6/29 vs. Astros

[BoSox21]

Boston Red Sox vs. Houston Astros

 

2:05 PM ET at Minute Maid Park in Houston Texas

 

Josh Beckett (7-5, 3.73 ERA) vs. Brian Moehler (4-3, 4.03 ERA)

 

Houston’s Lance Berkman is having a strong season at the plate so far - and he’s been especially tough against the American League.

 

Berkman will be trying to lead the Astros to a series win on Sunday when they wrap up a three-game set with the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox.

 

Berkman ranks second in the majors with a .366 batting average, behind Atlanta’s Chipper Jones (.394). Playing against the AL has certainly helped his average - in 16 interleague games, he is batting .390 (23-for-59) with three homers and 10 RBIs.

 

Berkman is batting .526 (10-for-19) with six RBIs in his last five games, all against AL teams. He hit a two-run double in the eighth inning Saturday, helping rally Houston (38-43) to an 11-10 victory over Boston (50-33).

 

The switch-hitter struck out three times against left-hander Jon Lester before getting an RBI single in the seventh against righty Craig Hansen and the double against right-hander Manny Delcarmen.

 

“The one major difference was that Lester was off the mound,” Berkman said. “It’s batting right-handed for all three to going over to the left side, where I’m more comfortable.”

 

Berkman will get a chance to face a right-handed starter in the series finale, as Josh Beckett (7-5, 3.73 ERA) takes the mound for the Red Sox. However, he has only two hits - one of them a homer - in 14 career at-bats against Beckett.

 

Beckett is 2-2 with a 2.12 ERA in five career starts against the Astros and has won the last two. However, he has not faced Houston since 2005 while still with Florida.

 

Beckett gave up two runs in eight innings Monday but was outdueled by Dan Haren in a 2-1 loss to Arizona. The right-hander, the only 20-game winner in baseball last season, has allowed two or fewer runs in five of his last six starts.

 

Berkman wasn’t the only offensive hero for Houston on Saturday - Mark Loretta hit a three-run homer, Carlos Lee also connected, and Ty Wigginton tied the game at 9 with a solo shot. The Astros, who have won five of eight, rallied from 4-0 and 9-6 deficits to win for the first time in five games all-time against the Red Sox.

 

“We made some mistakes out over the plate, and they hit every one of them, Boston manager Terry Francona said.

 

Dustin Pedroia continued his offensive tear for the Red Sox, going 4-for-5 with two runs and an RBI. Pedroia is batting .492 (30-for-61) with three homers over his last 14 games.

 

Jacoby Ellsbury started in center in place of Coco Crisp, who began serving a five-game suspension for his role in a bench-clearing brawl in a June 5 game against Tampa Bay.

 

Boston will try to bounce back in the finale against Brian Moehler (4-3, 4.03), who allowed one run in 6 1-3 innings of Tuesday’s 4-3 win over Texas. It was the third time in four starts he held an opponent to one or no runs.

 

“He’s been really, really good for us,” manager Cecil Cooper said. “He had been real effective. Moehler was just outstanding to hold them to one run.”

 

Moehler is 4-2 with a 4.01 ERA in eight career starts against the Red Sox, but he is 0-2 in the last three, dating to 2000.

[yeszir]

Let's not have a repeat of last night

[riverside sluggers]

Josh Beckett (5 games vs Houston, 2-2 with a 2.12 ERA---Career at Minute Maid Park in 2 games, 1-1 with a 2.92 ERA)

Michael Bourn ---

Hunter Pence ---

Lance Berkman, 2 for 14 (.143 avg) Double, HR, 3 RBIs, Walk, 6 Ks

Carlos Lee, 2 for 5 (.400 avg) Double, HR, RBI, K

Miguel Tejada, 3 for 20 (.150 avg) HR, 2 RBIs, 4 Ks

Geoff Blum, 3 for 8 (.375 AVG) 2 Walks, 3 Ks

Ty Wigginton, 7 for 19 (.368 avg) 2 Doubles, 3 HRs, 5 RBIs, 5 Ks

Humberto Quintero ---

Brian Moehler ---

///

Brad Ausmus, 0 for 5, K

Darin Erstad, 1 for 2 (.500 avg) Walk

Mark Loretta, 2 for 14 (.143 avg) 2 Ks

 

Brian Moehler (8 games vs Boston, 4-2 with a 4.01 ERA---Career at Minute Maid Park in 36 games, 4-6 with a 5.04 ERA)

Jacoby Ellsbury ---

Dustin Pedroia ---

J.D. Drew ---

Manny Ramirez, 9 for 18 (.500 avg) 4 Doubles, 2 HRs, 7 RBIs, 2 Walks, 5 Ks

Mike Lowell, 0 for 1

Kevin Youkilis ---

Jason Varitek, 2 for 10 (.200 avg) 2 Walks, K

Julio Lugo, 5 for 16 (.313 avg) Double, K, SB

Josh Beckett ---

///

Sean Casey, 5 for 11 (.455 avg) 2 RBIs, Walk, K

Alex Cora, 1 for 1 (1.000 avg)

[BoSox21]

Sox lineup...Astros lineup not available yet

 

Red Sox

 

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF

2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B

3. J.D. Drew, RF

4. Manny Ramirez, LF

5. Mike Lowell, 3B

6. Kevin Youkilis, 1B

7. Jason Varitek, C

8. Julio Lugo, SS

 

Josh Beckett, SP

[Jayhawk Bill]

Sox lineup...Astros lineup not available yet

 

Red Sox

 

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF

2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B

3. J.D. Drew, RF

4. Manny Ramirez, LF

5. Mike Lowell, 3B

6. Kevin Youkilis, 1B

7. Jason Varitek, C

8. Julio Lugo, SS

 

Josh Beckett, SP

 

Interesting...it's getaway Sunday, but Beckett is pitching, and we've got the entire starting lineup...even Tek catching a day game after a night game.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Astros Lineup:

 

1) Bourn CF

2) Pence RF

3) Berkman 1B

4) Lee LF

5) Tejada SS

6) Blum 2B

7) Wigginton 3B

8) Quintero C

9) Moehler P

 

Wigginton is 7-19 lifetime vs. Beckett with three home runs.

[The Dustball]

Hell of a slide by Pedroia.

[The Dustball]

Thats ********. There is no way the home plate umpire can make that call without checking with the first base ump. We got completely screwed on that call.

[Cocos Disciples]

I agree, he should have at least checked.

[Cocos Disciples]

Faaaack.

[riverside sluggers]

The ump probably got pissy because Manny started walking off to 1st base without his call

[MANNYHOF24]

Varitek has been so terrible. Im starting to think he is not gonna turn it around this season.

[The Dustball]

Lol at Lugo.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Lol at Lugo.

 

I couldn't shake that off well enough to get a hit...kudos to Lugo.

[The Dustball]

I couldn't shake that off well enough to get a hit...kudos to Lugo.

 

I Guess that's why you're the stats guy.

[Cocos Disciples]

49 pitches in 1 2/3 IP. And no runs.

[The Dustball]

God damn it. The ball was left way up in the zone. Bad pitch.

[Cocos Disciples]

Pedroia is unstoppable.

[The Dustball]

Haha Holy s*** Dustin Pedroia is on f***ing fire. Tie ballgame.

[Cocos Disciples]

Heeere we go.

[Cocos Disciples]

Moehler sucks. We should be doing better. At least we've skyrocketed his PC.

[riverside sluggers]

Moehler is doing his best Houdini impression

[Cocos Disciples]

Strike 1 to Pedroia looked pretty damn inside. Nearly hit him.

[riverside sluggers]

Beckett has got s*** run support this year

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

Jed Lowrie hits 2 HRs with 4 RBI this afternoon.....lot of offense being wasted down there

[Cocos Disciples]

C'mon Pedroier.

[Cocos Disciples]

DFA Pedroia

[das11209]

I am sure that offense will come out of 'slump'.

 

Funny thing - the day offense scored 10 runs ( and I am sure that boosted runs per game stats) - they actually lost.

 

We are sucking dick against NL this year - not good.

[Jayhawk Bill]

By D3, Terry Francona is the third-worst manager in MLB entering today's game.

[Cocos Disciples]

Who are the lesser two?