Game Info
Date: Thursday, September 1st, 2005
First Pitch: 7:05pm ET
TV: NESN
Starting Pitchers:
http://i.a.cnn.net/si/images/baseball/mlb/players/7218.jpghttp://bellsouthpwp.net/c/h/chinigor/TALKSOX/VS.GIFhttp://i.a.cnn.net/si/images/baseball/mlb/players/6498.jpg
http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/mlb/images/team_logos/50x50/tb.gif #40 Doug Waechter (5-8, 4.94)
http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/mlb/images/team_logos/50x50/bos.gif #61 Bronson Arroyo (10-9, 4.44)
Red Sox ready to close out Rays
Tampa Bay (55-79) at Boston (77-54), 7:05 p.m. ET
The Red Sox would love to open September by closing out a four-game sweep of the Devil Rays. They'll get that chance on Thursday night, when Bronson Arroyo takes the mound.
The theme of this series thus far has been comebacks by the home team. The Sox rallied from a five-run deficit to win on Tuesday and roared back from a four-run hole on Wednesday night.
The Sox are simply on fire at Fenway Park, winning 18 of their last 19 home games.
Thursday will also mark the return of closer Keith Foulke, who has been out since undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery on July 7.
Pitching matchup
TB: RHP Doug Waechter
• 5-8, 4.94 ERA in 2005
• 0-0, 3.95 ERA vs. BOS in 2005
BOS: RHP Bronson Arroyo
• 10-9, 4.44 ERA in 2005
• 2-0, 3.46 ERA vs. TB in 2005
Player to watch
Third baseman Bill Mueller is batting .368 over a 14-game hitting streak.
Quotable
"It's easy to quit. That's the one thing I've tried to do this season is stay with my head up -- I've had my teammates' support. It's not about me, it's about the Red Sox. We've played well, we're in first place, it's time to keep rolling." -- Kevin Millar
Quick hits
Doug Mirabelli stole his second base of the season on Wednesday, giving the slow-footed catcher a career high. ... The Red Sox are 20-13 in one-run games. ... Believe it or not, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, who have combined for 69 homers, have not gone back-to-back all season. They pulled off that feat six times in 2004.
On deck
• Friday: vs. Baltimore, 7:05 p.m. ET
• Saturday: vs. Baltimore, 7:05 p.m. ET
• Sunday: vs. Baltimore, 2:05 p.m. ET