August 24th @ Chicago - Game 1

[TheKilo]

Start the series off right with a win tonight. We've got our ace going, the bats will wake up, and when we all go to sleep tonight the magic number for the division will be a tidy 30.

 

Boston Red Sox (76-51) @ Chicago White Sox (56-70)

 

Beckett looks for sweet 16

Boston (76-51) at Chicago (56-70), Thursday, 8:11 p.m. ET

 

The Red Sox head back north for the second leg of their three-city, 10-game road swing through Tampa Bay, Chicago and New York, beginning Thursday.

 

Boston took three of four from the White Sox at Fenway Park earlier this season, and hopes to continue the trend of dominance during the upcoming four-game set against Chicago, which has shocked many by going from World Series Champions in 2005, to 90-game winner last season, to a heated battle with the Royals to stay out of the basement in the American League Central.

 

Josh Beckett will toe the rubber for Boston in search of his Majors-leading 16th win, and if past success is any indication of what's to come in the future, the right-hander will be just fine on Thursday.

 

Along with a 2-0 record and 1.61 ERA in three August starts, Beckett's 2-0 in his three-start career against Chicago. Four of the 16 hits he's given up to the White Sox have gone for home runs, but they've done no more damage than boost his career ERA (4.60) against them.

 

Most recently, he held the Angels to five hits and two runs (just one earned), and punched out eight in a no-decision.

 

Countering Beckett on Chicago's side is lefty John Danks, who's had it rough at Fenway in his recent past. He scattered seven hits over six innings during his last visit, and it amounted to four earned runs and a loss.

 

He's had just eight quality starts of 23 this season, and just one this month, during which he's pitched to an 0-4 record and 7.91 ERA.

 

Pitching matchup

BOS: RHP Josh Beckett (15-5, 3.15 ERA)

Beckett holds opponents to .244 hitting on the road during his career.

 

CWS: LHP John Danks (6-11, 5.30 ERA)

The rookie's allowed 10 homers through 10 home starts this season.

Player to watch

Center fielder Coco Crisp is 2-for-3 with three RBIs against Danks in his career.

[BoSox21]

Beckett also has that absolutely sick road ERA

[VA Sox Fan]

Win this series!!!!

 

GO SOX!!!!

[MDF3530]

If they get the game in tonight, it's gonna be because God is a Sox (Red or White) fan.

 

There's a huge green blob with specks of yellow & red on the way:

 

http://wmaq.weatherplus.com/wxplocal/index.html

[riverside sluggers]

Just f***ing win, you f***ers

 

Josh Beckett (3 games vs Chicago, 2-0 with a 4.60 ERA---Career at U.S. Cellular Field in 2 games, 1-0 with a 4.85 ERA)

Jerry Owens, 1 for 3 (.333 avg) SB

Josh Fields, 0 for 2, 2 Ks

Jim Thome, 6 for 27 (.222 avg) 2 Doubles, 3 HRs, 8 RBIs, 3 Walks, 12 Ks

Paul Konerko, 1 for 5 (.200 avg) Walk

A.J. Pierzynski, 3 for 9 (.333 avg) RBI, 2 Ks

Jermaine Dye, 2 for 5 (.400 avg) 2 HRs, 3 RBIs, K

Darin Erstad ---

Juan Uribe, 2 for 4 (.500 avg) Double, K

Danny Richar ---

///

Toby Hall, 1 for 2 (.500 avg) Double

Scott Podsednik, 3 for 7 (.429 avg) 2 Ks, SB

 

John Danks (1 game vs Boston, 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA---Career at U.S. Cellular Field in 10 games, 3-5 with a 5.18 ERA)

Coco Crisp, 2 for 3 (.667 avg) 3 RBIs

Kevin Youkilis, 1 for 2 (.500 avg) Walk

David Ortiz ---

Manny Ramirez, 0 for 3, K

Mike Lowell, 0 for 1, 2 Walks

Bobby Kielty ---

Jason Varitek, 1 for 3 (.333 avg)

Alex Cora ---

Julio Lugo, 1 for 3 (.333 avg) Double, K

///

J.D. Drew, 1 for 3 (.333 avg) Double, RBI, 2 Ks

Dustin Pedroia, 1 for 3 (.333 avg)

 

Beckett this season vs Chicago in 1 game, 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA. On the road in 9 games, 8-1 with a 1.65 ERA

[BoSox21]

Pedroia is out tonight, replaced by Alex Cora

[Quinny]

C'mon guys take this series.

 

Does Danks throw hard?

[jacksonianmarch]

low 90s

[redsoxrules]

Danks is 0-4 with a 7.91 ERA in august , so they better kick his ass

[redsoxrules]

game delayed

[BoSox21]

pffft, I went from thinking about staying up for the entire thing to not a chance. they might not even play tonight

[TheKilo]

Any news?

[EvilDonut]

Looks like it's gonna happen. They expect it to clear up in about an hour.

[Cityofchampions33]

Looks like it's gonna happen. They expect it to clear up in about an hour.

 

I'll watch it

[inkman]

Still gonna play?

[RedSoxRooter]

If it's on before 10 I can get this one in.

[BoSox21]

theyre hoping for a 10:15 PM ET start time but its still raining there apparently

[inkman]

So what exactly is the longest a game is delayed? I know it varies, but starting this game @ midnight would be absurd, eastern or central time. So how do they determine what is an acceptable amount of time to delay instead of postpone?

[BoSox21]

as of 20 mins ago, the rain is stopping, the tarp is coming off and Beckett is stretching

[BoSox21]

the groundscrew was shoveling rain off the tarp when it started pouring again, game is starting to look in doubt

[RedSoxRooter]

day/night doubleheader on Sat sounds good to me.

[TheKilo]

Sigh. Just call it, I don't want to lose Beckett.

[EvilDonut]

well it's called. Sweet Lord they take their time.

[TheKilo]

I'm really looking forward to Tito's "I gotta rest my guys" lineup in the nightcap.

[riverside sluggers]

why not have the DH tomorrow, blah the game will most likely be almost over when I get home from work

[BoSox21]

DH today at 2:05 and 8:11

 

Beckett vs. Garland and Schilling vs. Danks

[mtbykr]

doesn't look good for getting either of these games in today. Fox tommorow so no DH and it's a "get away" day on sunday. Hopfully the yanks are getting the same weather in detroit

[VA Sox Fan]

Red Sox

 

Julio Lugo, SS

Coco Crisp, CF

David Oritz, DH

Manny Ramirez, LF

Mike Lowell, 3B

J.D. Drew, RF

Jason Varitek, C

Eric Hinske, 1B

Alex Cora, 2B

 

Josh Beckett P

 

White Sox

 

Jerry Owens, CF

Josh Fields, 3B

Jim Thome, DH

Paul Konerko, 1B

A.J. Pierzynski, C

Jermaine Dye, RF

Darin Erstad, LF

Juan Uribe, SS

Danny Richard, 2B

 

Jon Garland, P

 

GO SOX!!

[Quinny]

Why no pregame show on nesn?

 

I was starting to get worried.

[redsoxrules]

come on beckett find the plate