Tim Wakefield looks to help the Red Sox cut the Rays lead to 1.5 games in the AL East.
The Boston Red Sox head into this game with the Texas Rangers having won 4 straight games and 8 straight over the Rangers this season. For the Red Sox it is also a chance to move to 1.5 games out of first place as the Tampa Bay Rays fell to the Toronto Blue Jays this afternoon.
In order to get there, Terry Francona will rely on the knuckleball of Tim Wakefield. Rangers Ballpark in Arlington hasn’t been kind to Wake though as he owns a 5.60 ERA there to go along with a 5-11 record in 17 games (14 starts). He has faced the Rangers 32 times (27 starts) total in his career and is 10-14 with a 5.66 ERA. Wakefield will be making his 500th appearance in a Red Sox uniform which is second only to Bob Stanley’s 637.
Matt Harrison gets the ball for the Rangers and has not faced the Red Sox in his brief career. On the season, he is 6-3 with a 5.73 ERA in 11 starts.
Before the game, the Red Sox were rooting on the Blue Jays and were pretty happy when Gregg Zaun hit a grand slam to win it for the Jays over the Rays.
David Aardsma threw 25 pitches in a batting practice session and the plan now calls for him to pitch for Lowell on Monday or Tuesday in the NY-Penn League Playoffs.
Bartolo Colon had his start in Pawtucket rained out today and will start tomorrow for the PawSox. He’s still in line to start the doubleheader for the Red Sox on the 13th.
Lineups and batter/pitcher matchups after the jump.
83-57
1. Mark Kotsay, RF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
5. Jason Bay, LF
6. Mike Lowell, 3B
7. Jed Lowrie, SS
8. Coco Crisp, CF
9. Kevin Cash, C
– Tim Wakefield, SP
69-73
1. Frank Catalanotto, LF
2. Michael Young, SS
3. Josh Hamilton, CF
4. Milton Bradley, DH
5. Hank Blalock, 3B
6. Gerald Laird, C
7. Nelson Cruz, RF
8. Chris Davis, 1B
9. German Duran, 2B
– Matt Harrison, SP
And here is how the hitters have fared against tonight’s starting pitchers. No one on the Red Sox has faced Harrison.
