5/5 @ Detroit Tigers

[VA Sox Fan]

Red Sox:

 

1, Ellsbury, CF

 

2. Pedroia, 2B

 

3. Ortiz, DH

 

4. Ramirez, LF

 

5. Lowell, 3B

 

6. Youkilis, 1B

 

7. Drew, RF

 

8. Varitek, C

 

9 Lugo, SS

 

Matsuzaka P

 

Go Dice-K! GO RED SOX!!

[BoSox21]

nice, BPO going tonight

[yeszir]

BOSTON -- The last time the Red Sox saw the Tigers, Boston was coming off a three-country road trip and Detroit was coming off an 0-5 start to its season.

 

A lot has happened to both teams since as the clubs get together for a four-game series in Detroit starting Monday, when Boston sends Daisuke Matsuzaka to the mound to face righty Jeremy Bonderman.

 

The Tigers, who were showing signs of turning things around, despite serious injuries to their pitching staff, are on a losing streak as they head into the series.

 

Detroit was just swept in Minnesota, scoring one run in each of the first two games and then scoring six runs in the top of the first Sunday before losing, 7-6, to the Twins.

 

Before Sunday's game, Detroit manager Jim Leyland promised changes in his lineup when the Tigers face the Red Sox.

 

After completing a three-game sweep of the Rays on Sunday, the Red Sox, despite a recent five-game losing streak, are 20-13 and leading the American League East. The Tigers, meanwhile, lost two of three in Boston to fall to 1-7 at the start of the year, but posted a 13-11 record since.

 

Matsuzaka and Tim Wakefield, who pitches Tuesday night, both beat the Tigers in that first series, while Bonderman beat Jon Lester in the middle game. Lester, Sunday's winner, will not pitch for the Sox again until they open a four-game series in Minnesota on Friday night.

 

Boston turned the tables on Tampa Bay, sweeping the Rays after being swept in St. Petersburg last weekend.

 

"It's a good sign we swung the bats well, basically against the same guys [that shut us down]," said Mike Lowell, who missed the series in Florida.

 

While at Tropicana Field, the Red Sox managed just five runs in three games. Boston's bats awoke at Fenway, tallying 24 runs to brush aside the Rays.

 

The Tigers were missing center fielder and sparkplug Curtis Granderson the first time the teams played. He's back, but Detroit continues to be plagued by inconsistency -- notably from a lineup touted by many as the strongest in the AL.

 

Pitching matchup

BOS: RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (4-0, 2.52 ERA)

Matsuzaka had one of his best starts in a Red Sox uniform in his last start but got a no-decision for it. He worked seven shutout innings, allowing just two hits, against Toronto, in a game the Sox won, 2-1. He walked two and struck out four in his longest start of the year. The two hits allowed were the fewest he'd ever given up in a start lasting at least seven innings. He is now 19-12 in the Major Leagues, 2-1 against the Tigers, a team he beat April 8 with 6 2/3 scoreless innings. He is 0-1 in one start at Comerica Park, yielding six earned runs in five innings in a start there last season.

 

DET: RHP Jeremy Bonderman (2-2, 3.86 ERA)

Bonderman lost to the Red Sox at Fenway Park on April 9, giving up five hits and two runs (one earned) in five innings. That dropped his lifetime record against the Sox to 4-4 -- 3-1 at home and 1-3 at Fenway. The Tigers are 4-2 in his six starts this season. He beat the Yankees in New York in his last start, giving up five hits and two runs in 7 2/3 innings, but was coming off a start against Texas, where he walked seven and fanned seven in 4 2/3 innings. The 7 2/3 against the Yankees easily surpassed his previous season high of 6 1/3.

 

Tidbits

The Red Sox have either been in first place or percentage points out for 20 straight days. ... Lowell still doesn't have an RBI on the season, now with 54 at-bats. ... Manny Ramirez, stuck on 496 home runs since April 19, now has gone 47 at-bats without hitting one. ... Justin Verlander, the Tigers ace, will bring a 1-5 record and 6.28 ERA into Thursday night's start against the Sox.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080504&content_id=2643809&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos

[Jayhawk Bill]

I predict a very long game.

 

Bonderman is one of the few pitchers against whom Cash has done well...I'm a little disappointed that Francona didn't give Tek a chance to heal his bruises.

[Thumper]

I predict a very long game.

 

I love a good long game of baseball. I don't care who's against me on that, I just can't help but love it. I was at a Zephyrs game last season that lasted 14 innings, they eventually lost on an RBI single, f***ers. Didn't get home until 1am from that game.

 

That beign said, let's make Bonderman s*** his diapers with some awesome run support while Dice-K fools them with his 300 pitches.

[ORS]

Petey, you'd be on first if you let it brush the jersey. Take the free pass.

[ORS]

Strikes, dummy.

[a700hitter]

Dice K with the usual walks. You can't give this lineup fre passes and expect to win.

[ORS]

And even if you get away with it, you run yourself out early and call upon the middle relief. Our middle relief = autoloss.

[redsoxrules]

the ususal 25 pitch inning

[The Dustball]

ok nice job working out of it Dice. BTW could that Sullivan Tire commercial with Dusty be more cheesy please?

[a700hitter]

ok nice job working out of it Dice. BTW could that Sullivan Tire commercial with Dusty be more cheesy please?

He has very little acting talent.

[The Dustball]

Lowell! 2-0 Sox!

[Thumper]

Lowell goes yah'd.

[a700hitter]

Lowell gets his season started finally!! Nice HR

[Youk Of The Nation]

Good park for your first homer of the season.

[a700hitter]

Dice K will single handedly kill our bullpen. His pitch efficiency sucks. 3 walks in 2 innings.

[Thumper]

I swear if Dice-K walks another batter....

[ORS]

Four pitch leadoff walk. Lester has better control.

[a700hitter]

4 walks in 2innings to this point.

[Thumper]

If Dice-K can go 1 inning without walking a batter, I'll quit drinking.

[Youk Of The Nation]

This twentypitch inning s*** is starting to piss me off.

[a700hitter]

If Dice-K can go 1 inning without walking a batter' date=' I'll quit drinking.[/quote']You'll need a new liver by the end of the year.

[Thumper]

You'll need a new liver by the end of the year.

 

In my case, I give it the All-Star break.

[Thumper]

Dun dun dun. Another pitch walks the f***!

[ORS]

I don't know what's more painful to watch now, Matsuzaka pitching or Wakefield.

[a700hitter]

Walk two guys in front of Mags and Miggy. Good move.

[ORS]

Thank you for chasing, Mags.

[ORS]

Batshit sighting.

[Youk Of The Nation]

And then he strikes out the next guy on four pitches. f***in' jesus f***in' christ.