Game Info:
Date: Friday, June 30th, 2006
First Pitch: 7:35pm EST
Location: Dolphin Stadium, Miami Florida
TV: NESN
Starting Pitchers:
http://i.a.cnn.net/si/images/baseball/mlb/players/5885.jpghttp://bellsouthpwp.net/c/h/chinigor/TALKSOX/VS.GIFhttp://i.a.cnn.net/si/images/baseball/mlb/players/7133.jpg
http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/mlb/sml/trans/bos.gif#18 Jason Johnson (3-8, 5.96)
http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/mlb/sml/trans/fla.gif#35 Dontrelle Willis (4-7, 4.05)
Red Sox - Marlins Preview
The last time they were this hot, the Boston Red Sox ended up with a division title.
The Red Sox try for their longest winning streak in nearly 58 years when they open a three-game series with the Florida Marlins Friday at Dolphin Stadium.
The Red Sox (48-28) won their 12th straight game on Thursday thanks in large part to RedSoxRooter's game thread mojo, beating the New York Mets 4-2 to complete a three-game sweep.
Boston, which moved a season-high four games ahead of the New York Yankees in the AL East, had not won 12 in a row since Aug 3-14, 1995 en route to the club's last division title.
The Red Sox have not won 13 in a row since July 18-27, 1948. Their current winning streak is the longest in the majors since Houston won 12 in a row from Aug. 27-Sept. 8, 2004. Oakland had the last longer streak, winning 20 in a row in 2002.
David Ortiz went 3-for-4 with his 200th career homer in Thursday's win. Mark Loretta also homered for Boston, which improved to a major league-best 14-1 in interleague play.
Each of Boston's 12 straight wins have come against NL teams.
Jonathan Papelbon earned his 24th save in 26 chances, tying the club rookie record set in 1962 by Dick Radatz .
''We played as good a game as we played in a long time,'' said manager Terry Francona , whose team tied the major league record of 16 straight errorless games set by the St. Louis Cardinals from July 30 to Aug. 16, 1992.
Jason Johnson (3-8, 5.96 ERA) will look to keep Boston's streak alive in his first start for his new team. He was released by Cleveland on June 20 and acquired by the Red Sox a day later in a trade for a player to be named or cash.
Johnson has not pitched since June 19, when he dropped his fourth straight start, allowing six runs, three earned, and two homers in five innings of a 12-8 defeat to the Chicago Cubs . He is 1-8 with a 7.38 ERA in his last 11 starts and has allowed 10 homers and 108 hits in 77 innings this season.
However, Boston hopes the groundball pitcher will thrive with the Red Sox 's infield behind him. The Red Sox have committed just 23 errors this season, the fewest in the majors.
''There have been a lot of balls that have gotten through the (Guardians) infield,'' general manager Theo Epstein said. ''We hope that our infield defense, which we think is pretty good, might help him out a little bit.''
Johnson is 0-2 with a 6.46 ERA in three career starts against the Marlins.
Florida will counter with left-hander Dontrelle Willis (4-7, 4.05), who allowed two runs in eight innings of Sunday's 2-1 loss the Yankees, ending a personal three-game winning streak.
Willis, who has never faced the Red Sox , is 3-1 with a 2.50 ERA in five June starts.
The Marlins (34-41) lost 3-1 to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Wednesday, just their fourth defeat in 17 games. Starter Scott Olsen drove in the only run for Florida, which saw its eight-game home winning streak snapped.
The Marlins have won eight of their last 11 series.
''The ball's starting to bounce our way,'' Willis said. ''It's a beautiful thing to see. I don't think anybody thought our turnaround would be this fast. We're in striking distance every single game. That's the sign of a good ballclub.''
Looking at Johnson's career stats makes me want to puke in my mouth. This is a real test for the mojo and Willis should be fun to watch. GO SOX!