The Boston Red Sox take the field again tonight once again trying to clinch a playoff spot in the American League. A Red Sox or a Yankees loss gets the Red Sox into the playoffs for the 5th time in 6 years. I know we would all rather see them win it themselves tonight then have to wait to see if the Yanks lose to the Blue Jays.
Please let it be the good knuckleball for Tim Wakefield tonight!
It will be up to the knuckleball of Tim Wakefield to see if the Red Sox can get the job done tonight. He’s been awful in 2 of his last 3 starts so hopefully this is the start where the knuckleball is fluttering in the strike zone. Wake has faced the Indians once this year allowing 2 runs in 6 innings to get a no decision in 5-3 Red Sox win back on April 15th. In 24 appearances (19 starts), he is 9-8 with a 4.43 ERA.
The Red Sox will not have an easy time of things tonight as 22-game winner and probable Cy Young winner Cliff Lee takes the ball for the Cleveland Indians tonight. Lee’s last loss came back on July 6th against the Twins. In his career against the Red Sox, he is 2-3 with a 4.91 ERA in 7 starts and last faced the Red Sox back in July of 2007.
As you may have heard by now, the Red Sox will be retiring the No. 6 of Johnny Pesky on Friday night. A truly great honor for Mr. Red Sox.
J.D. Drew was seen taking batting practice this afternoon.
Michael Vega of the Boston Globe has a bunch of news and notes from Terry Francona’s press conference this afternoon.
Adam Kilgore of the Globe takes a look at the struggles of Jed Lowrie. To me, a struggling Lowrie at the plate is much better than Julio Lugo at all.
Gary Marbry of WEEI.com has a look at the Red Sox numbers with men in scoring position.
Alex Speier talks about Grady Sizemore and Jason Bay being reunited this week. They were former teammates in the Montreal Expos organization.
Lineups and batter/pitcher matchups after the jump.
78-77
1. Grady Sizemore, CF
2. Jamey Carroll, 3B
3. Shin-Soo Choo, RF
4. Jhonny Peralta, SS
5. Travis Hafner, DH
6. Ben Francisco, LF
7. Ryan Garko, 1B
8. Kelly Shoppach, C
9. Asdrubal Cabrera, 2B
— Cliff Lee, SP
91-65
1. Jacoby Ellsbury, RF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
5. Jason Bay, LF
6. Jed Lowrie, SS
7. Sean Casey, 1B
8. Kevin Cash, C
9. Coco Crisp, CF
— Tim Wakefield, SP
And here is how the hitters have fared against tonight’s starting pitchers courtesy of Baseball Reference.
