The Boston Red Sox will look to leave the left coast this afternoon with series win over the Seattle Mariners. This is the last time the Red Sox will be on the west coast this season.
The game this afternoon will start at 4:10 PM EDT and will be televised in the Red Sox television market on NESN. If you live in the Mariners television market you can catch the game on Fox Sports Northwest. And if the television isn’t your cup of tea, you can catch the game on one of the many affiliates of the Red Sox Radio Network.
Justin Masterson will make his last start for the Red Sox (for now) as Daisuke Matsuzaka is expected back in the rotation later this week. On the season, Masterson 2-2 with a 4.89 ERA in 9 games (5 starts). He has made two appearances (1 start) against Seattle and is 1-0 with a 1.04 ERA. His lone Safeco Field appearance came out of the bullpen in 2008 where he didn’t allow a run in 2 2/3 innings. Masterson has gone at least 5 innings in all 14 of his big league starts.
Jason Vargas will make his first career start against the Red Sox this afternoon for the Mariners. On the season, he is 1-0 with a 1.04 ERA in 3 appearances (1 start). Vargas came to the Mariners from the Mets back in December of 2008 in a 3-team 10 player trade.
Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe said on her Twitter account that the Red Sox pitchers are taking batting practice in anticipation of interleague play. The Red Sox pitchers won’t have to bat this weekend since they are home against the New York Mets. The first time they will have to bat in a game is June 12th when they are in Philadelphia. She also said the Josh Beckett and Jon Lester have hit home runs during BP so far.
Lester shows up his compatriots with some big swings [Projo Sox Blog]
Pitchers batting, front office feeling loved [Extra Games]
Here are the starting lineups for this afternoon’s game:
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| 1. Jacoby Ellsbury | CF | 1. Ichiro Suzuki | RF |
| 2. Dustin Pedroia | 2B | 2. Franklin Gutierrez | CF |
| 3. Jason Bay | LF | 3. Ken Griffey, Jr. | DH |
| 4. Mike Lowell | 3B | 4. Adrian Beltre | 3B |
| 5. J.D. Drew | RF | 5. Russell Branyan | 1B |
| 6. Rocco Baldelli | DH | 6. Wladimir Balentien | LF |
| 7. Jeff Bailey | 1B | 7. Rob Johnson | C |
| 8. Jason Varitek | C | 8. Yuniesky Betancourt | SS |
| 9. Nick Green | SS | 9. Ronny Cedeno | 2B |
| Justin Masterson | SP | Jason Vargas | SP |
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17-20And here is how the hitters have fared against this afternoon’s starting pitchers. The only member of the Red Sox to face Vargas is Jason Bay when Bay was with the Pirates.
