2 RBIs, 3 Ks

Jason Varitek, 13 for 53 (.245 avg) 4 Doubles, HR, 9 RBIs, 6 Walks, 14 Ks

 

Tim Wakefield (44 games vs Toronto, 15-9 & 1 save with a 3.81 ERA---Career at Fenway Park in 236 games, 73-63 & 13 saves with a 4.36 ERA)

Vernon Wells, 12 for 43 (.279 avg) 2 Doubles, 2 RBIs, 4 Walks, 5 Ks, 3 SBs

Matt Stairs, 11 for 42 (.262 avg) 5 Doubles, 2 HRs, 6 RBIs, 5 Walks, 7 Ks

Alex Rios, 7 for 27 (.259 avg) Double, Triple, 2 HRs, 4 RBIs, 5 Ks

Frank Thomas, 9 for 45 (.200 avg) 2 Doubles, 4 HRs, 8 RBIs, 6 Walks, 14 Ks, SB

Troy Glaus, 6 for 28 (.214 avg) 2 Doubles, HR, 4 RBIs, 4 Walks, 5 Ks, SB

Lyle Overbay, 2 for 10 (.200 avg) Walk, 2 Ks

Aaron Hill, 4 for 16 (.250 avg) Double, Walk, 4 Ks

Gregg Zaun, 3 for 18 (.167 avg) RBI, 2 Walks, 4 Ks

John McDonald, 5 for 20 (.250 avg) 2 Doubles, 2 RBIs, 2 Ks

///

Howie Clark, 0 for 1

Royce Clayton, 12 for 39 (.308 avg) 3 Doubles, HR, 2 RBIs, Walk, 3 Ks

Reed Johnson, 2 for 18 (.111 avg) Double, 2 Walks, 7 Ks

Jason Phillips, 2 for 8 (.250 avg) Double, RBI, 2 Ks

 

Halladay this season vs Boston in 4 games, 1-1 with a 6.10 ERA. At Fenway Park in 2 games, 1-1 with a 5.53 ERA. On the road in 8 games, 4-2 with a 5.81 ERA

 

Wakefield this season vs Toronto in 4 games, 3-1 with a 2.77 ERA. At home in 9 games, 6-3 with a 5.13 ERA

[mtbykr]

Let's not forget that Halliday went on the DL with appendicitis right after that start against the sox....he obviously wasn't right that night (as remy kept pointing out)

[BSN07]

I wonder if it would pay off switching Manny and Papi in the lineup. If Papi is hitting behind Manny, he is likely to see better pitches and maybe he can get into a nice hitting groove. Just a thought.

[mtbykr]

I wonder if it would pay off switching Manny and Papi in the lineup. If Papi is hitting behind Manny' date=' he is likely to see better pitches and maybe he can get into a nice hitting groove. Just a thought.[/quote']

 

what??? are you speaking of manram or papi? if we switch them then we guarentee papi will see zero pitches. At this point though i guess it couldn't hurt...it was that way back in 04, although back then we had a lot better lineup

[BSN07]

Papi isn't see any pitches now. The whole point of my idea would really be to get Manny's bat going. Then maybe switch them back later on.

[MANNYHOF24]

Papi isn't see any pitches now. The whole point of my idea would really be to get Manny's bat going. Then maybe switch them back later on.

 

It makes sense, Manny isn't protecting Ortiz right now so it's worth a try.

[Khan]

I had that same thought, flipping Manny and Papi to jump start Manny. They've got to do something and sooner than latter. If he really is broke, they'll need a bat before the deadline.

 

I'll do my part tonight at Fenway. Manny always seems to hit HRs when I'm in the beerline. So I'll go early and often. At 2 for $14, I may need a mortgage.

[redsoxrules]

f*** allready down 1-0

[redsoxrules]

10 pitch at bat for dusty and gets the walk , 1 and 2 no outs

[redsoxrules]

ortiz ! tie game

[redsoxrules]

Manny!! 2-1 still no outs

[redsoxrules]

rbi ground out for youk 3-1

[redsoxrules]

rbi single lowell 4-1

[redsoxrules]

something has to be wrong with halladay ... he's been sucking big time since may , his ERA is now up to 4.75

[redsoxrules]

sac fly manny 5-1... is anyone else watching this game?

[TedWilliams101]

Sac fly nice, but those are the type of pitches Manny didn't miss and would deposit over the monster in the past.

[redsoxrules]

LOL @ Thomas

[a700hitter]

I hate the knuckleball. Back to back HRs by Stairs and Rios. the lead is only 5-4.

[redsoxrules]

f*** wakefield ... get the pen ready

[a700hitter]

Five runs off Halladay. We can't whine about Wake's run support if we lose this game.

[redsoxrules]

we need to get some runs back , and also tito please dont let wake out for the 7th , he's been hit hard were lucky he's only given up 4 runs

[MANNYHOF24]

wow, dead game thread.

[a700hitter]

Manny and Papi got the big key hits tonight.

[MANNYHOF24]

Manny and Papi got the big key hits tonight.

 

It's a very good sign, even if Manny's power has diminished some what, he can still drive in a tun of runs like he has tonight.

[schillingouttheks]

Holy s*** what a dead gamethread. Way to hold down the fort though, rsr.

[schillingouttheks]

Sox win!

 

Good win for this team. Nice to see Papi and Manny alive again. Keep winning.