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5/8 @ Detroit Tigers

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Cocos Disciples MVP

Cocos Disciples

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If we can take 3 of 4 at Detroit, I consider that a pretty big success, and we have a good chance to do so with Beckett on the hill. Good pitching matchup tonight.

 

Boston Red Sox (22-14) at Detroit Tigers (15-20)

 

http://www.eteamz.com/NW45Baseball/images/joshbeckett.jpg

Josh Beckett (3-2, 4.19)

vs

http://bigleaguenews.com/resources/jv2.jpg

Justin Verlander (1-5, 6.28)

 

Win.

 

DETROIT -- The Red Sox won five straight games with the help of solid starting pitching, and conversely, poor starting pitching played a part in Wednesday night's loss that snapped the streak.

So, Red Sox manager Terry Francona is looking for the starting pitching to get back on track in Thursday night's series finale against the Tigers at Comerica Park. Staff ace Josh Beckett toes the rubber hoping to get Boston back in the win column.

 

A key to successful starting pitching, and therefore team success, Francona believes, is pitchers throwing deep into games.

 

During the Red Sox's five-game win streak, only one pitcher went fewer than six innings, and that was Daisuke Matsuzaka throwing despite being sick. Two starters went into the eighth inning, to the delight of their manager.

 

In the Red Sox loss on Wednesday, starter Clay Buchholz only lasted four innings.

 

"Any time our pitchers can consistently get us deep into games, you certainly give yourself a better chance to win," Francona said. "If they're out there pitching late in the game, something's going right. And if they do it consistently, you're not getting the bullpen tired, you're not overexposing people."

 

Francona expects his starters to be sharp, because his staff is not one to dwell on past mistakes.

 

"We turn the page so fast," he said.

 

But Francoa hopes Beckett keeps the page right where it is. Beckett has looked good in his last two starts, despite losing one of the contests, and he'll need to look good again with ace Justin Verlander scheduled to start for Detroit.

 

Pitching matchup

BOS: RHP Josh Beckett (3-2, 4.19 ERA)

Beckett got a lot of help from his friends -- both offensively and defensively -- in winning 12-4 against the Rays on Saturday. The Red Sox made several nifty defensive plays behind their ace, including Manny Ramirez throwing Carlos Pena out at the plate with a run that would have made it 5-4 in the fourth inning. Beckett is 1-2 in three starts on the road this year, yielding nine earned runs in 19 2/3 innings away from home, striking out 24 in those three starts. He is 0-1 with a 7.50 ERA in his only lifetime start against Detroit, that loss coming at Fenway Park.

 

DET: RHP Justin Verlander (1-5, 6.28 ERA)

The struggles continued into May for Verlander on Saturday, but with four runs allowed over seven innings, he gave Detroit a chance at a victory had the Tigers mustered any offense against the Twins. The bright side was in his stuff, from sustained mid-90s velocity on his fastball to a tight breaking ball that dropped late. He tossed 7 2/3 innings of two-run ball against Boston with seven strikeouts in their lone meeting last year.

 

Tidbits

David Ortiz extended his hitting streak to seven games Wednesday, during which he is hitting .419 with three home runs and eight RBIs. ... Kevin Youkilis had his second career two-homer game against the Tigers on Wednesday night at Comerica Park. The other time he did it was Aug. 8, 2004 at Comerica Park. ... Jacoby Ellsbury has 13 stolen bases this year. He has started his career 22-for-22 in stolen base attempts, the most by a Red Sox player to start a career since 1920.

-MLB.com
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ksushi First Round Pick

ksushi

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Same thing as every year, he doesn't have the K-rate to match his stuff but the BABIP gods were not kind to him in April.
soxfan17881 Draft Eligible

soxfan17881

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Lineups

 

Red Sox

 

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, LF

2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B

3. David Ortiz, DH

4. Kevin Youkilis, 1B

5. Mike Lowell, 3B

6. J.D. Drew, RF

7. Jason Varitek, C

8. Coco Crisp, CF

9. Julio Lugo, SS

 

Josh Beckett, SP

 

Tigers

 

1. Curtis Granderson, CF

2. Placido Polanco, 2B

3. Carlos Guillen, 3B

4. Magglio Ordonez, RF

5. Miguel Cabrera, 1B

6. Matt Joyce, LF

7. Marcus Thames, DH

8. Brandon Inge, C

9. Ramon Santiago, SS

 

Justin Verlander, SP

yeszir MVP

yeszir

Site Manager
Posted
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I'll be well asleep come the second inning, but I'm confident the Sox will win, even with Lugo's 15 errors.
ORS All-Star

ORS

Old-Timey Member
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If the Tigers are going to send a statue like Guillen out to man the hot corner, shouldn't he at least be able to swat? Whatever, dumasses, thanks for the free runs.
Beaneater Draft Eligible

Beaneater

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If the Tigers are going to send a statue like Guillen out to man the hot corner' date=' shouldn't he at least be able to swat? Whatever, dumasses, thanks for the free runs.[/quote']

 

When I was at Tuesday's game, Inge dropped a soft liner from Manny. Obviously an error, though it was scored as a hit. The fans starting shouting crap at Inge and saying that Guillen should be playing 3B. That didn't work out so well, eh?

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