After falling in the first two games of the 2011 season, the Boston Red Sox look to escape Texas with a win against the Texas Rangers at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on Sunday afternoon.
First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. and the game will be carried on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Rangers television market, you can watch the game on FOXSports Southwest. And if you don’t live in either market, you’re in luck as TBS will also be carrying the game. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2011 Red Sox Radio Network.
For the second straight day, a native Texan will take the mound for the Red Sox. This time, Terrry Francona will look to Clay Buchholz to salvage the series finale. Buchholz was 17-7 with a 2.33 ERA in 28 starts in 2010 for the Red Sox. He’s faced the Rangers three times in his career and is 1-2 with a 3.24 ERA. He’s made one start at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington where he allowed three runs in four innings. He faced the Rangers once in 2010 taking the loss despite striking out ten batters after allowing three runs in 6 2/3 innings.
Matt Harrison makes the start today for Ron Washington and is the only pitcher to be in the Rangers Opening Day rotation the last three years. He made 37 appearances (six starts) in 2010 and was 3-2 with a 4.71 ERA. He’s made four career appearances (two starts) against the Red Sox and is 1-0 with a 8.25 ERA (11 ER/12 IP).
Click the read more button below for the lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and pregame links and if you’re on the home page.
 0-2 |
 2-0 |
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| 1. Jacoby Ellsbury | CF | 1. Ian Kinsler | DH |
| 2. Dustin Pedroia | 2B | 2. Michael Young | 2B |
| 3. Adrian Gonzalez | 1B | 3. Josh Hamilton | CF |
| 4. Kevin Youkilis | 3B | 4. Adrian Beltre | 3B |
| 5. David Ortiz | DH | 5. Nelson Cruz | RF |
| 6. Jed Lowrie |
SS | 6. David Murphy |
LF |
| 7. Carl Crawford |
LF | 7. Mike Napoli |
C |
| 8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia | C | 8. Mitch Moreland | 1B |
| 9. Darnell McDonald |
RF | 9. Andrés Blanco |
SS |
| Clay Buchholz |
SP | Matt Harrison |
SP |
Here’s the hitters have fared against today’s starting pitchers in their careers:
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A staggering start for Sox pitchers [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
Rangers look like the champs they are; Red Sox look like . . . [Projo Sox Blog]
Harrison looks to mirror Buchholz’s success [RedSox.com]
Photo credits: Getty Images, Getty Images
