Game Info
Date: Friday, September 16th, 2005
First Pitch: 7:05 pm ET
TV: ESPN, WSBK/ NESN
Starting Pitchers:
http://i.a.cnn.net/si/images/baseball/mlb/players/6736.jpghttp://bellsouthpwp.net/c/h/chinigor/TALKSOX/VS.GIFhttp://i.a.cnn.net/si/images/baseball/mlb/players/4906.jpg
http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/mlb/images/team_logos/50x50/oak.gif #37 Joe Kennedy (7-11, 6.04)
http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/mlb/images/team_logos/50x50/bos.gif #49 Tim Wakefield (15-11, 4.16)
Wakefield gets the call to stifle A's
Oakland (81-65) at Boston (85-61), 7:05 p.m. ET
The Red Sox have officially reached the point of the season where every game is crucial. They will take the field Friday night against the A's holding their slimmest lead (1 1/2 games) in the American League East standings since Aug. 29.
Fortunately for the Red Sox, their hottest pitcher will take the mound. That, of course, is veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, who has pitched complete games in his last two starts.
The A's downed the Sox, 6-2, in the opener of this four-game set. The Red Sox have 16 games left in the regular season.
Pitching matchup
OAK: LHP Joe Kennedy
• 3-3, 3.76 ERA with OAK in 2005
• Has not faced BOS in 2005
BOS: RHP Tim Wakefield
• 15-11, 4.16 ERA in 2005
• 1-0, 4.50 ERA vs. OAK in 2005
Player to watch
Trot Nixon is due to break out. The right fielder is hitting .190 with no homers and four RBIs in September.
Quotable
"I feel like I want to show up tomorrow and win. That's how we always do it. That's how I feel." -- Terry Francona, on the pennant race
Quick hits
David Ortiz leads the Major Leagues with 131 RBIs. ... Johnny Damon, hampered by a variety of injuries, has just three extra-base hits in his last 18 games. ... The Sox have won 23 of their last 28 home games.
On deck
• Saturday: vs. A's, 7:05 p.m. ET
• Sunday: vs. A's, 2:05 p.m. ET
• Monday: at Devil Rays, 7:15 p.m. ET