Per request, my good mojo was summoned to try to get the Sox back on track. Combine the mojo with Beckett pitching tonight, I like our chances :thumbsup: Therefore, I decided to answer the beckons for my gamethreads. Get that offense crankin' tonight. Go Sox!
Game Info:
Date: Thursday, April 27th, 2006
First Pitch: 7:05 pm EST
TV: NESN / ESPN2
Starting Pitchers:
http://i.a.cnn.net/si/images/baseball/mlb/players/6403.jpghttp://bellsouthpwp.net/c/h/chinigor/TALKSOX/VS.GIFhttp://i.a.cnn.net/si/images/baseball/mlb/players/5468.jpg
http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/mlb/images/team_logos/50x50/bos.gif#19 Josh Beckett (3-0, 2.54)
http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/mlb/images/team_logos/50x50/cle.gif#36 Paul Byrd (2-2, 9.15)
Byrd tries to get on track in rubber game vs. Red Sox
Boston (13-8) at Cleveland (11-10) 7:05 pm EDT
CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- After a humbling defeat in his previous start, Paul Byrd will attempt to bounce back in time to help the Cleveland Guardians claim Thursday's rubber game of a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox.
Byrd (2-2, 9.15 ERA) was tagged for seven runs and six hits in three innings of Saturday's 11-5 loss to Kansas City, which had managed just 32 runs in losing each of its previous 11 games.
Signed to a two-contract over the winter, Byrd has allowed at least five runs in three of his first four starts as a member of the Guardians. Last year, he ranked second in the American League with 22 quality starts.
The 35-year-old Byrd went 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA in 2005 against the Red Sox, who have dropped four of their last six games on the heels of a four-game winning streak. Wednesday's 7-1 defeat here marked the third straight time Boston managed one run or less in games started by Tim Wakefield.
Josh Beckett (3-0, 2.54) will try to remain undefeated in his American League career when he faces Cleveland for the first time. The 2003 World Series Most Valuable Player, Beckett won his first three starts of the season before allowing five runs in 7 1/3 innings of an eventual 12-inning, 7-6 loss to Toronto on Friday.
The 25-year-old Beckett has won his last six decisions, dating to last season, postinbg a 2.28 ERA in eight starts over that span.
Jhonny Peralta hit a three-run homer in the first inning of Wednesday's 7-1 triumph - Cleveland's second win it its last seven games. Aaron Boone doubled and drove in two runs for the Guardians, who own a .304 team batting average and lead the AL with 127 runs scored this season.