Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 8/10

Daisuke Matsuzaka (L), Ricky Romero (R)

After a split with their bitter rivals the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox head north of the border to take on the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in the first game of a three-game set tonight. The Red Sox are 7-2 this year against the Jays, including a 5-1 mark at Rogers Centre.

This evening’s game will start at 7:07 p.m. and will be shown on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Blue Jays television market, you can watch the game on Rogers SportsNet. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2010 Red Sox radio network.

Daisuke Matsuzaka has picked up three wins and dropped his ERA almost a full run since his last start against the Blue Jays on July 11th. He has faced the Jays twice this season and is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA. He’s made nine career starts against them and is 6-1 with a 3.45 ERA. Dice-K has made five career starts at Rogers Centre and is 3-1 with a 2.81 ERA. Overall in 2010, Matsuzaka has made 16 starts and is 8-3 with a 3.79 ERA.

Ricky Romero will make his 23rd start of 2010 for Cito Gaston and the Jays. In his previous 22 starts, he is 9-7 with a 3.37 ERA. He’s made one start against the Red Sox in 2010 and it was the shortest of his career back on July 9th. In that start, he allowed five runs on five hits in 2 1/3 innings in a 14-3 win by the Red Sox. He’s struggled in his career against the Red Sox as he is 1-4 with a 8.76 ERA in six starts.

Lineups, batter/pitcher matchups, and links after the jump.

64-49		59-52
1. Marco Scutaro	SS	1. Fred Lewis	CF
2. J.D. Drew	RF	2. Travis Snider	LF
3. Victor Martinez	C	3. Jose Bautista	RF
4. David Ortiz	DH	4. Aaron Hill	3B
5. Adrian Beltre	3B	5. Adam Lind	DH
6. Mike Lowell	1B	6. Edwin Encarnacion	3B
7. Bill Hall	LF	7. Lyle Overbay	1B
8. Jed Lowrie	2B	8. J.P. Arencibia	C
9. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF	9. John McDonald	SS
Daisuke Matsuzaka	SP	Ricky Romero	SP