September 12th vs. The RAAAAys

[TheKilo]

Tampa Bay Devil Rays (61-84) @ Boston Red Sox (88-58)

 

Lester tries to stay perfect vs. Rays

Boston (88-58) vs. Tampa Bay (61-84), Wednesday, 7:05 p.m. ET

 

The Red Sox look for some momentum heading into a crucial weekend series with the Yankees when they host the Rays in the finale of a three-game set at Fenway Park.

 

One night after being shutout by the Rays staff, the Red Sox exploded for a season-high 16 runs on 20 hits, wiping out a seven-run deficit and posting the biggest come-from-behind win of the season, a 16-10 triumph.

 

Jon Lester will look to remain perfect as he takes the hill for the Red Sox in the rubber game while Tampa Bay counters with hard-throwing righty Edwin Jackson.

 

The Red Sox stand just 12 games shy of their first 100-win season since capturing the 1946 American League pennant with 104 victories.

 

Boston still leads the Yankees by five games in the AL East, its biggest lead after 146 games since a nine-game cushion in 1986.

 

"They've been playing good and you don't want to face a situation where they're three games away or anything like that," David Ortiz said of the Yankees following Tuesday's win. "You want to keep on winning because you see how they've been hitting and playing."

 

Pitching matchup

BOS: LHP Jon Lester (4-0, 4.47 ERA)

The left-hander is coming off perhaps his best start of the season, as he fired seven shutout innings in a 4-0 win over the Orioles. In fact, Lester, over his last two starts, has allowed just two runs over 13 innings. This is Lester's ninth start of the season. Remarkably, it will be the fourth against the Devil Rays. In those first three outings against Tampa Bay, Lester is 1-0 with a 4.74 ERA. This will be Lester's 12th career start at Fenway Park, where he's 5-1 with a 4.19 ERA.

 

TB: RHP Edwin Jackson (4-14, 6.00 ERA)

Jackson looked untouchable through 4 2/3 innings Friday night while holding to Blue Jays to no runs and no hits. But the good karma didn't last as the Jays scored seven runs and chased Jackson before he could get the last out in the sixth. Jackson continues to pitch off his fastball, spotting the heater with a much-improved slider and changeup. Jackson is 1-1 with a 5.87 ERA in five appearances against the Red Sox.

 

Players to watch

Red Sox rookie Jacoby Ellsbury continues on a red-hot tear, extending his hitting streak to 11 games with a third-inning home run to the Rays bullpen on Tuesday night. Ellsbury homered three times in his first 54 big league at-bats after hitting just two homers all season in 436 at-bats in the Minors. On Tuesday, Mike Lowell posted his sixth game of at least four hits, the most in the Majors this season.

[Gom]

What a strange series. One run total in game one, 26 in game two. Baseball can never be predicted.

[schillingouttheks]

What a strange series. One run total in game one' date=' 26 in game two. Baseball can never be predicted.[/quote']

 

Scott Kazmir.

[TheKilo]

BOSTON

 

Julio Lugo SS

Dustin Pedroia 2B

David Ortiz DH

Kevin Youkilis 3B

JD Drew RF

Jason Varitek C

Brandon Moss LF

Coco Crisp CF

Eric Hinske 1B

 

Jon Lester P

 

TAMPA BAY

Akinori Iwamura, 3B

Carl Crawford, LF

Carlos Pena, 1B

B.J. Upton, CF

Delmon Young, RF

Brendan Harris, 2B

Jonny Gomes, DH

Dioner Navarro, C

Josh Wilson, SS

 

Edwin Jackson P

[jacksonianmarch]

The DRays jump on Lester early, but the kid hangs on to have a representative performance. Edwin Jackson dominates early, then gets worn down in the 6th when the DRays pen comes to the rescue and throws 3 innings of pristine relief bwahahahahaha. couldnt keep a straight face. Prediction: Game is still in doubt in the 6th when the sox pull away against the worst set of pitchers put together since the late 80s yankee pitching staff.

[riverside sluggers]

Ellsbury and Lowell get the night off. Ellsbury is out due to him hurting his wrist banging into the green monster the past couple of nights. Some good news is that theres a good chance of Manny returning for the series opener againt New York He took 34 swings in batting practice, launching 3 homeruns in the process

 

Edwin Jackson (6 games vs Boston, 1-1 with a 5.55 ERA---Career at Fenway Park in 3 games, 0-1 with a 6.92 ERA)

Julio Lugo, 1 for 9 (.111 avg) K, SB

Dustin Pedroia, 2 for 3 (.667 avg) Walk

David Ortiz, 3 for 7 (.429 avg) Double, HR, 3 RBIs, 4 Walks, K

Kevin Youkilis, 1 for 7 (.143 avg) Double, Walk, 3 Ks

J.D. Drew, 4 for 7 (.571 avg) 3 Doubles, RBI, Walk, 3 Ks

Jason Varitek, 0 for 7, 4 Ks

Brandon Moss, 1 for 3 (.333 avg) Double, K

Coco Crisp, 3 for 10 (.300 avg) Triple, Walk, K, SB

Eric Hinske, 0 for 6, 3 Walks, 4 Ks, SB

///

Royce Clayton, 3 for 8 (.375 avg) RBI, 2 Ks, 2 SBs

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

Jacoby Ellsbury, 1 for 3 (.333 avg) Double, RBI

Bobby Kielty, 1 for 1 (1.000 avg)

Mike Lowell, 3 for 9 (.333 avg) HR, 3 RBIs

Doug Mirabelli, 2 for 3 (.667 avg) 2 RBIs, K

Manny Ramirez, 0 for 1

 

Jon Lester (4 games vs Tampa Bay, 1-0 with a 5.68 ERA---Career at Fenway Park in 12 games, 5-1 with a 4.50 ERA)

Akinori Iwamura, 2 for 8 (.250 avg) HR, 3 RBIs, 4 Walks, 2 Ks

Carl Crawford, 3 for 9 (.333 avg) Double, 2 Ks

Carlos Pena, 3 for 9 (.333 avg) HR, 5 RBIs, Walk, K

B.J. Upton, 4 for 11 (.364 avg) HR, 2 RBIs, Walk, 2 Ks

Delmon Young, 1 for 10 (.100 avg) RBI, Walk, 3 Ks

Brendan Harris, 3 for 9 (.333 avg) 2 Doubles

Jonny Gomes, 3 for 9 (.333 avg) HR, 2 RBIs, 2 Ks, SB

Dioner Navarro, 0 for 2, 2 Walks

Josh Wilson, 0 for 8, Walk, 2 Ks

///

Greg Norton, 0 for 3, 2 Ks

Josh Paul, 1 for 5 (.200 avg) HR, RBI

 

Jackson this season vs Boston in 3 games, 1-1 with a 5.82 ERA. At Fenway Park in 2 games, 0-1 with an 8.18 ERA. On the road in 16 games, 2-6 with a 5.37 ERA

 

Lester this season at home in 3 games, 1-0 with a 3.89 ERA

[TheKilo]

I'd rather have Youk get the night off, but all things considered it's not THAT BAD of a lineup.

[MANNYHOF24]

What a strange series. One run total in game one' date=' 26 in game two. Baseball can never be predicted.[/quote']

 

How hard is it to predict that Schilling vs. Kazmir would produce a lower score than Wakefield vs. Sorrenstien. It's not Rocket science.

[das11209]

I would have liked Kielty in the lineup instead of Hinske. I am OK with Moss.

 

Edit - My mistake Hinske is on 1B

[TheKilo]

I would have liked Kielty in the lineup instead of Hinske. I am OK with Moss.

 

Kielty doesn't play first base.

 

Red Sox manager Terry Francona had to make some adjustments to his lineup for the third and final game of the series against the Devils Ray Wednesday night.

 

 

Francona said third baseman Mike Lowell was out because of illness, possibly food poisoning, so Kevin Youkilis moved into his spot and Eric Hinske was installed at first base. With Ellsbury out because of an ailing wrist, Brandon Moss was called on to play left field.

 

 

With a scheduled day off on Thursday and the Yankees in town for a critical three-game set beginning Friday, Francona said it was better safe than sorry.

 

``He doesn't know if was something he ate but he's got activity from both ends,'' said the manager. ``He's not feeling too well. He texted me early this morning and kind of said, `Hey, this is what's going on.' You know Mike, he wants to try to get in there but that, to me, makes no sense. I know he's a great player but we have a day off tomorrow. If he plays today and then goes back three days, that doesn't make a lot of sense. Let the trainers work on him, maybe he gets an IV, whatever they deem appropriate. Let him get it out of his system and be okay Friday.''

 

lol

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2007/09/lowell_sick_ell.html

[BoSox21]

wow, what a brutal lineup we're putting out there tonight

 

Moss is gonna be trained to play first base this off-season. Enjoy Hinske while you can

[das11209]

wow, what a brutal lineup we're putting out there tonight

 

Moss is gonna be trained to play first base this off-season. Enjoy Hinske while you can

 

How about that dude we got for Pena - is he any good at 1B?

[TheKilo]

How about that dude we got for Pena - is he any good at 1B?

 

Shhhhhh.

[redsoxrules]

good start lester

[Anuj09]

MURPHYS MOJO

 

 

http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2004/09/03/1094238456_4494.jpg

[TheKilo]

Besides, wasn't Pena a free agent?

[das11209]

Youk gets that leadoff runner - Hinske sucks

[redsoxrules]

dammit 1-0 allready

[TheKilo]

lol

[redsoxrules]

Youk gets that leadoff runner - Hinske sucks

 

does he catch that HR too?

[das11209]

Besides' date=' wasn't Pena a free agent?[/quote']

 

I meant Willy Mo - not Carlos.

 

Lester is the latest to start sucking.

[TheKilo]

Was that HR as cheap as it looked on Gameday?

[TheKilo]

Cheap hits all over the place, lol.

[das11209]

Hit the pole - but the HR was legit.

[TheKilo]

Hit the pole - but the HR was legit.

 

How high up the pole that's 300 feet from home plate?

[redsoxrules]

And NY is winning again

[redsoxrules]

f*** lester....its a good thing we have the day off tomorrow so our pen can rest

[TheKilo]

This negative nancy s*** has got to go.

 

4 runs against the TB pitching staff is more than doable.

[das11209]

I for one not shocked to see Lester s*** the bed.

 

Dude has no control what so ever.

[das11209]

Thank God - innings over.