After losing the first two games to the Angels in Anaheim, the Red Sox have have their backs against the wall in a must-win game at Fenway Park.

Clay Buchholz takes the mound in his first postseason start to try and extend the Red Sox’ season for at least one more day. But Scott Kazmir hopes to put an end to the Red Sox’ winning ways against the Angels in the postseason.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Sox return to Fenway, down 0-2 to the Angels, an unfamiliar situation for them against their familiar ALDS opponent. The Sox offense has yet to emerge, having managed just eight combined hits and one run in the first two games. After going 14 consecutive postseason games without a win from a starting pitcher, the Angels now have two in the last two games.

SKINNY

The Sox have been in this situation before, most recently down 3-1 to the Indians in the 2007 ALCS. While it’s a daunting position, they have overcome it before. In 2007 they came back to beat the Indians before sweeping the Rockies in the World Series. The Sox hosted the Angels for three games in the regular season at Fenway, taking two-of-three in September, beating John Lackey and closer Brian Fuentes before falling to the Angels bullpen (Kevin Jepsen and Fuentes) in the final game.

STARTING LINEUPS

STARTING PITCHERS

RHP Clay Buchholz ( 7-4, 4.21 ERA) vs. LHP Scott Kazmir (10-9, 4.89 ERA)

After starting the season with Triple-A Pawtucket, Buchholz was called up for the second half, taking regular turns in the rotation.  In his final eight starts — against the Blue Jays (twice), Rays (twice), Orioles (twice), Royals, and Indians — he was 5-1 with 3.50 ERA. In his last two starts, against the Jays and Indians, he was 0-1, (14.63 ERA) giving up 13 runs (all earned) on 13 hits, including six home runs, and three walks, with 10 strikeouts in eight combined innings.

Buchholz is making his first career postseason appearance. He did not face the Angels this season. In three career games against the Angels he is 1-2 with a 6.35 ERA, allowing 22 hits and eight walks with 12 strikeouts in 17 innings, while the Angels hit .319 off him. His win against the Angels came in his major league debut, Aug. 17, 2007.

Kazmir is making his sixth playoff start. He is 1-1 with a 4.21 ERA in the postseason, giving up 12 earned runs in 25 2/3 innings. In two postseason starts against the Sox, while with the Rays in the 2008 ALCS, he did not earn a decision, posting a 4.35 ERA, allowing five earned runs in 10 1/3 innings. The Rays were 1-1 in those games. 

He has made more career starts against the Sox than against any other team. In 23 career games against the Sox, Kazmir is 8-7 with a  3.59 ERA, allowing the Sox a .241 average. Kazmir was 2-2 with a 1.73 ERA with the Angels after being acquired from the Rays on Aug. 28.

STAT SHEET

Red Sox
The Sox are batting .131 (8-for-61) against the Angels in Games 1 and 2.

Jacoby Ellsbury went 2-for-4 with a run scored in Game 2, ending an 0-for-24 stretch in the playoffs. He is the only player in the Sox lineup with more a multi-hit game and more than one hit.

The loss by Josh Beckett in Game 2 ended his six-game postseason win streak going back to the decisive Game 6 of the 2003 World Series, when he was named Series MVP.

Jonathan Papelbon pitched a scoreless inning in Game 2, extending his scoreless inning streak to 26 over 17 career postseason appearances, the most career innings in major league history without allowing a run. It is the second-longest scoreless innings streak to begin a postseason career behind Christy Mathewson’s 28 shutout innings from 1905-1911.

For the ninth consecutive time the Sox have lost Game 2 after losing Game 1 of a postseason series.

The Sox are 16-11 in 28 overall postseason series, going 5-2 in the ALDS, 4-5 in the ALCS, and 7-4 in the World Series.

The Sox are 12-3 in the postseason against the Angels since Game 5 of the 1986 ALCS, including an 11-game win streak through Game 2 of the 2008 ALDS, the most consecutive victories in major league postseason history by a team against a single opponent.

Angels
The Angels are hitting .228 (13-for-57) in Games 1 and 2.

Bobby Abreu is 2-for-4, with four walks, for an on-base percentage of .750.

The two hits Jered Weaver allowed over seven innings  in Game 2 were the fewest ever for an Angels starter going at least seven innings in a playoff game.

The Angels had gone 14 straight playoff games without getting a win from their starting pitcher before John Lackey and Jered Weaver posted back-to-back wins in Games 1 and 2.

The Angels are 4-7 all-time in clinching games in the postseason.

The Angels are 9-12 all-time in ALDS games over five total series played.

The Angels set a team record with 47 come-from-behind wins  and 37 wins against left-handed starters, this season

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox
Tim Wakefield, hampered by an ailing back and leg, is not on the ALDS roster.

Manny Delcarmen’s back has been stiff since a car accident Saturday, and he is not on the ALDS roster.

Rocco Baldelli’s left hip has kept off  the ALDS roster.

Nick Green is hobbled by an ailing back and leg and is not on the ALDS roster.

Angels
Reliever Jason Bulger received a cortisone shot in his shoulder on Sunday, but is on the ALDS roster.

THIS DATE IN RED SOX HISTORY

In 1999 the Red Sox face the Indians in Game 5 of the Division Series. Both starters struggle, and the score is 8-8 in the fourth when an injured Pedro Martinez enters the game in relief. He pitches six no-hit innings, as Troy O’Leary hits a grand slam and a thee-run home run, both after Nomar Garciaparra is intentionally walked. The Red Sox win the game 12-8 and advance to the ALCS.

OVERHEARD

“If I had an answer, we wouldn’t have lost the first two.”
– Sox manager Terry Francona, when asked how to start hitting and win Game 3

PRESS BOX

Red Sox
Clay Buchholz hopes to extend the Sox’ season.

The Sox’ lineup will look very similar to Games 1 and 2.

The Sox have had their backs to the wall before.

Billy Wagner has strengthened the Sox’ bullpen.

Alex Gonzalez is among the postseason elite.

Angels
The Angels are in control.

Fenway doesn’t faze Scott Kazmir.

Bobby Abreu is getting the credit he deserves.

Darren Oliver has reinvented himself with the Angels.

Erick Aybar is showing his offense.

MLB
The Cardinals are the first team to bow out of the postseason, thanks to the Dodgers.

The Phillies and Rockies were snowed out in Denver.

So, the Phillies will go with J.A Happ instead of Pedro.

Joe Mauer has a sore hip.

OUTLOOK

Clay Buchholz is facing the biggest challenge of his young career. Pitching against a potent lineup in his first postseason game will be a daunting task. The Sox offense can help him relax and get into a rhythm by getting some runs for him early. That will also not be an easy takes against a tough lefty who has been successful against them.

On Friday, it will be playoff ace Josh Beckett, who struggled in the 2008 postseason due to a rash of back pain, on the hill for the Red Sox.

WHEN & WHERE

9:37 pm ET (TBS), Oct. 9, 2009
Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, Calif.

RECORDS

Red Sox  (95-67, 2nd  place in AL East)
Angels (97-65, 1st place in AL West)

HEAD TO HEAD

The Angels shocked the Red Sox in Game 1, as Lackey bested Jon Lester, 5-0. Lackey and reliever Darren Oliver limited the Sox to four hits. It was the first time in 15 playoff games against the Sox that the Angels got a win from a starting pitcher. It was the Angels’ first playoff win at home since the 2005 ALCS, and it was also their first win in Game 1 of a division series. 

SKINNY

Although history was not on the Sox’ side in Game 1 of the ALDS, it should be Friday. The Sox are 3-0 in their previous three ALDS Game 2s (2004, 2007, 2008) against the Angels. The Sox are 2-0 in Anaheim, 1-0 at Fenway. In six regular-season games in Anaheim this season, the Sox were 2-4.

STARTING LINEUPS

STARTING PITCHERS

RHP Josh Beckett (17-6, 3.86 ERA) vs. RHP Jered Weaver (16-8, 3.75 ERA)
Beckett has been one of the most successful pitchers in recent postseasons. He is 7-2 with a 2.90 ERA in 13 playoff games (12 starts). He was named the World Series MVP with the Marlins in 2003 when he went 1-1 with a 1.10 ERA against the Yankees, shutting out New York 2-0 in the decisive Game 6.

In seven postseason starts with the Sox he is 5-0 with a 3.65 ERA. In 2008, he was 1-0 in three starts against the Angels (one start, no decision) and Rays (two starts in the ALCS), with an ERA of 8.79 when he was hampered by an oblique strain.

He missed his next-to-last start of the regular season because of back spasms, for which he received cortisone shots. In the second half he was 6-3 with a 4.53 ERA, including a stretch of five starts when he allowed 14 home runs, going 1-1, while the team was 3-2 in those games. He faced the Angels twice this season, on April 12 in Anaheim and on Sept. 17 at Fenway. He was 0-1 in those games while the team was 0-2.

Weaver has just two postseason games on his resume, both against the Sox. In 2007, he took a loss, giving up two runs on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts in five innings. Last year, he earned the win in the Angels’ only victory of the ALDS in Game 3 at Fenway, pitching two scoreless innings of relief, giving up a hit and a walk with three strikeouts.

In the second half, Weaver was 6-5 in 15 starts, with a 4.47 ERA and one complete-game shutout. Weaver faced the Sox twice this season, both in Anaheim, going 1-1, allowing a combined one run (earned) on eight hits, three walks, and 12 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings.

STAT SHEET

Red Sox
The Sox are 79-70-1 all-time in 150 postseason games. The Yankees (341), Cardinals (184), Dodgers (166) and Braves (155) have more playoff games.

The Sox are 16-11 in 28 overall postseason series, going 5-2 in the ALDS, 4-5 in the ALCS, and 7-4 in the World Series.

The Sox are 36-40 all-time in road playoff games, including a 9-9 mark in the ALDS, winning six of their last nine Division series games.

Jonathan Papelbon has thrown 25 scoreless innings over 16 career postseason appearances, the most career innings in major league history without allowing a run. It is the second-longest scoreless innings streak to begin a postseason career behind Christy Mathewson’s 28 shutout innings from 1905-1911.

David Ortiz was hitless in Game 1, ending his streak of hitting in each of his previous seven career playoff games in Anaheim beginning Oct. 12, 2002. He is 10-for-29 (.345) in playoff games in Anaheim. It was the longest road hitting streak ever against the Angels in the playoffs.

The Sox are 3-9 in their last 12 regular season games at Angels Stadium, but 6-3 all time in the playoffs, winning six straight games before Thursday’s loss.

The Sox are 12-2 against the Angels since Game 5 of the 1986 ALCS, including an 11-game win streak through Game 2 of the 2008 ALDS, the most consecutive victories in major league postseason history by a team against a single opponent.

Angels
For the first time in 15 playoff games against the Sox, the Angels got a win from their starting pitcher Wednesday.

The Angels are 1-6 in home playoff games going back to the 2005 ALCS against the White Sox.

The Angels are 8-12 all time in ALDS games over five total series played, and are 1-5 all time in Game 1 of a division series.

The Angels set a team record with 47 come-from-behind wins and 37 wins against left-handed starters, this season.

The Angels are 2-9 in their last 10 playoff games against the Sox, including a record of 1-5 in Anaheim.

The 2009 Angels are the only team in history with 11 players with at least 50 RBIs each.

The Angels won seven of their final eight games of the regular season to end with a season-high 32 games over .500.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox
Tim Wakefield, hampered by an ailing back and leg, is not on the ALDS roster.

Manny Delcarmen’s back has been stiff since a car accident Saturday, and he is not on the ALDS roster.

Rocco Baldelli’s left hip has kept him off the ALDS roster.

Nick Green is hobbled by an ailing back and leg and is not on the ALDS roster.

Angels
Reliever Jason Bulger received a cortisone shot in his shoulder on Sunday, but is on the ALDS roster.

THIS DATE IN RED SOX HISTORY

In 1915, Woodrow Wilson becomes the first president to attend a World Series game. Red Sox pitcher Rube Foster limits the Phillies to just three hits en route to a 2-1 victory in Game 2 of the Fall Classic.

OVERHEARD

“There was no digestion. I don’t make those decisions. That would be a great question for Tito, maybe.”
–Josh Beckett, on how he took the news that Sox manager Terry Francona would start Jon Lester in Game 1 of the ALDS and Beckett in Game 2

PRESS BOX

Red Sox
The Sox offense lacked spark in Game 1.

Sloppy defense didn’t help the Sox.

Neither team was happy with the umpires.

Terry Francona nearly missed Game 1.

The Sox need Josh Beckett strong in Game 2.

Angels
It was a reversal of fortune for the Angels.

John Lackey finally got his revenge on the Sox.

The Angels’ energy is all positive now.

The Angels have a rare ALDS lead.

The Angels need Jered Weaver to overcome his second-half falloff.

MLB
Mark Loretta and the Dodgers stunned the Cardinals.

The Rockies evened their series with the Phillies.

Phillies starter Cole Hamels left the park when his wife went into labor.

Phil Hughes can be a difference-maker for the Yankees.

Alcohol ads and Nick Adenhart’s memory don’t mix.

OUTLOOK

The Sox will need Josh Beckett to resume his postseason dominance to avoid returning to Boston down 0-2 in the best-of-five series. The Sox’ offense was held quiet in Game 1 but will need to come out strong in Game 2. Look for Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia to set the tone at the top of the lineup.

Only the Yankees (46) and Athletics (23) have more playoff berths in major league history. The Sox are making their sixth postseason appearance in the last seven years and their third consecutive playoff appearance. It is just the second time in their history they have accomplished that feat; the last time was 2003-2005.

This is the third consecutive ALDS — and the fourth in the last six seasons — in which the Sox have faced the Angels. Boston has never lost a playoff series to the Angels and boasts a 13-4 record in those games. Furthermore, during this decade, the Red Sox are 9-1 against the Halos.

When and Where

9:37 pm ET (TBS), Oct. 8, 2009
Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, Calif.

Records

Red Sox  (95-67, 2nd  place in AL East)
Angels (97-65, 1st place in AL West)

Skinny

The Red Sox lost the season series to the Angels 5-4. After losing the 2008 season series 8-1, it was the first time the Sox lost back-to-back season series to the Angels. In six games in Anaheim this season,  Boston was 2-4. In three ALDS openers against the Angels (2004, 2007, 2009), the Sox are 3-0 with a 2-0 record in Anaheim. This is first time an AL playoff series has matched the same two teams five times.

Starting Lineups

Angels lineup will be posted as soon as it becomes available.

Starting Pitchers

LHP Jon Lester (15-8, 3.41 ERA) vs. RHP John Lackey (11-8, 3.83 ERA)

Lester opens the postseason for the Red Sox for the second consecutive year, becoming the first left-hander in team history to do so and the first pitcher to do so since Pedro Martinez opened the playoffs in 1998 and 1999. In 14 innings over two starts against the Angels in the 2008 ALDS, Lester allowed just one unearned run. In seven career playoff games (five starts), he is 2-2 with a 2.25 ERA (nine earned runs in 36 innings). Lester has the third-lowest career mark by a Red Sox starter with a 1.95 ERA in five postseason starts, behind only Babe Ruth (0.87) and Ernie Shore (1.82).

In 22 starts since May 31, Lester is 12-3 with a 2.31 ERA (37 earned runs in 144 innings). He reached the 15-win and 200-inning mark for the second straight season. Lester becomes one of just six AL left-handers since 1990 to record at least 15 wins, 200 innings and 200 strikeouts, joining Johan Santana (four times), Randy Johnson (four times), CC Sabathia (once), Barry Zito (once) and Chuck Finley (once).

Lackey is 2-3 with a 3.39 ERA in 11 postseason games (nine starts) since his rookie season in 2002. That year, the Angels won the World Series and he was the winning pitcher in Game 7 against the Giants. In three games against the Red Sox in two ALDS series (2007 and 2008), Lackey is 0-2 with a 3.66 ERA (eight earned runs in 19 2/3 innings).

In his last seven starts of the regular season, Lackey was 3-1 with a 2.89 ERA. The lone loss in that stretch fell on Sept. 15  against the Red Sox and Daisuke Matsuzaka, who was returning from nearly three months on the disabled list. After the All-Star break, Lackey posted a record of and 7-4 with a 3.05 ERA in 15 starts. In 14 career regular-season starts against the Sox, he is 3-7 with a 5.25 ERA, his second-highest ERA against any AL team. He is 0-2 with a 3.66 ERA in three career playoff starts against Boston.

Stat Sheet

Red Sox

The Red Sox finished the regular season with a record of 95-67 (.586), the third-best record in the AL, behind only the Yankees (1-3-59, .636) and the Angels (97-65, .599). Boston finished tied with the Dodgers for the third-best record in the majors.

2009 marked Boston’s 12th straight winning season, its second-longest streak of consecutive winning seasons behind a 16-year stretch from 1967-1983.

The Sox reached 95 wins in each of the last three seasons, the only major league team to do so. The Sox have reached 95 or more wins in six of the last seven seasons (except 2006) and have reached that mark for the 16th time overall.

Since April 23, 2008, the Sox are 4-13 against the Angels in the regular season, their worst record against any opponent in that time.

The Sox are 3-9 in their last 12 regular season games at Angel Stadium, but they are 6-2 all-time in Anaheim in the playoffs, winning each of their last six games.

At 34-20, the Sox have the best postseason record of any team (minimum 20 games) since 2003. (The Cardinals are next at 23-17.)

Terry Francona leads the Sox to the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons, becoming the only Sox manager to reach the playoffs more than twice. Of those five playoff berths, four have come as the wild-card champion, the most of any manager ever.

Angels
The Angels have lost their last six home playoff games, going back to the 2005 ALCS against the White Sox.

The Angels are 1-9 in their last 10 playoff games against the Sox, including a record of 0-5 in Anaheim.

The Angels outscored the Red Sox 86-58 over the last 15 regular-season games and are 13-4 in their last 17 games against the Sox.  

Mike Scioscia is the first manager in history to lead his team to the playoffs six times in his first 10 seasons managing.

Angels starting pitchers posted an ERA of 2.52 (63 earned runs in 224 2/3 innings) in their final 34 games of the regular season, lowering their season ERA to 4.44 and improving from 12th to fourth in the AL in that time.

Angels starters lead the AL with six shutouts and 70 wins.

The 2009 Angels are the only team in history with 11 players to record at least 50 RBIs each.

Black and Blue

Red Sox
Josh Beckett missed his penultimate start of the regular season and received cortisone shots because of back spasms. He should be cleared to pitch Game 2 of the ALDS.

Tim Wakefield, hampered by an ailing back and leg, will not be on the ALDS roster.

Manny Delcarmen’s back has been stiff since a car accident on Saturday. He will not be on Boston’s ALDS roster.

Rocco Baldelli’s left hip renders him an uncertainty for the ALDS roster.

Nick Green is hampered by an ailing back and leg. He will not be on the ALDS roster.

Angels
Reliever Jason Bulger received a cortisone shot in his shoulder on Sunday and is questionable for the ALDS.

This Date In Red Sox History

In 1915, the Red Sox lost the opening game of the World Series 3-1 to Philadelphia. Boston then won the next four games and the World Series.

Overheard

“I think once you get one Game 1 under your belt, it makes every other game easier. It’s going to be crazy here, just like it was last year, when we went to Tampa. But that’s what makes it fun.’’
– Jon Lester, on starting Game 1 of  the ALDS

Press Box

Red Sox
The Red Sox will count on their power arms in the ALDS.

Jon Lester is up to the challenge of starting Game 1.

Jonathan Papelbon looks to pad his October numbers.

Kevin Youkilis cares about his craft — maybe too much.

Some keys to the series.

Angels
John Lackey is still looking for October success against the Sox.

Home has not been an advantage for the Angels in the ALDS.

The Angels will be watching Jacoby Ellsbury very closely.

Early-season adversity motivated the Angels.

Brian Fuentes chose the Angels with the postseason in mind.

MLB
The Yankees took Game 1 from the Twins.

The Phillies and Cliff Lee dominated the Rockies in Game 1 of the NLDS.

Jim Leyland says “shame on us” for not winning the AL Central.

The Dodgers and Cards stumbled down the stretch, but got a fresh start.

Managers could play a big role in the playoffs.

Outlook

The Sox and Angels have certainly seen a great deal of each other in recent postseasons, and the Sox have certainly gotten the better of the Angels. While the Sox have made it look easy in the past, the Angels could have a better showing this time. The Angels’ offense is stronger than last season, but the Sox will have confidence in their favor.

Now Boston looks to make it three straight over Cleveland as Josh Beckett takes the hill for his final regular-season start after being scratched on Monday night due to back spasms. If he fares as well as Jon Lester and Dice-K have over the first two games of this series, the Red Sox should be in pretty good shape.

When and Where

7:10 p.m. ET (NESN), Oct. 3, 2009
Fenway Park, Boston, Mass.

Records

Red Sox  (93-67, 2nd  place in AL East)
Indians (65-95, 4th place in AL Central)

Skinny

With their second consecutive win after snapping a six-game losing streak, the Sox are now 5-2 against the Indians this season. Friday’s win guarantees the Sox a third straight season series win over Cleveland. The Sox last accomplished that feat from 1997-99. 

Starting Lineups

Indians	Red Sox
Michael Brantley, CF	Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Asrubal Cabrera, SS	Jason Bay, LF
Chin-Soo Choo, RF	Victor Martinez, C
Travis Hafner, DH	Kevin Youkilis, 1B
Jhonny Peralta, 3B	David Ortiz, DH
Matt LaPorta, LF	Jed Lowrie, SS
Luis Valbuena, 2B	Casey Kotchman, 1B
Lou Marson, C	Chris Anderson, RF
Andy Marte, 1B	Joey Gathright, CF

Starting Pitchers

RHP Josh Beckett (16-6, 3.78 ERA) vs. LHP Aaron Laffey (7-8, 3.91 ERA)

Beckett missed his last scheduled start on Monday against the Blue Jays because of back spasms. He has not pitched since Sept. 23 in Kansas City, when he gave up two runs on 12 hits with a walk and seven strikeouts, earning his 16th win.

Beckett has made five career starts against the Indians, going 1-4 with a 6.46 ERA (22 earned runs in 30 2/3 innings). He last faced Cleveland on Sept. 22, 2008, taking the loss after giving up four runs in  six innings. In three starts since the beginning of the 2007 season, he is 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA (seven runs, 21 innings) against the Indians.

Laffey is making his 19th start and 25th appearance of the season. In his last start on Monday against the White Sox, he took the loss after going 7 1/3 innings and allowing three runs on eight hits with three walks and five strikeouts. He has lost five straight starts. 

In his only career regular-season appearance against the Sox — at Fenway on May 6 — he earned his first career save, pitching three innings and giving up no hits and two runs.

Stat Sheet

Red Sox
Daisuke Matsuzaka has retired 23 straight batters in bases-loaded situations since giving up a grand slam to Baltimore’s Scott Moore on Sept. 8, 2007.

Billy Wagner has pitched in back-to-back games for the first time since July 23-24, 2008, while with the Mets.

Victor Martinez has hit safely in his last 28 starts since Aug. 28, hitting .352 (37-for-105) with two home runs and 16 RBIs.

David Ortiz has at least one RBI in six of his last nine games with 13 total in that span. His 76 RBIs since June 6 trail only Bobby Abreu (77) in the AL.  

Jason Bay is tied for second in the AL with 94 walks, six short of reaching 100 walks for the second time in his career.

With 48 doubles this season, Dustin Pedroia is two shy of his second straight 50-double season.

The Sox have 23 players with at least one home run this season, tying the club record set in 1996. They could break that record if Chris Woodward, Joey Gathright, or Dusty Brown homers.

Indians
The Indians stretched their road losing streak to 13 games on Friday, setting a new franchise record.

With two runs in the fifth inning on Friday, the Indians snapped a 20-inning scoreless streak. They hadn’t scored a run since the sixth inning of their 5-1 win over the White Sox in the first game of a doubleheader on Sept. 30.

Rookie Luis Valbuena matched a career high for the fourth time with three hits Friday, including a triple, a run scored and an RBI. He has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games.

Shin-Soo Choo needs one home run to become just the fourth AL player this season to reach the 20-homer and 20-stolen bases marks.

Left-hander David Huff (11-8) will be the first Indians rookie to lead the team in wins since CC Sabathia led with 17 wins in 2001.

Tony Sipp has given up just three earned in 25 games since Aug. 1.

Black and Blue

Red Sox
Josh Beckett missed his start Monday because of back spasms. He is expected to make his scheduled start Saturday against the Indians.

Tim Wakefield has been hampered by an ailing back and leg.

Right-hander Junichi Tazawa was placed on the 60-day DL on Sept. 28 with a mild left groin strain.

Indians
Right-hander Jake Westbrook is on the 60-day DL after undergoing ulnar collateral ligament surgery.

Right-hander Anthony Reyes is on the 60-day DL with right elbow inflammation.

Right-hander Joe Smith is on the 15-day DL with a left knee sprain.

Outfielder Grady Sizemore is on the 15-day DL with left elbow and groin injuries.

This Date In Red Sox History

In 1995, former Red Sox catcher Tony Pena's 13th inning home run won Game 1 of the American League Division Series for Cleveland.

Overheard

“Heading into the playoffs, I have had four starts, and not just in my start [Friday] but throughout those starts, I was able to work on points that I felt that are going to be important going into the playoffs. I had a really good feel for those points. I’m not sure yet what my role will be during the playoffs but I’m looking forward to it.”
– Daisuke Matsuzaka, on finishing the regular season strong

Press Box

Red Sox
Confidence and redemption carry Dice-K into the playoffs.

Terry Francona is starting to shape his postseason roster.

John Farrell is focusing on the Sox, not the Indians.

Indians
The Indians reached unlucky 13.

Rookie Trevor Crowe got "cold feet."

Victor Martinez wanted to stay in Cleveland.

MLB
The Rays denied CC Sabathia his 20th win.

Jake Peavy kept the Tigers one game away from the AL Central title.

The Twins moved a game closer to stealing the Central.

Outlook

The Red Sox would like to see Beckett post a strong outing on Saturday, putting to rest any concerns about the back spasms that knocked him out of his last start. Expect to see backup players rotated into the lineup with some regulars getting pre-playoff rest. Jed Lowrie is among those expected to play.

The Red Sox won for the first time in a week, shutting out the Indians 3-0. They'll try to clinch a series split with Cleveland with Daisuke Matsuzaka on the hill on Friday, looking to close his season on a high note.

With just three games remaining in the regular season, Friday will be Dice-K's last chance to prove himself to the coaching staff, and to find out where he stands on the postseason roster and in the rotation.

When and Where

7:10 p.m. ET (NESN), Oct. 2, 2009
Fenway Park, Boston, Mass.

Records

Red Sox (92-67, 2nd  place in AL East)
Indians (65-94, 4th place in AL Central)

Head to Head

The Sox's win on Thursday improved their season record against Cleveland to 4-2. It was their first win since a 10-3 victory in Kansas City, Sept. 24, and snapped a six-game losing streak and season-high four-game losing streak. Jon Lester came back from being hit in the knee by a line drive in his last outing to dominate the Indians for his 15th win of the season, reaching that plateau for the second straight season.

Skinny

With another win against the Tribe the Sox will have their third straight season-series win against Cleveland. The Sox have not last a series to the Indians since April 25-27, 2006 in Cleveland. They are 14-5 against the Tribe since the start of the 2007 season, including a 10-3 record since July 26, 2007.

Starting Lineups

Starting Pitchers

RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (3-6, 6.08 ERA) vs. LHP Jeremy Sowers (6-10, 5.09 ERA)

In his last start, Sept. 26 against the Yankees in Yankee Stadium, Matsuzaka took the loss while holding New York one run on six hits and five walks in seven innings. The only run he allowed was a solo home run to Robinson Cano in the sixth inning, but that was all the Yankees would need, as CC Sabathia shutout the Sox, 3-0.

This is first appearance of the season against the Indians. In two career starts against Cleveland, he is 1-1 with a 4.26 ERA (six earned runs in 12 2/3 innings). The last time he faced the Indians, July 24, 2007, in Cleveland, he pitched seven scoreless innings for a 1-0 win over Sabathia.

Sowers is making his 23rd appearance and 22nd start of the season. In his last start, Sept. 26 against the Orioles, he did not get a decision, going five innings, allowing five runs on six hits and four walks with three strikeouts, as the Indians won, 9-8.

In four career starts against the Sox he is 0-3 with a 7.48 ERA (18 earned runs, 21 2/3 innings). In his last outing against the Sox, in May, he went five innings allowing seven runs on seven hits.

Stat Sheet

Red Sox
Thursday’s 3-0 win over the Indians was the team’s 11th shutout of the season, and was the third time this season Sox pitchers have allowed three hits or fewer, the first time since July 12 against the Roylas.

The Sox have 23 players with at least one home run this season, tying the team record set in 1996.

Jason Bay needs six walks to reach the 100-walk mark for the second time in his career, along with 102 walks in 2006.

Jon Lester is 7-1 with a 2.73 ERA in his last 13 starts since July 25.

Jonathan Papelbon converted his 38th save of the season Thursday, and has converted each of his last 13 opportunities since July 30, posting a 1.50 ERA with 31 strikeouts in that span.

Victor Martinez has hit safely in each of his last 27 starts since Aug. 28, batting .347 (35-for-101) with two home runs and 15 RBI in those games.

Jacoby Ellsbury has a team-high 59 multi-hit games this season, the most by a Sox center fielder since Doc Cramer had 60 in 1939.

Indians
Thursday's loss was the Indians’ 12th straight on the road, beginning Aug. 30, tying a franchise record. The last time they lost that many in a row was in 1991.

The last time the Indians were shutout by the Sox on three hits or fewer at Fenway was a 3-0 loss June 8, 2000.

Thursday’s loss was the team’s 11th shutout of the season, and with Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to the White Sox, the Indians have been shutout in back-to-back for the second time this season.  

Thursday marked the sixth time this season the Indians have collected three or fewer hits. Three of those games have come since Sept. 13.

Shin-Soo Choo needs one home run to reach the 20-homer mark, which would make him the fourth player in the AL to hit 20 homers and steal 20 bases this season.

The Indians currently have 12 rookies on their roster, tied for most in the majors, with the Orioles, Diamondbacks, Reds, Pirates and Padres.

Black and Blue

Red Sox
Tim Wakefield has been hampered by an ailing back and leg.

Josh Beckett missed his start Monday because of back spasms. He is expected to make his next start Saturday against the Indians.

Right-hander Junichi Tazawa was placed on the 60-day DL Monday with a mild left groin strain.

Indians
Right-hander Jake Westbrook is on the 60-day DL after undergoing ulnar collateral ligament surgery.

Right-hander Anthony Reyes is on the 60-day DL with right elbow inflammations.

Right-hander Joe Smith is on the 15-day DL with a left knee sprain.

Outfielder Grady Sizemore is on the 15-day DL with left elbow and groin injuries.

This Date In Red Sox History

In 1983, Carl Yastrzemski played in his 3,308th and final game, hitting a single as the team's left fielder in the Sox 3-1 win over the Indians at Fenway Park.  

Overheard

“I don’t think it makes any sense to do it publicly until we get through guys’ next starts. Things happen. Our pitchers have an idea of what’s going on but for public consumption I don’t know that it really makes sense to do that.”
– Terry Francona on his postseason rotation

Press Box

Red Sox
Lester led the Sox to a win.

Green and Lowrie are questionable for the ALDS.

Justin Masterson returned to Fenway for the first time since being traded.

Indians
Thursday's loss was a record defeat for the Indians.

Carlos Carrasco was knocked out of the game with an injury.

Eric Wedge would like another opportunity to manage.

MLB
The Twins are still alive in the AL Central

Bronson Arroyo insists he wasn’t cheating.

As Sox fans may remember, Hanley Ramirez is a complex guy.

Outlook

Another strong showing from Daisuke Matsuzaka would help to restore confidence in the Sox’ starting pitching, which has been beset by injuries and ailments recently, as the Sox head into the playoffs.  With a left-hander pitching against the Sox, Francona may try to rest some regulars and get some others playing time, although likely not to the extent of Wednesday’s game.  

Thanks to the Angels beating the Rangers, the Red Sox "backed into" the playoffs. Coincidentally, the Angels will be the team the Sox face in the ALDS.

When and Where

7:10 p.m. ET (NESN), Sept. 30, 2009
Fenway Park, Boston, Mass.

Records

Red Sox  (91-66, 2nd  place in AL East)
Blue Jays (74-84, 4th place in AL East)

Head to Head

The Red Sox are now 11-6 overall against Toronto this season, and 6-2 against the Jays at Fenway Park.

Skinny

The Sox look to salvage a win from their three-game series with the Jays in their final game against Toronto this season. A win will also stop the Sox’ five-game losing streak. The Sox had swept their previous two series at Fenway against the Jays.

Starting Lineups

Starting Pitchers

RHP Tim Wakefield (11-4, 4.33 ERA) vs. RHP Roy Halladay (16-10, 2.90 ERA)

Wakefield did not get a decision in his last outing, Sept. 21 in Kansas City, his first start since Sept. 5 because of an ailing back. In his last start he gave up five runs, four earned, on five hits and seven walks with two strikeouts in five innings. It was the most walks he’s allowed since May 27, 2005, at Yankee Stadium. He left the game with a 9-5 lead, but the bullpen couldn’t hold it, turning in a 12-9 loss. 

This is his 51st appearance and 41st career start against the Blue Jays, the most among active pitchers.  Andy Pettitte is next with 39. He is 17-12 with one save and a 3.81 ERA (120 earned runs in 283 1/3 innings) in his career against the Jays. In his last 10 starts going back to the 2007 season against Toronto he has a 3.43 ERA (25 earned runs, 65 2/3 innings). In five home starts in that time, his ERA falls to 2.83 (11 earned runs in 35 innings).

In his last start, Sept. 25 against the Mariners, Halladay was his typical dominant self. He struck out nine and did not give up a walk, scattering seven hits. He leads the majors with eight complete games and has a career-high three shutouts this season. 

In three outings against the Sox this season, he is 1-2 with a 4.05 ERA.

Stat Sheet

Red Sox
In their longest stretch of the season without an off-day, 20 games in 20 days, the Sox are 7-8, with five games remaining.

The Sox are one loss shy of tying their season-long six-game losing streak from Aug. 4-9. 

The Sox grounded into four double plays Tuesday, their most since hitting into the same amount June 10, 2008, against the Orioles.

On Tuesday, Clay Buchholz matched a season high for the third time with seven runs allowed. 

Jacoby Ellsbury had his team-high 58th multi-hit game, passing Reggie Smith (1970) and Johnny Damon (2004) for the most by a Sox center fielder since 1954.

Victor Martinez has hit safely in each of his last 26 starts since Aug. 28, a new career high. He has hit .347 (35-for-101) with two home runs and 15 RBI in those games. His streak is one shy of matching an AL high by Ichiro Suzuki this season.

J.D. Drew hit his 22nd homer of the season Tuesday. He has reached base safely in 24 of his last 27 games, batting .358 (29-for-81) with six home runs, 16, RBI, and 16 runs in that time.

Blue Jays
The Jays are on a season-high five-game win streak.  

The Jays hit six home runs Tuesday, the most they’ve hit in a game since knocking the same number July 8, 1999, against the Orioles.  

The Blue Jays have hit 31 homers in their last 18 games since Sept. 11.

Adam Lind hit a career-high three homers Tuesday. It was the first three-plus homer game for a Blue Jays player since Frank Thomas hit three on Sept. 17, 2007, against the Sox in Toronto. Lind is the first visiting player to hit three homers in a game at Fenway since Thomas did it for the White Sox Sept. 15, 1996.

Jose Bautista’s lead-off home run Tuesday was his first of the season, the fourth of his career, and his fist since June 17, 2007, against the White Sox while with the Pirates.

Fro the second straight game, Toronto scored four runs in the first inning off the Sox.

In his first start at third base since Aug. 11, 2003, while with the Marlins, Kevin Millar fell a triple shy of the cycle Tuesday, going 3-for-4 with a single, double and his seventh home run of the season.

Black and Blue

Red Sox
Jon Lester is day to day after taking a line drive off his knee Friday but is expected to make his start Thursday against the Indians

Tim Wakefield has been dealing with an ailing back and is expected to start Wednesday against the Blue Jays.

Josh Beckett missed his start Monday because of back spasms. He is expected to make his next start Saturday against the Indians.

Right-hander Junichi Tazawa was placed on the 60-day DL Monday with a mild left groin strain.

Blue Jays
Right-hander Shaun Marcum is on the 60-day DL with an elbow injury.

Right-hander Dustin McGowan is on the 15-day DL with a right shoulder injury.

Right-hander Jesse Litsch is on the 15-day DL with a right elbow injury.

Right-hander Robert Ray is on the 15-day DL with a right shoulder injury.

This Date In Red Sox History

In 1916, Babe Ruth beat New York, 3-0, earning his 23rd win and ninth shutout of the season.

Overheard

“Yeah, because we haven’t really hit him well this year at all. So, I guess his location was a bit off and those balls we hit hurt him.”
– Toronto manager Cito Gaston, on if he was surprised at what his team was able to do to Clay Buchholz.

Press Box

Red Sox
The Red Sox’ plans to celebrate were temporarily put on hold

Clay Buchholz’s shaky outing ended his strong stretch.

The Sox received good news on the injury front.

Blue Jays
Adam Lind powered the Jays’ win.

The Jays played spoiler once again, this time temporarily.

Edwin Encarnacion is out with an injury, and Marco Scutaro may be done for the season.

MLB
The Tigers and Twins are still battling for the AL Central title.

Was Clint Barmes’ catch really that spectacular?

The Phillies are closing in on the NL East.

Outlook

Facing Roy Halladay is never an easy task, and certainly a daunting prospect to end a five-game losing streak. And with Tim Wakefield’s back ailing, it won’t be any easier. But, maybe with the playoff spot finally clinched — thanks to the Angels beating the Rangers — a fire may be lit under the Sox.

When and Where

4:10 p.m. ET, Sept. 26, 2009
Yankee Stadium, New York, NY,

Records

Red Sox  (91-62, 2nd  place in AL East)
Yankees (98-56, 1st place in AL East)

Head to Head

Despite Friday's loss, the Sox still hold a 9-7 advantage in the season series — but after going 8-0 in the first half, they are just 1-7 in the second half against the Yankees. The Sox have won just two season series over the Yankees since 1997, going 11-8 in 2004 and 8-4 in 1999.

Starting Lineups

Starting Pitchers

RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (3-5, 6.80 ERA) vs. LHP CC Sabathia (18-7, 3.31)

In his last start, Sept. 20 in Baltimore, Matsuzaka won his second consecutive decision since coming off the DL. He gave up three runs on eight hits with a walk and five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.   

This is Matsuzaka's first outing of the season against the Yankees. In six career starts against New York, his is 3-2 with a 6.35 ERA, giving up 24 earned runs in 34 innings. In two career starts at the old Yankee Stadium, he is 1-1 with a 6.57 ERA (nine earned runs, 12 1/3 innings).

Sabathia is among the leading contenders for the AL Cy Young Award, leading the league in wins. Opponents are hitting .232 against him. He is undefeated in his last 10 starts, including six on the road, since Aug. 2, going 8-0 with a 2.24 ERA. The Yankees have won all of those 10 games, and 12 of Sabathia's 13 starts since the All-Star break. His eight-game winning streak is the longest active winning streak in the majors.  

This is his 11th career start against the Red Sox and his fourth this season. In his last outing, Aug. 23 at Fenway, he earned the win, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits with no walks and eight strikeouts. In his last start against the Sox at Yankee Stadium, on Aug. 8, he pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings, giving up two hits with two walks and nine strikeouts. He carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning before allowing a two-out single to Jacoby Ellsbury.  

Stat Sheet

Red Sox
Despite Friday’s loss, Sox starters are 10-3 with a  2.96 ERA (36 earned runs in  109 1/3 innings) over the last 18 games. The rotation is 9-2 with a 3.08 ERA (33 earned runs,  96 1/3 innings) in the last 15 games, holding opponents to one or no runs in seven of those games.  

The Sox have scored at least six runs in an inning 14 times this season, the highest total for any team in the majors this season.

David Ortiz has homered in each of his last three games, with 10 RBI in that span. He has reached 25 homers in a season for the sixth time in his career, all with the Sox. Ted Williams (14) and Jim Rice (seven) are the only Sox players with more 25-homer seasons.

Red Sox batters lead the majors with 230 runs scored and 55 home runs since Aug. 18. They are second in that span with a .294 average, trailing only the Yankees’ .304 average.

Victor Martinez went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI on Friday, extended his hitting streak to 24 games since Aug. 28. It is the longest active streak in the majors.

Dustin Pedroia’s 16-game hit streak ended Friday. It was his longest streak since a career-high 17-gamer from June 22-July 9, 2008, and the second longest active streak in baseball.

Prior to the addition of Alex Gonzalez, the Sox were eighth in the AL with a .984 fielding percentage. Since Aug. 15, they lead the majors with a .991 fielding percentage.

Yankees
At 98-56, the Yankees have the best record in the majors, and at 53-23, they have the most home wins.

With 876 runs scored, the Yankees lead the majors but are second in run differential with a plus-154 mark. The Dodgers lead the majors at plus-177.

The Yankees were the majors’ first team to win 90 games this season, the third time in the last 45 years they have been the first to reach to 90 wins in a season.

The Yankees are second in the majors with a .284 team average.

Mark Teixeira leads the AL with 119 RBI and is second in home runs with 37.

CC Sabathia leads the AL with 18 wins.

Derek Jeter is third in the AL with a .330 average.

Black and Blue

Red Sox
Jon Lester is day-to-day after taking a line drive off his knee on Friday.

Tim Wakefield has been coping with a lower back injury but is expected to make his next start on Tuesday.

Right-hander Junichi Tazawa was placed on the 60-day DL on Monday with a mild left groin strain.

Yankees
Outfielder Xavier Nady has been on the DL since April 15 with an ulnar collateral ligament injury in his right elbow.

Right-hander Chien-Ming Wang has been on the DL since July 5 with a right shoulder strain.

Jerry Hairston is day-to-day with a wrist injury.

This Date In Red Sox History

In 1998, in a 5-2 loss to the Orioles at Fenway,  Dennis Eckersley pitched in his 1,071st game, breaking Hoyt Wilhelm's major league record for the most career pitching appearances.

Overheard

"It hit me in a good spot that, hopefully, it won't make me miss any time.”
– Jon Lester, after being hit by a line drive in the third inning of Friday's loss

Press Box

Red Sox
Friday night marked a double loss for the Sox.

Jon Lester is day-to-day after taking a line drive off his knee.

Big Papi went Little League to get his swing back.

Yankees
The Yankees are a game closer to the AL East title.

A-Rod gave the Sox a new home run record.

Jerry Hairston will play through wrist pain.

MLB
Josh Hamilton was back in the lineup for the Rangers after missing 19 games.

The Indians beat the Orioles, ending a historic skid.

Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman is declared a free agent.

Outlook

This outing will be a major test for Daisuke Matsuzaka. Although he has won both starts since coming off three months on the disabled list, his last start was against the last-place Orioles. This start will give him much more of a challenge.  And with the bullpen pitching more than five innings on Friday because of Jon Lester’s injury, it will help if he can go deep into the game.

After getting off to an 8-0 start against the Yankees, the Red Sox have dropped six of their last seven to the Bronx Bombers. This series is the last chance for each team to make a statement to the other.

Jon Lester and Joba Chamberlain will square off in the series opener on Friday in a battle of young guns.

When and Where

7:05 p.m. p.m. ET (NESN), Sept. 25, 2009
Yankee Stadium, New York, NY, 

Records

Red Sox (91-61, 2nd  place in AL East)
Yankees (97-56, 1st place in AL East)

Head to Head

After Thursday’s win gave them a split of their four-game series in Kansas City, the Sox head to New York for their final showdown with the first-place Yankees. The Red Sox are 9-6 against the Yankees this season. It is also the Sox’ final road series of the season. They have a 39-39 (.500) road record and have won 11 of their last 17 road games. But they are 12-14 in their last 26 road games and 16-19 on the road since the All-Star break.

Skinny

The Sox lead the season series, 9-6, against the Yankees. Although the Sox swept the Yankees, 8-0, in the first half of the season, they are just 1-6 against New York in the second half.  The Sox are 2-4 in Yankee Stadium this season.

Starting Lineups

Starting Pitchers

LHP Jon Lester (14-7, 3.33 ERA) vs. RHP Joba Chamberlain (8-6, 4.73 ERA)

In his last start, Sept. 19 in Baltimore, Lester won his fourth straight decision, giving up three runs on 10 hits and four walks, without allowing a walk, in six innings. He has been the Sox most consistent starters this season, posting a staff-high 22 quality starts in 30 outings. He has also been one of the AL’s most consistent starters, giving up more than three runs just once in his last 20 starts, going 11-2 in that span.

In seven career starts against the Yankees, he is 3-0 with a 3.11 ERA (16 earned runs in 46 1/3 innings). In New York he is 1-0 with a 1.52 ERA (four earned runs, 14 innings) in two starts. In three starts against the Yankees this season, he is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA (six earned runs, 20 innings). Since the start of 2008 he has allowed three earned runs or fewer in six innings in each of his six starts against the Yankees.

Chamberlain is making his 30th start of the season. He is winless in his last eight starts since Aug. 11, going 0-4 with an ERA of 8.42 (29 earned runs, 31 innings). In his last start, Sept. 20 in Seattle, he matched his career high, allowing seven earned runs, taking the loss, going three innings, giving up six hits and three walks, with two strikeouts.

It is his 10th career appearance and sixth career start (fourth this season) against the Sox.  In his last start against the Sox, Aug. 6 at Yankee Stadium, he earned the win, despite giving up a career high seven walks. He allowed four earned runs on six hits, with five strikeouts, in five innings. It was the most walks allowed by a Yankee pitcher who also recorded a win since David Cone walked seven in a 12-3 win over the Tigers on April 9, 1999.  

Stat Sheet

Red Sox
The Sox have won 12 of 15, 18 of 26, and 25 of their last 35 games since Aug. 18. They have the best record in the majors since Aug. 10 at 29-13.

In Thursday’s win over the Royals, Terry Francona recorded his 561st win as Red Sox manager, moving him into sole possession of second place on the all-time Sox manager’s list. Joe Cronin (1935-1947) is first with 1,071 wins.

The Sox have scored at least six runs in an inning 14 times this season, the highest total for any tam in the majors this season

Sox batters lead the majors with 225 runs scored and 53 home runs since Aug. 18, and are second in that time with a .292 average, trailing only the Yankees’ .304.

Jon Lester leads the Sox with 22 quality starts in 30 outings.

With a first-inning single Thursday, Victor Martinez extended his hitting streak to 23 games since Aug. 28. It is the longest active streak in the majors.

Dustin Pedroia extended his hitting streak to 16 games on Thursday. It is his longest hitting streak since a career-high 17-gamer from June 22-July 9, 2008, and the second longest active streak in baseball to Martinez’s.

Yankees
The Yankees have lost three of their last six games and six of their last 12. But have won nine of their last 15 and 18 of 27. They are a major league-best 46-19 since the All-Star break.

The Yankees were the majors’ first team to win 90 games this season, the third time in the last 45 years they have been baseball’s first team to 90 wins in a season.

The Yankees lead the majors with 867 runs scored.

The Yankees lead the majors with a .285 team average.

The Yankees are tied with the Red Sox for the most wins at home, with 52.

Mark Teixeira leads the AL with 118 RBI.

CC Sabathia leads the AL with 18 wins.

Black and Blue

Red Sox
Right-hander Junichi Tazawa was placed on the 60-day DL Monday with a mild left groin strain.

Tim Wakefield has been dealing with an ailing back and is expected to make his next start Tuesday

Yankees
Outfielder Xavier Nady has been on the DL since April 15 with an ulnar collateral ligament injury in his right elbow.

Right-hander Chien-Ming Wang has been on the DL since July 5 with a right shoulder strain.

Jerry Hairston is day to day with a wrist injury.

This Date In Red Sox History

In 1999, Wade Boggs extended his own modern major league record when he collected his 200th hit for the seventh consecutive season., going 4-for-5 as the Sox beat the Yankees, 7-4.

Overheard

"We're just trying to cover a lot of unknowns. We're just trying to cover everything."
– Red Sox manager Terry Francona, on postseason options for the starting rotation

Press Box

Red Sox
The Sox earned a series spilt with the Royals.

Who will be the Sox’ Game 1 starter in the playoffs?

J.D. Drew got a day off.

Yankees
It’s time for the Yankees to start thinking about October.

Is Sabathia New York’s most indispensable player?

The Yankees took two of three from the Angels.

MLB
Albert Pujols is making his mark on history.

Which teams are in the best post-season position with starting pitching?

Some contenders have closer issues.

Outlook

The Sox will look to Jon Lester to continue his string of dominance. Many people are looking to this series as a possible ALCS preview. A strong showing tonight will help the Sox in their final road trip of the season and in their confidence against the Yankees, who have dominated the Sox in the second half.

Buchholz makes an important start in the series finale against the Royals, looking to solidify his role as the No. 3 starter. Depending on how Buchholz fares on Thursday, the Red Sox will have a better idea of how they will set up their rotation come October.

When and Where

8:10 p.m. ET (NESN), Sept. 24, 2009
Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.

RECORDS

Red Sox (90-61, 2nd  place in AL East)
Royals (63-89, 4th place in AL Central)

HEAD TO HEAD

The Red Sox overcame an early two-run deficit in Kansas City to earn their first win in the series. The victory gave the Sox their 90th win of the season, and Josh Beckett his 16th win. The win also gives the Sox a 4-3 season series edge, with the finale Thursday.

SKINNY

The Red Sox have won 10 of their last 14 games against the Royals since the start of the 2008 season. They have also won 13 of 19 games going back to April 4, 2007. Since the start of the 2002 season, the Sox are 33-19 against K.C. But in K.C., the Sox are 90-116 all-time, including 80-102 at Kauffman Stadium. The Sox go for the series split Thursday. The Sox have won or split the season set against the Royals in seven of the last eight seasons since 2001, losing (4-5) only in 2006.

STARTING LINEUPS

STARTING PITCHERS

RHP Clay Buchholz (6-3, 3.49 ERA) vs. RHP Anthony Lerew (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Buchholz pitched his fifth straight quality starts in his last outing, Sept. 18 in Baltimore, allowing one run  on five hits and three walks in six innings, with a season-low one strikeout. This is his second career start against the Royals. In his last start, he took the loss in Kansas City on Aug. 4, 2008, allowing four runs on seven hits and three walks, with four strikeouts in six innings.  

Lerew is making his first big league start and appearance of the season after being called up from Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Wednesday. It will be his 12th career major league appearance, fourth start overall, and second start against the Sox. Originally selected by the Braves in the 11th round of the 2001 draft, Lerew signed as a minor league free agent with the Royals in March. He missed parts of the 2007 and 2008 seasons after Tommy John surgery. Lerew was 10-6 with Northwest Arkansas this season, including 3-0 with a 1.41 ERA in his final five starts. Lerew last pitched in the big leagues on May 19, 2007, with the Braves, starting against the Sox at Fenway Park. He lasted just two innings, and was charged with three runs on five hits, two home runs and two walks.

STAT SHEET

Red Sox
Terry Francona has 560 wins with the Red Sox, tying him for second with Mike "Pinky" Higgins (1955-59, 1960-62) on the team’s all-time wins list among managers. Joe Cronin (1935-47) leads all Red Sox managers with 1,071.

The Sox have reached 90 wins for the third straight season, seventh in the last eight years, and ninth in 12 years since 1998. In that time, only the Yankees have more 90-win seasons, with 10.

Since Aug. 18, Red Sox batters are second in the majors with a .291 average (trailing only the Yankees' .307) and first in runs scored with 215. The Sox’ 52 home runs in that span are the most in the majors.

The Sox lead the majors with 81 home runs since July 30. They have homered in 29 of their last 37 games since Aug. 14, with 58 total in that time.

Victor Martinez has a 22-game hitting streak since Aug. 28, batting .349 (29-for-83) with 16 RBIs in that time. It is the longest active streak in the majors.

Dustin Pedroia has a 15-game hitting streak, batting .373 (22-for-59) with three home runs and eight RBIs. It is his longest hitting streak since a career-high 17-gamer from June 22-July 9, 2008, and the second-longest active streak in baseball to Martinez’s.

With his 80th walk of the season Tuesday, J.D. Drew joined Dwight Evans (seven times) Jackie Jensen (four) and Ted Williams (one) as the only right fielders in Red Sox history to record 20 home runs and 80 walks in a season.

Royals
The Royals have won 12 of their last 16 games and are 13-8 in September.

Closer Joakim Soria has 29 saves in 32 opportunities.

Alberto Callaspo leads the Royals with a .301 average.

Miguel Olivo leads the Royals with 23 home runs.

Billy Butler leads the Royals with 85 RBIs and a .358 on-base percentage.

The Royals are 13th in the AL with 645 runs scored and 13th  with a .259 team average.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox
Right-hander Junichi Tazawa was placed on the 60-day DL on Monday with a mild left groin strain.

Tim Wakefield has been dealing with an ailing back and is expected to make his next start Tuesday

Royals
Shortstop Mike Aviles has been on the DL since May 23 with a right elbow injury.

Left-hander Bruce Chen was placed on the DL on Wednesday with a torn left oblique.

Outfielder Coco Crisp has been on the DL since June 14 after surgery for a right labrum tear.

Outfielder Jose Guillen has been on the DL since Sept. 18 with right hamstring and knee injuries.

Right-hander Doug Waechter has been on the DL since Aug. 13 with a right shoulder strain.

THIS DATE IN RED SOX HISTORY

In 1940, Jimmie Foxx hit his 500th career home run off  Philadelphia A's pitcher George Caster at Shibe Park. Foxx’s homer  was one of four hit in the inning, setting an AL mark.

OVERHEARD

"I definitely think I threw the ball better than I have in a while. I think they had eight ground ball hits. That means I'm keeping the ball down. I felt like I had a good sinker."
– Josh Beckett on Wednesday’s win over the Royals

PRESS BOX

Red Sox
The Sox reached 90 wins with the win over the Royals.

Josh Beckett and Victor Martinez paired up for just the second time.

David Ortiz is making some September noise.

Royals
The Royals couldn’t hold an early lead.

Lerew will make his first start of the season in the series finale.

Kyle Davies is likely done for the season.

MLB
Brian Cashman wants Joba to "step it up."

ESPN.com takes a look at several young players whose careers have reached a crossroads.

Bobby Cox plans to retire after next season.

OUTLOOK

The Red Sox look for Clay Buchholz to continue his string of strong outings. Another good showing would help to secure Buchholz’s place as the third starter in the playoffs. Victor Martinez will look to extend his hitting streak, already the best active streak in the majors. Dustin Pedroia will look to extend his, second only to Martinez’s streak.

Tim Wakefield takes the ball in the series opener, making his first start since Sept. 5, as the Red Sox fill in the holes in their rotation left vacant by injuries.

With just over two weeks left in the regular season, a big start for Wakefield would go a long way for the veteran's chances of making the postseason roster after an injury-riddled second half.

When and Where

8:10 p.m. ET (NESN), Sept. 21, 2009
Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.

RECORDS

Red Sox  (89-59, 2nd  place in AL East)
Royals (61-88, 5th place in AL Central)

HEAD TO HEAD

The Sox swept three games from the Orioles in Baltimore to start the 10-day road trip, their last trip of the regular season. Daisuke Matsuzaka was not as sharp in this outing as he was in his first outing coming of the disabled list last week at Fenway. But, against the O’s he did not need to be. 

SKINNY

The Sox head to Kansas City for four games, against the Royals, who are tied for last place in the AL Central. The Sox took three of four games from the Royals just before the All-Star break at Fenway, their only other meeting of the season. The Royals have won 10 of their last 13 games, while the Sox have won 11 of their last 13.

STARTING LINEUPS

STARTING PITCHERS

RHP Tim Wakefield (11-4, 4.22 ERA) vs. LHP Lenny DiNardo (0-1, 5.23 ERA)

Wakefield is making his first start since Sept. 5, a 5-1 loss to the White Sox in Chicago. He has missed his starts since then with an ailing back. In that outing, he gave up four runs on six hits and three walks with four strikeouts in six innings.  Wakefield has 12 quality starts in 19 outings this season.

In 25 career games against the Royals — 18 starts — he his 11-6 with one save and a 3.79 ERA (60 earned runs in 142 2/3 innings). At Kansas City he is 7-4 with one save and a 3.30 ERA in 13 games and 10 starts. This is his first appearance against the Royals since Aug. 6, 2008, when he earned the win in Kansas City. The Sox have won six of his eight starts against the Royals since 2000 despite his 5.46 ERA (37 earned runs, 61 innings) in that time.

DiNardo is making his third start for the Royals this season, after being called up from Triple-A Omaha Sept. 8. In his last start, Sept. 16 against the Tigers, he took the loss. He is looking for his first big league win since April 12, 2008, at Cleveland while with Oakland. 

He has made five career appearances and one start against the Sox, the team with which he made his big league debut in 2004. Against the Sox, he is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA (six earned runs, 15 innings). The win was while he was with the A's, June 5, 2007, pitching six shutout innings, allowing two hits and six walks.

STAT SHEET

Red Sox
The Red Sox' magic number for the wild card is seven.

Each player in the Sox' starting lineup Sunday had at least one hit, except J.D. Drew.

Victor Martinez went 2-for-4 Sunday, extending his hitting streak to a career-high 19 games.

Dustin Pedroia went 2-for-5 Sunday, extending his hitting streak 12 games.

Alex Gonzalez scored the 500th run of his career Sunday in the second inning.

Jason Bay hit his 35th home run of the season on Sunday, his 31st birthday, tying a career high. He also had three RBIs in the game, giving him 110 for the season, a career high.

Jacoby Ellsbury’s three-RBI Sunday matched a career high.

Royals
The Royals have won 10 of their last 13 games.

Closer Joakim Soria has 26 saves in 29 opportunities.

Billy Butler leads the Royals with a .299 average, 83 RBIs, and .356 on-base percentage.

Miguel Olivo leads the Royals with 23 home runs.

Zack Greinke leads the league with a 2.14 ERA and has 24 quality starts in his 30 outings.

The Royals are 13th in the AL with 624 runs scored.

The Royals are 13th in the AL with a .258 team average.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox
Tim Wakefield has been dealing with an ailing back but is expected to start Monday in Kansas City.

Royals
Shortstop Mike Aviles has been on the DL since May 23 with a right elbow injury.

Outfielder Coco Crisp has been on the DL since June 14 after surgery for a right labrum tear.

Outfielder Jose Guillen has been on the DL since Sept. 18 with right hamstring and knee injuries.

Right-hander Doug Waechter has been on the DL since Aug. 13 with a right shoulder strain.

Right-hander Juan Cruz has been on the DL since Aug. 6 with a right shoulder strain.

THIS DATE IN RED SOX HISTORY

In 2006, David Ortiz hits two home runs against the Twins at Fenway, passing Jimmie Foxx’s team record of 50 home runs in a season, set in 1938.

OVERHEARD

“Often when we get an early lead I’m told to really go after the hitters. But going back all the way to when I was pitching in Japan, I think when we get too much of a lead I don’t usually pitch as well. With the lead that we had [Sunday] I wanted to go deeper into the game but I think for me I can pitch better when the score’s a little tighter.”
– Daisuke Matsuzaka, on pitching with an early lead in Sunday’s win over the Orioles

PRESS BOX

Red Sox
The Sox swept the O’s in Baltimore.

Jason Bay celebrated his 31st birthday with a home run.

Tim Wakefield should be ready to go Monday against the Royals.

Royals
The Royals have won 10 of their last 13 games.

Alex Gordon is trying to look past a disappointing season.

Zack Greinke will take the hill against the Sox on Tuesday.

MLB
The Rangers are another loss closer to elimination.

Milton Bradley has been suspended for the rest of the year.

The Rays beat Roy Halladay again.

OUTLOOK

After three games with the AL East last-place O’s, the Sox have four more games against a last-place team. This game will be a test for Wakefield and his back after spending more than two weeks on the shelf. The Sox were 2-1 against the Royals in Kansas City in 2008, 6-1 overall. 

The Red Sox began their final road trip of the season with a 3-1 win in Baltimore. Clay Buchholz improved his record to 6-3 with the win. The Sox have won each of their first five series against the Orioles this season and are 13-2 against them this year.

When and Where

7:05 p.m. ET (NESN), Sept. 19, 2009
Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Md.

Records

Red Sox  (87-59, 2nd  place in AL East)
Orioles (60-87, 5th place in AL East)

Skinny

The Sox have won six consecutive games against the O’s, nine of their last 10, 14 of 16, 17 of 19 and 21 of 24 games since July 12, 2008. The Sox have won 10 straight series against the O’s and last lost a series to Baltimore on May 13-14, 2008, at Camden Yards. They last lost a three-game set to the O’s Aug. 10-12, 2007, in Baltimore.

Starting Lineups

Note: Late lineup change for Red Sox

Starting Pitchers

LHP Jon Lester (13-7, 3.29 ERA) vs. RHP David Hernandez (4-8, 5.40 ERA)

In his last start — the second game of a doubleheader Sept. 13 against the Rays at Fenway — Jon Lester earned the win, shutting out the Rays while allowing two hits and three walks with seven strikeouts. The outing extended his scoreless streak to a career-high 17 innings.

Lester  has won each of his last six starts against the O’s this season and is undefeated in 11 career starts against them, going 9-0 with a 2.21 ERA (17 earned runs in 69 1/3 innings). He did not allow a run in his first 16 innings against the O’s this season. He has the most career wins without a loss of any pitcher ever against Baltimore. His nine-game winning streak is the longest ever by a Sox pitcher against the O’s.

David Hernandez is making his 17th start of the season. The Orioles are 2-6 in his nine starts at Camden Yards, while Hernandez is 2-4 in those games with 5.40 ERA (25 earned runs in 41 2/3 innings). Hernandez has made three starts against the Sox this season, going 1-2 with a 5.79 ERA (nine earned runs in 14 innings). He has faced the Sox once in Baltimroe this season on Aug. 1, going 4 1/3 innings and allowing two runs on solo homers by Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis. In total, he surrendered seven hits, four walks and earned four strikeouts. He threw 102 pitches in that outing.

Stat Sheet

Red Sox
The Red Sox lead the majors with 74 home runs since July 30 and have homered in 25 of their last 32 games since Aug. 14, with 51 total home runs in that time.

Victor Martinez has hit safely in 17 straight games since Aug. 28, going 22-for-61 (.361) with 12 RBI in that stretch. The streak matches a career high.

Jacoby Ellsbury has a team-high 54 multi-hit games.

Four Sox players have 20 or more home runs — Jason Bay (34), Kevin Youkilis (25), David Ortiz (24) and J.D. Drew (20). Mike Lowell is three shy of that mark.

Twenty-two players have hit at least one home run for the Sox this season, one shy of the club record of 23 in 1996.  

Jonathan Papelbon has a career ERA of 0.64 (two earned runs in 29 1/3 innings) against the Orioles.

Among qualified Red Sox hitters, three are batting over .400 against the O’s this season — Kevin Youkilis (.453), Jacoby Ellsbury (.433) and Dustin Pedroia (.413).

Pedroia extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a third-inning single on Friday.

Orioles
The O’s are 20-40 against the AL East.

In 59 games since the All-Star break, the O’s are 20-39 and have scored two or fewer runs in 17 of the losses.

The O’s have just 14 hits in their last three games.

In his last eight games, Luke Scott is batting .296 (8-for-27) with four doubles, two home runs and seven RBIs.

The O’s have kept opponents off the scoreboard in the first inning in each of their alst three games after allowing runs in the first inning of the previous seven games.

The O’s have been shut out nine times this season, six times at home.

Rookies Matt Wieters and Nolan Reimold have two of the three walk-off home runs hit by AL rookies this season.

Black and Blue

Red Sox
Tim Wakefield, who has been hindered by a lower back strain since the All-Star break, is set to start on Monday against Kansas City. He has made two starts since the All-Star break.

Jason Bay left Friday’s game with flu-like symptoms.

Orioles
Adam Jones is on the 15-day DL with a sprained left ankle.

Rich Hill is on the 60-day DL with left shoulder inflammation.

Brad Bergesen is also on the 60-day DL with a left leg contusion.

This Date In Red Sox History

In 1953, Mel Parnell shut out the Yankees for the fourth time that season as the Red Sox won 3-0. He was the first pitcher to not allow a run against New York all year since Walter Johnson in 1908.

Overheard

“We talk about it all the time. Every five days, you send him out there and you feel like you know what you’re going to get. That’s important. I know you have to have good stuff, but that’s part of him growing into this. It’s exciting. It’s really exciting.”
–Terry Francona on Clay Buchholz after Friday’s 3-1 win over Baltimore

Press Box

Red Sox
The Red Sox took another game from the O’s.

The Sox are shutting down a pitcher.

Tim Wakefield is scheduled to rejoin the rotation Monday.

Orioles
It was another loss to the Sox for the O’s.

Brooks Robinson paid tribute to Melvin Mora.

The O’s aren’t giving upd on the season.

MLB
The Twins beat the Tigers and pull within three games.

Scott Kazmir shut out the Rangers.

The Rockies are reeling.

Outlook

The Sox have had their way with the O’s this season. A win on Saturday will give Boston its sixth series win against the O’s this year. Jon Lester has dominated Baltimore and looks to continue his unbeaten streak with another big win on Saturday night.

Beckett and the Sox are riding a seven-game winning streak including a 10-game home winning streak — it's longest since a 13-game streak from May 2 to June 5, 2008. The wild card leaders, who are 52-21 at Fenway Park this season, are preparing to hit the road for their final road trip of the season after Thursday night's game. The Sox have a chance to get to .500 and beyond away from Fenway as they currently stand at 34-37 in gray uniforms.

When and Where

7:10 p.m. ET (NESN), Sept. 17, 2009
Fenway Park, Boston, Mass.

Records

Red Sox (87-58, 2nd  place in AL East)
Angels (86-59, 1st place in AL West)

Head to Head

The Red Sox invoked their Fenway magic in Wednesday’s ninth-inning win over the Angels. The Sox improved their major league-best home record to 52-21.  The win extends their lead in the wild card race over the Rangers, who lost to the A’s,  to 6 1/2 games.  They are 7-0 on the eight-game homestand, and have won 10 straight at Fenway.

Skinny

The win evened the season series between the Sox and Angels at 4-4.  The winner of Thursday’s game will claim the season series, won by the Angels, 8-1, in 2008.  But the Sox and Angels may not be done with each other.  This set is a likely preview of the ALDS, where the Red Sox and Angels have met in three of the last five postseasons, with the Sox bouncing the Angels from the playoffs each time.

Starting Lineups

Angels	Red Sox
Chone Figgins, 3B	Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Erick Aybar, SS	Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Bobby Abreu, DH	Victor Martinez, 1B
Torii Hunter, CF	Jason Bay, LF
Kendry Morales, 1B	David Ortiz, DH
Juan Rivera, LF	Mike Lowell, 3B
Gary Matthews Jr., RF	J.D. Drew, RF
Howie Kendrick, 2B	Jason Varitek, C
Jeff Mathis, C	Alex Gonzalez, SS

Starting Pitchers

RHP Josh Beckett (15-6, 3.82 ERA) vs. RHP Ervin Santana (7-8, 5.52 ERA)

In his last start, Sept. 12 against the Rays at Fenway, Beckett pitched a rain-shortened, complete game, five-inning win, giving up four hits and walk, striking out four, as the Red Sox won, 9-1.  Beckett seems to have come out of the funk he was recently  in, allowing 14 home runs – including a career-high five to the Yankees — in five starts from Aug. 12 through Sept. 2. In his last two starts he has not given up a home run, allowing a combined four runs on 10 hits and three walks with eight strikeouts in 12 innings.

In seven career starts against the Angels, Beckett is 2-3 with a 4.26 ERA (21 earned runs in 44 1/3 innings), going at least six innings in six of those games. He has lost each of his last three regular season starts to the Angels since 2008, with a 6.98 ERA (15 earned runs, 19 1/3 innings) in those games.   This is his second start against the Angels this season, including a 5-4 loss April 12 in Anaheim.  

Santana is winless in his last four starts. He has allowed three runs or fewer in six of his last seven starts.  This is his 20th start of the season, and he has had two stints on the disabled list, missing a total of 52 games.  

Santana is making his sixth career start against the Red Sox, posting a record of 1-2 with a 5.67 ERA (17 earned runs, 27 innings pitched)  This is his second start of this season against the Sox; he allowed three runs in five innings of work to take a no-decision in his first.

Stat Sheet

Red Sox

The Red Sox have an 10-game home winning streak and have won 12 of 14, and 23 of 30 at home since July 10.  

With Wednesday’s win, the Sox passed the Angels for the second-best record in the AL at 87-58 (.597).

The Sox have homered in 23 of their last 30 games, and have hit 48 total with multiple home runs in 14 of those games.  

Jacoby Ellsbury recorded his team-high 54th multi-hit game Wednesday. Since 1954, Reggie Smith (57 in 1970) and Johnny Damon (54 in 2005, 57 in 2004) are the only Red Sox center fielders with as many multi-hit games.  He is batting .350 (28-for-80) in his last 11 games with 10 multi-hit games in that span.

Dustin Pedroia has an eight-game hitting streak, batting .355 (11-for-31) with three doubles, three home runs, six RBI, and six runs scored.

Since snapping an 0-for-24 slide on July 24, J.D. Drew is batting .338 (44-for-130), 10th in the AL in that time.  He has hit safely in 21 of his last 26 home games beginning July 11, batting .350 (28-for-80).

The Red Sox are 21-2 (.913) when David Ortiz hits a home run. He is currently batting 10-for-20 (.500) in his seven-game hitting streak, and has hit safely in 13 of his last 16 home games.

Angels

The Angels will play 11 of their final 17 games against the three top teams in the AL – Red Sox (one game), Yankees (three games), and Rangers (seven games).

The Angels are 24-15 against the AL East this season, 21-23 against the AL West, and 65-35 against the rest of baseball.

Despite Wednesday’s loss, the Angels lead the majors with 44 comeback wins. The team record for comeback wins is 45 set in 2004.

The Angels are tied for second in baseball with 42 road wins this season. Since the 2004 season, the Angels have the best road record in baseball, at 269-209.

Torii Hunter extended his hitting streak to 12 games in which he is batting .354 (17-for-48) with three home runs and nine RBI.

The Angels have outscored the Red Sox 82-55 over their last 14 regular season games and have won 12 of their last 16 games.  

Vladimir Guerrero, who is batting .294, is trying to hit .300 for the 13th consecutive season, the longest active streak in the majors. He is one of only three players in the last 40 years to hit .300 or better in at least 12 consecutive seasons, with Rod Carew (13 straight, 1971-83) and Tony Gwynn (17, 1983-99) being the others.

Black and Blue

Red Sox

Kevin Youkilis has missed the last two games with back spasms.

Jonathan Papelbon was unavailable for Wednesday’s game because of tightness in his back.

Angels

Pitcher Kelvim Escobar has been on the DL since June 7 with right shoulder irritation.

Pitcher Dustin Moseley has been on the DL since April 18 with tightness in his right forearm.

Pitcher Scot Shields has been on the DL since May 27 after left knew patellar surgery.

This Date In Red Sox History

In 1939 AL President Will Harridge overturns the umpires' decision to call the Sept. 2 Red Sox game against the Yankees at Fenway a forfeit and orders the contest to be replayed from the seventh inning as a 5-5 tie.  After the Red Sox fans had thrown a garbage onto the playing field at Fenway in protest of the Yankees making deliberate outs to take advantage of the 6:30 Sunday curfew, umpire Cal Hubbard ruled the Boston crowd's actions made it impossible to continue the game and awarded the game to the Yankees, 9-0.

Overheard

“We come back. They come back. It’s two good teams. A lot of things happened tonight. Playing at home in these types of games help.”
– Terry Francona on Wednesday’s win against the Angels

Press Box

Red Sox

Alex Gonzalez is the newest Sox hero

Was Josh Beckett tipping his pitches during his recent struggles?

Tim Wakefield could rejoin the rotation Monday

Angels

The Angels couldn't wrap up the win

The Angels offense has a September chill

Mike Napoli is trying to recapture some Fenway magic

MLB

The A's one-hit the Rangers

Jorge Posada and Jesse Carlson received suspensions for brawling

Things are getting testy for the Rays

Outlook

The Red Sox seem to have their Fenway magic working. Alex Gonzalez has solidified the defense and the bottom of the order. The Sox will now try to wrap up a perfect homestand and take the advantage in the season series from the Angels with their ace on the mound.

Following the Rangers' loss last night, the Red Sox now lead the wild card by 5 1/2 games and their magic number is down to 14.

When and Where

7:10 p.m. ET (NESN), Sept. 16, 2009
Fenway Park, Boston, Mass.

Records

Red Sox (86-58, 2nd  place in AL East)
Angels (86-58, 1st place in AL West)

Head to Head

The Red Sox and Daisuke Matsuzaka passed a very big test Tuesday night. Returning from almost three months on the disabled list, Matsuzaka tossed a gem at the Angels, holding them hitless into the fifth inning. He did not give up a run in his six innings as the Sox beat the Angels, 4-1, to open the three-game series.

Skinny

While the Angels still have an advantage in the season series, 4-3, the Sox held their potent lineup in check Tuesday. The Angels have lost two in a row while the Sox are riding a six-game winning streak and have yet to lose on the eight-game homestand.

This set is a likely preview of the ALDS, where the Red Sox and Angels have met in three of the last five postseasons, with the Sox bouncing the Angels from the playoffs each time.

Starting Lineups

Starting Pitchers

RHP Paul Byrd (1-1, 6.08 ERA) vs. LHP Joe Saunders (13-7, 4.81 ERA)

Byrd did not get a decision in his last start, Sept. 9 facing the Orioles at Fenway. He pitched five innings, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks with one strikeout, and left with a lead.  

In nine career starts against the Angels he is 4-1 with a 4.94 ERA, allowing 30 earned runs in 54 2/3 innings. Each of his last five starts against the Angels have been at Angel Stadium, going 2-2 with a 5.88 ERA (17 earned runs, 26 innings). This is his first start against the Angels since July 21, 2008, while with the Indians. In that game he went 5 1/3 innings, giving up one run in Cleveland’s win.

Saunders is 4-0 with a 1.85 ERA (five earned runs, 24 1/3 innings) since returning from the DL Aug. 26.  He has won four straight starts and five of six. The Angels are 40-18 in his last 58 starts. This is his eighth career starts against the Red Sox and his second this season. He is 4-1 with a 3.25 ERA (16 earned runs, 44 1/3 innings) in his career against the Red Sox. This season he is 0-1, allowing four earned runs in seven innings.

Stat Sheet

Red Sox

The Red Sox have an nine-game home winning streak and have won 11 of 13, and 22 of 29 at home since July 10.  

Tuesday’s outing marked Daisuke Matsuzaka’s first scoreless outing and his lowest hit total in a game since allowing two hits over seven innings for the win at Toronto on Sept. 21, 2008.

Red Sox pitchers have combined for an ERA of 0.84 (three earned runs in 32 innings) over the team’s last four games, holding opponents to one run or fewer in each of those four games and five of their last six.

Red Sox starting pitchers are 4-0 with a 0.94 ERA during the team’s six-game win streak.

David Ortiz hit his 24th home run of the season, and the 270th of his career as a designated hitter, passing Frank Thomas for the most all-time as a DH.

Dustin Pedroia has a seven-game hitting streak, batting .385 (10-for-26) with two doubles, three home runs, six RBI and five runs scored.

Jacoby Ellsbury recorded his team-high 35th multi-hit game of the season Tuesday, and is batting .342 (26-for-76) in his last 10 games with nine multi-hit games in that span.

Angels

The Angels will play 12 of their final 18 games against the three top teams in the AL — Red Sox (two games), Yankees (three games), and Rangers (seven games).

The Angels loss Tuesday snapped their five-game winning streak at Fenway, dating back to April 23, 2008.

Angels starting pitchers have a 1.91 ERA (25 earned runs, 117 2/3 innings) over their last 17 games.

Torii Hunter’s ninth-inning double extended his hitting streak to 11 games in which he is batting .341 (15-for-44) with two home runs and eight RBI.

John Lackey took his first loss since Aug. 25 against the Tigers. The two runs he allowed in the sixth inning snapped a streak of 22 consecutive scoreless innings.

The Angels have outscored the Red Sox 74-46 over their last 13 regular season games and have won 12 of their last 15 games.  

The Angels have used 14 different starting pitchers this season, three shy of the team record set in 1967, and 23 of the 35 players on the current roster are products of the Angels’ farm system, including four of five starting pitchers and all four catchers.

Black and Blue

Red Sox

Angels
Pitcher Kelvim Escobar has been on the DL since June 7 with right shoulder irritation.

Pitcher Dustin Moseley has been on the DL since April 18 with tightness in his right forearm.

Pitcher Scot Shields has been on the DL since May 27 after left knee patella surgery.

This Date In Red Sox History

In 1965, Sox pitcher Dave Morehead, who would go on to lead the league in losses with 18, no-hit the Indians at Fenway Park. The Sox also fired general manager Mike ‘Pinky’ Higgins that day.

Overheard

“It was a great swing. I thought the ball hit to left field even though he didn’t lean all over it.  He stayed inside it real well and when he does that, regardless of whether the guy catches the ball or not, that still shows that he has some balance and he’s OK. It makes him a lot more dangerous like he showed in his last at-bat.”
– Terry Francona on David Ortiz’s eighth-inning home run

Press Box

Red Sox

Matsuzaka threw a gem at the Angels.

Red Sox fans are just as passionate as in 2004, but without the angst.

The Yankees will open and close at Fenway in 2010.

Angels

It was a familiar feeling for the Angels.

Jered Weaver has been the glue of the Angels rotation.

Joe Saunders has enjoyed his Fenway success.

MLB

Andy Pettitte will miss a start.

Michael Young returned to the Rangers’ lineup.

Is this Tony LaRussa’s farewell?

Outlook

Can Paul Byrd duplicate Daisuke Matsuzaka’s gem? It’s a tall order, but few expected the stellar outing Dice-K gave the Sox. With Kevin Youkilis likely to be back, and possibly Victor Martinez, the Red Sox’ lineup should have more fire than the lineup that defeated the Angels on Tuesday. 

Now, as the Angels head to Fenway, the two teams will get a chance to taste October a little early. If the season ended today, this would be your ALDS matchup.

When and Where

7:10 p.m. ET (NESN), Sept. 15, 2009
Fenway Park, Boston, Mass.

Records

Red Sox  (84-58, 2nd  place in AL East)
Angels (86-57, 1st place in AL West)

Head to Head

The Angels have a 4-2 lead in the season series. They enter Fenway with one of the most potent offenses in the AL and with depth at almost every position. This could be a preview of the ALDS, where the Red Sox and Angels have met in three of the last five postseasons.

Starting Lineups

Starting Pitchers

RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-5, 8.23 ERA) vs. RHP John Lackey (10-7, 3.53 ERA)

Matsuzaka will be making his first start since June 19 after a long stay on the disabled list due to a mild right shoulder strain. With an earlier visit to the DL for the same problem, Matsuzaka has missed a total of 107 games this season after leading Japan to the World Baseball Classic title and being named the tournament’s MVP for the second time.

Matsuzaka has faced the Angels once in his career, on July 28, 2008, at Fenway. He took the loss in that game, going five innings while allowing six runs on seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts. It was the Red Sox’ sixth straight loss to the Angels last season.

In his last start, Sept. 10 against the Mariners, Lackey pitched the eighth shutout of his career, allowing just five hits while going nine innings for the second straight start. In his last three starts, he is 2-0 with a 0.35 ERA (one earned run in 26 innings). He has pitched eight or more innings in three consecutive starts, becoming the first Angels pitcher to do so since Kelvim Escobar in 2006. He has pitched seven innings or more in 16 of his 23 starts this season. Lackey has won at least 10 games in each of his last seven seasons since 2003, joining Nolan Ryan and Chuck Finley as the only Angels pitchers to do so.

This is his 14th start against the Red Sox and his first this season. Against Boston in 2008, he posted a record of 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA (five earned runs, 16 innings) with one complete game. He is 3-6 with a 5.54 ERA (47 earned runs, 76 1/3 innings) in his career against the Red Sox.

Stat Sheet

Red Sox
The Red Sox have an eight-game home winning streak and have won 10 of 12 and 21 of 28 at home since July 10.  

Victor Martinez has a 15-game hitting streak, batting .358 (19-for-53) with a home run, five doubles, 12 RBIs and six runs scored.  

Dustin Pedroia has a six-game hitting streak, batting .409 (9-for-22) with two doubles, three home runs, six RBIs and five runs scored. He has a 10-game hitting streak at Fenway, going 15-for-41 (.366) with seven RBIs and seven runs scored.

With 32 home runs, Jason Bay surpassed his total from last season, split between Pittsburgh and Boston. He is three home runs shy of his career-high of 35, which he achieved with the Pirates in 2006.

Four players have hit 20 or more home runs for the Red Sox this season: Bay (32), Kevin Youkilis (25), David Ortiz (23) and J.D. Drew (20). Mike Lowell has 17. The Red Sox last had four or more players with 20 or more homers in 2003, when they set a franchise record with six. Martinez has 21 total home runs, 15 with Cleveland and six with Boston.

Youkilis has reached the 25-home run mark for the second straight season.

A total of 51 players have appeared in a game for the Red Sox this season, the most since 53 players were used in 2006. The Red Sox have used 25 pitchers this season, the most since they used 28 in 2006. The Red Sox have 34 players on the active roster, all of whom have appeared in at least one game for the club this season.

Takashi Saito has held opponents scoreless in each of his last 11 appearances, spanning 10 2/3 innings, tied for the fourth-longest active scoreless streak in the AL. It is Saito’s second-longest this season behind an 11 1/3-inning run from May 13 to June 16.

Bay recorded his 100th RBI of the season on Wednesday. It is the second season in a row that he has recorded 100 RBIs and the fourth time he has done so in his career, all since 2005. This is also his second straight season — and fourth overall — with at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs.

Angels
The Angels will play 13 of their final 19 games against the top three teams in the AL: the Red Sox (three games), the Yankees (three games) and the Rangers (seven games).

The Angels have outscored the Red Sox 73-42 over their last 12 regular season games and have won 12 of their last 14 meetings. The Angels lead the 2009 season series, 4-2. The Angels won the 2008 season series 8-1, their first season-series win over the Red Sox since 2001.

The Angels are 12-18 in their last 30 regular season games at Fenway Park. The Red Sox knocked the Angels out of the playoffs in 2004, 2007 and 2008. The Angels are 4-13 all-time in the postseason against the Red Sox.

Angels starting pitchers have allowed one earned run or fewer in 10 of their last 16 games and two earned runs or fewer in 16 of their last 19. Angels starters lead the AL with five shutouts and rank second in the league with 60 wins.

The Angels have used 14 different starting pitchers this season, three shy of the team record set in 1967, and 23 of the 35 players on the current roster are products of the Angels’ farm system, including four of five starting pitchers and all four catchers.

The Angels are averaging 5 1/2 runs per game. They lead the AL in average (.287) and average with runners in scoring position (.301).

The Angels rank fourth in the AL with 128 infield hits and first in the majors with 33 bunt hits. The Angels are the only team to have stolen 100 or more bases in nine consecutive seasons.

Black and Blue

Red Sox
Right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 20 with a mild right shoulder strain.  He will be activated Tuesday to make his first start sine June 19.

Angels
Pitcher Kelvim Escobar has been on the DL since June 7 with right shoulder irritation.

Pitcher Dustin Mosely has been on the DL since April 18 with tightness in his right forearm.

Pitcher Scot Shields has been on the DL since May 27 after left knee patellar surgery.

This Date In Red Sox History

In 1912,  Smokey Joe Wood beat the Browns, 2-1, extending his winning streak to 16 games and tying the consecutive-wins record set by Walter Johnson earlier that year. It was Wood's 33rd victory of the year and he scored the winning run on a wild pitch.

Overheard

“I don’t know. I’ll tell you after we play them. The one thing that’s always a constant [is] when they hit it, it better end up where it’s supposed to. It will be a good challenge. It seems like it’s been a long time and we’ve played some good baseball in the meantime. I think they get to play [Monday]. I hope they play 20 innings.”
– Terry Francona, prior to Boston's three-game series with the Angels

Press Box

Red Sox
Daisuke’s back, but which one?

Could this be a playoff preview?

Pitching led to this weekend's doubleheader sweep for the Sox.

Angels
This is a crucial road trip for the Angels.

Bobby Abreu has made the Angels more patient.

The ninth inning could be a sharing opportunity.

MLB
John Smoltz skipped a start.

Randy Johnson could be in the bullpen soon.

How long will Joe Torre manage?

Outlook

What will Daisuke Matsuzaka have to offer on Tuesday? It remains to be seen, but expectations should be kept in check. Matsuzaka looked strong in his last outing, but he was pitching for the Single-A Salem Red Sox against the Winston-Salem Dash — a much easier task than facing the potent Angels lineup. He has been a disappointment this season and will face a big test in his first outing on a big league mound in almost three months. 

After Jon Lester
loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first inning, Friday
night's game was stopped because of rain and postponed until Sunday.
This means that the Rays will have to wait one more day in their
mission to play spoiler for theSox’ playoff hopes and the Sox will have
to wait one more day in their mission to extend the Rays’ losing streak
to nine games. The Rays have the season advantage, 9-6, and the teams
have split theFenway series, 3-3. The Rays have been in their worst slump in more than two years, but would love to play spoiler for the Red Sox. But, with the second-best home record in the American League, the Red Sox will make that particular goal of the Rays difficult.

When and Where

7:10 p.m. ET (NESN), Sept. 12, 2009
Fenway Park, Boston, Mass.

Records

Red Sox  (81-58, 2nd  place in AL East)
Rays  (72-68, 3rd place in AL East)

Head to Head

The Red Sox took two of
three from the Rays at Tropicana Field last week, their first series
win in Tampa Bay since September 2007.  The RedSox are 8-16 against the Rays since June 30, 2008. Including the 2008 postseason, the Red Sox are 11-20 in their last 31 games against the Rays, after going 98-43 in their previous 141 games.  The Red Sox have dropped two of their last three regular season series against the Rays at Fenway. Before that, the Red Sox had gone 25 regular season series against the Rays at Fenway without losing (21-0-4).

Starting Lineups

Rays	Red Sox
Jason Bartlett, SS	Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Carl Crawford, LF	Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Evan Longoria, 3B	Victor Martinez, 1B
Ben Zobrist, RF	Kevin Youkilis, 3B
Pat Burrell, DH	David Ortiz, DH
Willy Aybar, 1B	Jason Bay, LF
Akinori Iwamura, 2B	J.D Drew, RF
Dioner Navarro, C	Jason Varitek, C
Fernando Perez, CF	Alex Gonzalez, SS

Rays lineup will be announced when available

Starting Pitchers

RHP Josh Beckett (14-6, 3.87 ERA) vs. RHP Wade Davis (0-0, 1.29 ERA)

In
his last outing, Sept. 7 in Chicago, Beckett pitched his first quality
start since Aug. 12 but took the loss, allowing three runs in seven
innings. He gave up six hits and two walks with four strike outs in his
first outing without giving up a home run since Aug. 7. 

Beckett
is facing the Rays for the fifth time this season, tying his
season-high appearances against one team. He has also faced the Yankees
five times. He is 1-1, with a 5.70 ERA (15 earned runs in 23 2/3
innings) in his previous four starts against the Rays. In 14 career
starts against Tampa he is 6-4 with a 3.79 ERA (38 earned runs, 90  1/3
innings).  In six starts against the Rays atFenway since 2007 he is 4-0 with a 3.00 ERA (13 earned runs, 39 innings), with quality starts in his last four outings.

Davis
is making his second major league start.  In his big league debut,
Sept. 6 against the Tigers, he did not get a decision, leaving the game
with a 3-1 lead in the seventh, when Brandon Inge hit a grand slam off Russ Springer.
Davis went seven innings, giving up one run on three hits and a walk
with nine strikeouts. He tied a team record for innings pitched and for
strikeouts in a major league debut.  He struck out the first four
batters he faced, and the nine K’s tied for the fifth most by a pitcher
making his debut in the last 30 years.

Stat Sheet

Red Sox
The Red Sox have a four-game home winnings streak and have won eight of nine, and 19 of 25 at home since July 10. 

Four players have hit 20 or more home runs for the Red Sox this season: Jason Bay (31), Kevin Youkilis (24), David Ortiz (23), and J.D. Drew (20).  Mike Lowell has 17.  The Red Sox last had four or more players with 20 or more homers in 2003, when they set a franchise record with six.

The Red Sox have 10 or more  hits in eight of their last 12 games and 15 of 22 since August 18. 

Takashi Saito has
held opponents scoreless in each of his last 11 appearances, spanning
10 2/3 innings, tied for fourth-longest active scoreless streak in the
AL. It isSaito’s second-longest this season behind an 11 1/3-inning run from May 13-June 16.

Jason Bay recorded his 100th
RBIs of the season Wednesday. It is the second season in a row that he
has recorded 100 RBIs and the fourth of his career, all since 2005. 
This is also his second straight season and fourth overall with at
least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs.

With his three-run, pinch-hit double in the seventh inning Wednesday Victor Martinez extended
his hitting streak to 12 games.  He is hitting .357 (15-for-42) in that
stretch.   He is 11-for-27 (.407) in his career as a pinch hitter and
6-for-12 (.500) with 15 RBIs with the bases loaded this season.

Billy Wagner,
who earned his first American League win Wednesday and his first win
overall since Aug. 21, 2007, has two or more strikeouts in six of his
seven appearances this season. Of the 20 batters he has retired this
season 13 have been on strikeouts.

Rays
The Rays have lost eight straight games, their longest losing streak
since dropping eight in a row from July 21 -28, 2007.  They have also
lost 11 of their last 14.

At the start of the three-game series against the Red Sox Sept. 1, the Rays were four games behind Boston in the wild card race. They are 9 ½.

The
Rays have scored a total of 21 runs during their eight-game losing
streak, while the bullpen is 0-5.  They have been outscored 22-6 in
their last four games.

The Rays have been swept in series of three or more games five times this season.

Carlos Pena
leads the AL with 39 home runs but will miss the rest of the season.
According to Elias Sports Bureau no player since 1920 has ever led his
league in home runs despite missing at least 25 games to end the season
(the number Pena will miss). However, two league leaders missed their
last 20 games: Dick Allen in 1974 (20 games) and Jimmie Foxx in 1939 (21).

Evan Longoria
has 30 home runs, making him the ninth player in major league history
with 40 doubles, 30 home runs, and 100 RBIs before the age of 24,
joining Albert Pujols (2001, ’02, ’03), Hal Trosky (1934, ’36), Ted Williams (1939), Alex Rodriguez (1996), Scott Rolen (1998), Eric Chavez (2001), Aramis Ramirez (2001), and Miguel Cabrera (2005).

In 15 games against the Red Sox this season Longoria is batting .371 (23-for-62) with eight home runs, 27 RBIs, and .871 slugging percentage.  His 27 RBIs are two shy of Al Kaline’s 29 for the most against the Red Sox in one season since 1954.

Black and Blue

Red Sox
Right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka was placed on the 15-day disabled
list retroactive to June 20 with a mild right shoulder strain.  He is
expected to start Wednesday for the RedSox against the Angels.

Rays
Right-hander Jason Isringhausen is on the 60-day DL with a right elbow injury.

First baseman Carlos Pena is on the 60-day DL with fractures of his left index and middle fingers.

Right-hander Troy Percival is on the 60-day DL with right shoulder tendonitis.

This Date In Red Sox History

On Sept. 12, 1979 Carl Yastrzemski recorded his 3,000th career hit, an
eighth-inning single off Jim Beattie, as the Red Sox beat the Yankees,
9-2, at Fenway.

Overheard

“I’m guessing just frustrated
because he probably thought he lost his turn in the rotation. He looked
forward to the fifth day so bad and then he throws 23 pitches. I don’t
know. I didn’t see it. I jumped up and was starting to get a little
wet, so I was out of there.”
– Terry Francona, on Jon Lester who threw a ball in apparent frustration while walking off the field as the game was delayed

Press Box

Red Sox
The Red Sox and Rays have a Sunday doubleheader.

Alex Gonzalez has been impressing in the field and at the plate.

Terry Francona remembered managing a new Hall of Famer.

Rays
The Rays know they are short-timers.

The Rays are a hopeful bunch.

B.J. Upton’s ankle is a hindrance.

MLB
Derek Jeter’s place in baseball history is secure.

Free-agents to-be aren’t impressing.

Do inning counts work?

Outlook

The Sox would like to see Josh Beckett resume
his ace-like form which has been missing in his recent starts.  They
would also like to prevent the Rays from playing spoiler in their final
series of the season.  TheSox will be facing a rookie in his second major league start.

The trip looked promising when Boston took two of three in Tampa Bay. But the Red Sox went to Chicago and lost three of four to the White Sox — after taking three of four from them during the last homestand at Fenway.

When and Where

7:10 p.m. ET (NESN), Sept. 8, 2009
Fenway Park, Boston, Mass.

Records

Red Sox (79-58, 2nd  place in AL East)
Orioles (56-81, 5th place in AL East)

Head to Head

The Red Sox are 12-2 against the Orioles this season, including 6-1 at Fenway. The July 26 loss to David Hernandez is the Red Sox’ only loss to the O’s at Fenway in 12 home games since July 12, 2008. The 11-game home winning streak was the longest ever against the Orioles.

Starting Lineups

Pitching Matchup

RHP Clay Buchholz (4-3, 4.40 ERA) vs. RHP David Hernandez (4-6, 4.54 ERA)

In his last start, Sept. 3 at Tampa Bay, Buchholz earned the win, allowing three runs on three hits and a walk, with three strikeouts in six innings. It was his first win of the season against a team other than the Blue Jays. 

In four career starts against the O’s, Buchholz has gone 2-2 with a 6.17 ERA, allowing 16 earned runs in 23 1/3 innings. He has made four appearances and three starts against the O’s since no-hitting them Sept. 1, 2007. He has not gone more than five innings in any of those three starts, going 0-2 with a 12.71 ERA (16 earned runs, 11 1/3 innings) in those games.

Hernandez is making his 15th start and eighth road start of the season. The O’s are 3-4 in his seven previous road starts, and he is 2-3 with a 4.74 ERA (20 earned runs, 38 innings). In two starts against the Red Sox, he is 1-1 with a 2.38 ERA (three earned runs, 11 1/3 innings). In his only start at Fenway, Hernandez went seven innings, allowing one run on five hits with two strikeouts. Hernandez has the O’s only win at Fenway in 12 games since July 12, 2008.

In his last two road starts, Hernandez has allowed eight earned runs on 10 hits and five walks over seven innings, with a hit batter, two home runs, and five strikeouts.

Stat Sheet

Red Sox
The Red Sox are 45-21 at home, the second-best home record in the AL to the Yankees’ 46-20.

On their last homestand, the Red Sox went 7-3, batting .305 (106-for-347), with 10 or more hits in seven of the 10 games on the homestand.

The Red Sox have 10 or more hits in six of their last 10 games, and 13 of 20 since Aug. 18. They have scored 124 runs in that stretch.

The Red Sox are hitting .256 (11-for-43) against Hernandez with two home runs, five walks, and six strikeouts.

Jason Bay is two RBIs shy of his second straight 100-RBI season, which will be the fourth of his career. He would join Ted Williams (six times), Manny Ramirez (five), Jim Rice (three), and Carl Yastrzemski (two) as the only Red Sox left fielders with at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs in one season.

Victor Martinez has a 10-game hitting streak, going 13-for-37 (.351) in that stretch. He is five games shy of his longest hitting streak, which he did earlier this season from April 21-May 6.

Takashi Saito’s next appearance will give the Red Sox five pitchers with at least 50 appearances this season — joining Manny Delcarmen, Jonathan Papelbon, Hideki Okajima and Ramon Ramirez. It would be the second time in team history that five pitchers have made at least 50 appearances in a season. In 1991, Tony Fossas, Jeff Gray, Greg Harris, Dennis Lamp and Jeff Reardon did so.

Orioles
The Orioles are 22-44 on the road, the fewest road wins in the AL.

The Orioles are 18-26 in first games of a series.

Since the All-Star break, the O’s are 16-33 and have scored two or fewer runs in 14 of the 33 losses.

Brian Roberts is one double shy of 50 for the season. With his next double, he will become the fourth major leaguer in history with three or more 50-double seasons – joining Hall of Famers Tris Speaker (five times), Paul Waner (three) and Stan Musial (three). 

The O’s bullpen has not allowed a run over seven innings in the last three games. But in the previous seven, the O’s 'pen gave up 26 earned runs in 28 2/3 innings, an ERA of 8.16.

The Orioles are hitting .375 (15-for-40) against Buchholz with two home runs, 13 RBIs, 12 walks and eight strikeouts.

Black and Blue

Red Sox
Right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 20 with a mild right shoulder strain. He is expected to make one more rehab start before rejoining the team.

Jed Lowrie has been on the DL since Aug. 7 with ulnar neuritis of the left wrist.

Orioles
Right-hander Koji Uehara (elbow) could be activated Tuesday.

Left fielder Lou Montanez is on the DL with torn ligaments in his right thumb.

This Date in Red Sox History

The Red Sox induct Carlton Fisk, Jimmie Foxx, Harry Hooper, Dick O'Connell, Mel Parnell, Rico Petrocelli, Dick Radatz, Luis Tiant, and Cy Young into the Red Sox Hall of Fame on Sept. 8, 1997.

Overheard

"That one big inning killed me. Four hits and the walk that inning. Whenever you're going against somebody like [Mark Buehrle], you can't have that big inning."
–Josh Beckett on Sunday’s outing

Press Box

Red Sox
Beckett was better, but that didn’t help the Red Sox on Sunday.

The Red Sox need vintage Ortiz and Beckett.

The Red Sox are looking forward to getting home.

Orioles
The O’s helped the Red Sox in the wild-card race.

Brian Roberts is staying on an even keel.

Felix Pie is fulfilling his potential.

MLB
Carlos Pena is out for the rest of the season.

Josh Hamilton will be out until at least the weekend.

The Pirates will have a record-setting 17th straight losing season.

Outlook

The Red Sox have dominated the O’s this season. Starting the eight-game homestand against the cellar dwellers of the AL East may be just what the Red Sox need to shake off their disappointing road trip.  Facing the team he no-hit two years ago may give Buchholz a confidence boost, allowing him to record a win against a third AL team.

When and Where

8:11 p.m. ET (NESN), Sept. 4, 2009
U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago, Ill.

When and Where

Red Sox (78-55, 2nd  place in AL East)
White Sox (66-69, 3rd place in AL Central)

Head to Head

The Sox are making their first – and last – trip to Chicago this season. After taking three of four from the White Sox at Fenway last week, the Red Sox travel to Cellular Field for four games. Last season in Chicago, the Sox split a four-game series Aug. 8 -11.

Lineups

Pitching Matchup

RHP Paul Byrd (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Freddy Garcia (0-2, 5.94)

Byrd dazzled the Blue Jays on Aug. 30 at Fenway in his first start since Sept. 24, 2008. In six scoreless innings, the veteran right-hander allowed just three hits and three walks with one strikeout. 

In 15 career starts against the White Sox, Byrd is 8-3 with a 4.43 ERA (50 earned runs in 101 2/3 innings). In six starts in Chicago, he is 4-1 with a 4.31 ERA (19 earned runs in 39 2/3 innings). In his last seven outings against the White Sox since 2007, he is 3-1 with a 3.43 ERA (15 earned runs, 39 1/3 innings), going at least six innings in five of those seven games with four quality starts.

This is Garcia’s fourth start of the season and second against the Red Sox. He has posted quality starts in his last two outings, including his last start against the Red Sox on Aug. 25 at Fenway. He did not get a decision, allowing three earned runs in 6 1/3 innings. At Yankee Stadium on Aug. 30, Garcia gave up three runs in six innings and took the loss. The White Sox are 0-3 in his starts this season. 

In 14 career starts against the Red Sox, Garcia is 6-2 with a 4.74 ERA (46 earned runs, 87 1/3 innings).  In his last six starts against the Red Sox, he is 3-0 with a 5.31 ERA (25 earned runs, 42 1/3 innings).

Stat Sheet

Red Sox
The Sox are 33-34 on the road, third-best in the AL behind the Angels and Yankees. They are 6-9 in their last 15 and 10-14 on the road since the All-Star break.

Since Aug. 4, Red Sox pitchers have combined for 241 strikeouts, second in the majors during that span, with 65 strikeouts over the last six games. They have 10 or more strikeouts in three of the last six games. They have struck out 10 or more  in 35 games this season.

Billy Wagner has seven strikeouts in his three innings with the Red Sox.

Red Sox pitchers are second in the AL with 1,034 strikeouts this season. The Yankees are first with 1,047. 

Since July 31, the Red Sox have hit 57 home runs, one behind the Yankees for the most in the majors in that time.

The Red Sox have hit home runs in 16 of their last 18 games with multiple homers in 12 of those games, 15 of their last 22, and 21 of their last 31 since July 31.

Since Aug. 10, the Red Sox' 16-7 record is second-best in the AL, behind the Yankees' 17-6. 

With 12 hits against the Rays on Thursday, the Red Sox have 10 or more hits in five of their last six games, and 12 of their last 16 games since Aug. 18.

Since Aug. 18 J.D. Drew is batting .362 (17-for-47) with six home runs. 

Red Sox pitchers have eight shutouts this season.

David Ortiz has 268 career home runs as a designated hitter, one shy of tying Frank Thomas for the all-time lead in that category. He is tied for second in the AL with Carlos Pena with 21 homers since June 6, trailing Kendry Morales by one.

The Red Sox are batting .181 (23-for-127) against Garcia, with three home runs, 18 RBIs, 12 walks and 27 strikeouts.

Victor Martinez has faced Garcia the most, going 5-for-23 (.217) two home runs, five  RBIs, six walks, and a strikeout.

Jason Varitek has had the most success against Garcia, going 5-for-17 (.294) with one RBI, a walk and four strikeouts.

J.D. Drew is batting .333 (2-for-6) with a walk against him.

Mike Lowell is batting .333 (2-for-6) with two RBIs against him.

White Sox
The White Sox have lost five of their last eight, nine of 12, and went 3-8 on the 11-game road trip which ended Thursday.

White Sox starting pitchers have recorded a quality start in nine of their last 10 games and lead the AL with 70 quality starts.

The White Sox are 13th in the AL with a .980 fielding percentage with a league-high 100 errors. 

The White Sox have allowed an AL-high 64 unearned runs, including eight on their just-concluded road trip.

The White Sox are 21-22 in the first game of a series.

The White Sox are 42-53 against right-handed starters.

Manager Ozzie Guillen needs one win to reach 500, which will tie him for fourth with Jerry Manuel in White Sox history. Tony LaRussa is third with 522.

Alex Rios needs one double for 200 in his career.

Jermaine Dye needs nine home runs to tie Robin Ventura (171) for sixth in White Sox history.

The White Sox are hitting .269 (49-for-182) against Byrd, with eight home runs, 21 RBIs, 11 walks and 19 strikeouts.

Mark Kotsay is batting .464 (13-for-28) with two home runs, four RBIs, four walks and a strikeout against Byrd.

Scott Podsednik is hitting .357 (5-for-14) with one RBIs, two walks and two strikeouts against Byrd.

Paul Konerko is batting .316 (12-for-38) with a home run, three RBIs, a walk and three strikeouts against him.

Jermaine Dye (5-for-28, .179) leads the White Sox with three home runs off Byrd. Dye also has seven RBIs, a walk and seven strikeouts against the right-hander.

Black and Blue

Red Sox
Right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 20 with a mild right shoulder strain. He made a rehab start for Double-A Portland on Sunday, giving up five runs in two innings to Manchester. He is expected to make another rehab start Friday with the PawSox.

Jed Lowrie has been on the DL since Aug. 7 with ulnar neuritis of the left wrist.

White Sox
Right-hander Bartolo Colon is on the disabled list with right elbow inflammation.

Right-hander Jake Peavy is on the disabled list with a strained right ankle tendon.

This Date in Red Sox History

Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk becomes the fifth Red Sox player to have his number (27) retired on Sept. 4, 2000 — joining Bobby Doerr (1), Joe Cronin (4), Carl Yastrzemski (8) and Ted Williams (9).

Overheard

"Like anybody coming back from a physical ailment, we just want to be sure we evaluate him [Friday] after [Thursday’s] session, similar to what we did [Thursday]. We want to be sure that after [Wednesday’s] long toss and more aggressive throwing he was capable of getting on the mound [Thursday], which he was."
– Pitching coach John Farrell on the possibility of Tim Wakefield starting Saturday in Chicago

Press Box

Red Sox
The Sox finally won a series in Tampa Bay.

It was an important win for the Sox.

Tim Wakefield is hopeful he can start Saturday.

White Sox
The White Sox beat their Windy City rivals.

The White Sox may lighten the load on the rotation.

Jake Peavy is happy in his new home.

MLB
The Mets are an amazing mess.

Josh Hamilton has a pinched nerve in his neck.

George Steinbrenner is happy with the Yankees.

Outlook

The White Sox barely put up a challenge for the Red Sox at Fenway last week. It will be interesting to see if Paul Byrd can duplicate the stellar performance he threw at the Blue Jays in his last start. Taking two of three from the Rays at the Trop should give the Sox good road momentum heading into Chicago.

Wednesday's loss took the Sox' record to 5-9 against Tampa Bay this season. Since Sept. 23, 2007, the Sox are 3-15 at the Trop. Overall, the Sox have lost four of their last six games, nine of 13, and 16 of 23 against the Rays.

When and Where

7:08 p.m. ET (NESN), Sept. 3, 2009
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Records

Red Sox (77-55, 2nd  place in AL East)
Rays (72-60, 3rd place in AL East)

Head to Head

The Sox overcame another shaky start by Josh Beckett on Wednesday, erasing a four-run deficit to tie the Rays, only to give up the lead and the game in the eighth inning. The loss cut the Sox' lead in the wild card over the Rangers, who beat the Blue Jays, to 2 1/2 games, and over the Rays to five games.   Beckett, who was not involved in the decision, settled down after giving up five early runs, striking out nine without allowing a walk, but couldn’t overcome his fourth straight shaky outing.

Lineups

Pitching Matchups

RHP Clay Buchholz (3-3, 4.38 ERA) vs. LHP David Price (7-6, 4.63 ERA)

In his last start, Aug. 29 at Fenway against the Blue Jays, Buchholz earned the win as he held the Jays to one run  on three hits and two walks, matching a season high with nine strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings. All three of his wins this season have been against Toronto.

This is his first appearance against the Rays this season. In two career starts against them, he is 1-1 with a 2.03 ERA (three earned runs in 13 1/3 innings). He has made just one career start in Tampa Bay (April 26, 2008) and took the loss, allowing two runs in eight innings. He won his last start against the Rays (May 2, 2008), going five innings, giving up just one run.

Price is making his 18th start of the season. The Rays are 10-7 in his previous starts. In nine home starts, he is 6-2 with a 2.96 ERA (17 earned runs, 51 2/3 innings), compared to 1-4 with a 6.81 ERA (30 earned runs, 39 2/3 innings) in eight road starts. His last start, Aug. 29 in Detroit, was the longest outing of his career. He went 7 1/3 innings, allowing one run on five hits and a walk with four strikeouts, earning the first road win of his career.

This will be his second regular-season start against the Sox, both this season. He earned the win against them Aug. 5 at the Trop, allowing two runs on six hits, no walks, with five strikeouts in six innings. He got the final four outs in Game 7 of the 2008 ALCS against the Sox, and compiled  2 1/3 scoreless, hitless innings with four strikeouts in the series.

Stat Sheet

Red Sox
The Sox are 32-34 on the road, third-best in the AL behind the Angels and Yankees. Before Wednesday’s loss, the Sox had won each of their last four road games. They are 5-9 in their last 14 and 9-14 on the road since the All-Star break.

The Sox had just six hits Wednesday, but had 10 or more hits in each of their previous four games and 11 of their last 15 games since Aug. 18.

The Sox’ 14 losses at Tropicana Field since the start of the 2008 season are the most by any visiting team.

The Sox had no home runs Wednesday, after homering in 15 of their previous 17 games with multiple homers in 12 of those games, 15 of their last 21, and 21 of their last 30 since July 31.

Jason Bay’s home run Tuesday was his 30th of the season, reaching that mark for the second straight year and fourth time overall. He has 10 homers in his last 23 games, and six in his last 16.

Jonathan Papelbon’s save Tuesday was the first six-out save of his career, and the first for a Sox pitcher since Mike Timlin did so on Sept. 5, 2006, against the White Sox.

Since Aug. 4, Sox pitchers have combined for 233 strikeouts, second in the majors during that span, with 57 strikeouts over the last five games.

Sox pitchers have eight shutouts this season.

David Ortiz has 268 career home runs as a designated hitter, one shy of tying Frank Thomas for the all-time lead in that category. He is tied for second in the AL with Carlos Pena with 21 homers since June 6, trailing Kendry Morales by one.

Ortiz has 100 career RBIs against the Rays, fifth all-time. Derek Jeter is fourth with 108. His 34 career home runs against the Rays are his most against any opponent, and  are third all-time against the Rays, trailing Alex Rodriguez (39) for second.

Youkilis has hit safely in 10 of his 11 games against the Rays this season.

Victor Martinez has hit safely in 10 of his 11 games against the Rays this season.

Ramon Ramirez gave up two runs in one inning against the Rays on Wednesday. In his 12 previous career games against the Rays, he pitched 11 scoreless innings, including eight shutout innings in eight outings this season.

The Sox are batting .231 (6-for-26) against Price, with two home runs, two RBIs, no walks and six strikeouts.

Victor Martinez (.200, 1-for-5) has a home run and a strikeout against Price.

Jason Bay (.333, 1-for-3) has a home run and a strikeout against him.

Kevin Youkilis (.333, 1-for-3) has a double against Price.

Jacoby Ellsbury (.333, 1-for-3) has a double against him.

Jason Varitek (.500, 1-for-2) has a double against him.

Rays
The Rays are 15-2-1 in their last 17 series at home, including five sweeps.

The Rays are 43-22 (.662) at home this season, third in the AL, behind the Yankees (45-20, .692) and Sox (45-21, .682).

The Rays have 30 games remaining, against the Sox, Orioles, Yankees, Tigers, Blue Jays, Rangers, and Mariners, and are a combined 36-30 against them.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Rays have the fifth-toughest remaining schedule, behind the O’s, Brewers, Royals, and Jays.

The Rays have 170 home runs and 167 stolen bases, one of two AL teams all-time with that many home runs and steals. The 1998 Blue Jays (221 home runs, 184 steals) are the other. They are looking to become just the second team (first in the AL) to reach 200 home runs and 200 steals, joining the 1996 Rockies.

The Rays’ 167 steals are 16 more than their previous franchise best of 151 in 2005.

The Rays hit 43 home runs in August, a team record of any month.

Since the start of the 2008 season, the Rays have a 100-46 (.685) record at home, just behind the Sox (101-46, .687) for the best in the majors.

The Rays are 15-3 in their last 18 games against the Sox at Tropicana Field since Sept. 23, 2007. The Rays have beaten the Sox 14 times at home since the start of the 2008 season, their most wins against any opponent at home.

The Rays have won five straight regular-season series against the Sox at home, and are 24-12 (.666) at home against the Sox under manager Joe Maddon. Overall, the Rays are 16-7 against Boston since June 30, 2008.

Including the 2008 postseason, the Rays are 20-10 in their last 30 games against the Sox, after going 43-98 in the previous 141 games.

The Rays are batting .191 (9-for-47) against Buchholz with a home run, four RBIs, five walks and 15 strikeouts.

Carl Crawford has faced him the most with the most success, batting .333 (2-for-5) with a walk and two strikeouts.

Akinori Iwamura is batting .286 (2-for-7) with the Rays’ lone home run, two RBIs and two strikeouts against him.

Evan Longoria (0-for-5) has struck out three times against Buchholz, with a walk.

Black and Blue

Red Sox
Right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 20 with a mild right shoulder strain. He made a rehab start for Double-A Portland on Sunday, giving up five runs in two innings to Manchester. He is expected to make another rehab start Friday with the PawSox.

Jed Lowrie has been on the DL since Aug. 7 with ulnar neuritis of the left wrist.

Rays
Right-hander Jason Isringhausen is on the 60-day DL with a right elbow injury.

Right-hander Troy Percival is on the 60-day DL with right shoulder tendinitis.

This Date in Red Sox History

On Sept. 3, 1981, the Red Sox and Mariners play 19 innings in a 7-7 tie. The game is suspended and resumes the next day, with the Mariners winning, 8-7, in 20 innings. It is the longest game played in Fenway Park history.

Overheard

“I don’t know. Maybe not that far off. This is a hard one for us. He could potentially probably be pitching for us pretty soon. And he could potentially probably not.”
–Red Sox manager Terry Francona, on a timetable for Tim Wakefield’s return

Press Box

Red Sox
The Sox fought back but fell to the Rays.

Tim Wakefield is waiting to see when he can pitch again.

Will we start calling him Senator Schilling?

Rays
Pat Burrell and Evan Longoria led the way for the Rays.

The Rays’ owner answered some questions.

A top pitching prospect will make his debut soon.

MLB
The Rangers’ Michael Young is expected to miss at least two weeks.

Here's a look at some of the most impactful recent acquisitions.

The Giants are convinced they’ll make the postseason.

Outlook

The Sox won’t mind saying goodbye to Tropicana Field after Thursday’s game, their final regular season contest there this season. They will look to Clay Buchholz to win the rubber game of their three-game set. But so far this season, Buchholz has only managed wins against the Blue Jays. Victor Martinez should be back behind the plate to catch Buchholz.

The Sox improved to 5-8 against the Rays this season, winning for just the third time in their last 17 games at Tropicana Field since Sept. 23, 2007. Since June 30, 2008, the Sox have lost three of their last five games, eight of 12, and 15 of 22 against the Rays. They were swept in their last trip to Tropicana Field, a two-game series Aug. 4 and 5.

When and Where

7:08 p.m. ET (NESN), Sept, 2, 2009
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Records

Red Sox  (77-54, 2nd  place in AL East)
Rays  (71-60, 3rd place in AL East)

Head to Head

Jon Lester beat the Rays Tuesday night for the first time this season, and recorded just his second win since July 25. The win helped the Sox in the wild card race, as the Rangers swept a doubleheader from the Blue Jays. The Sox now have a four-game lead over the Rangers and a six-game lead over the Rays in the wild card.  Winning the first game of this series was vital at Tropicana Field, where the Sox have struggled mightily recently.

Lineups

Pitching Matchup

RHP Josh Beckett (14-5, 3.80 ERA) vs. RHP Matt Garza (7-9, 3.95 ERA)

The Sox ace has struggled in his last three starts, going 0-1 with a 9.82 ERA, giving up 10 home runs. Although the Sox are 2-1 in those games. In his last start, Aug. 28 against the Blue Jays at Fenway, Beckett was not involved in the decision as he gave up five runs on five hits and five walks, with nine strikeouts in five innings. All five runs came on home runs. Beckett, who gave up just 18 home runs in 2008, allowed 12 in August.

Beckett last faced the Mays My 10 at Fenway, giving up three runs on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts in six innings, but did not get a decision in the Sox’ 4-3 win.  In his last start at Tropicana Field, April 30, he gave up seven runs in 4 2/3 innings. In five career starts at the Trop, Beckett has a record of 1-3 with a 3.58 ERA.

Garza is in a six-game winless streak, and has not won at home in his last five starts. His last win was July 24 in Toronto, defeating Roy Halladay. He has just one win in his last 10 starts. His last win at home was June 24 against the Phillies. He leads the AL with a .233 opponents’ average, but has received the lowest run support in the league at 3.73 runs per nine innings. The Rays have scored a total of 18 runs in his nine losses. He has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 19-of-26 starts this season, including 17 of his last 22. 

This is his 11th career start against the Sox and fifth this season. He has a career record of 5-1 with a 2.93 ERA (20 earned runs in 61 1/3 innings).This season he is 2-0 with a 1.88 ERA against the Sox. His last start against the Sox was Aug. 4 in Tampa Bay. He did not get a decision, as the Rays won, 4-2 in 13 innings. 

Stat Sheet

Red Sox
The Sox are 32-33 on the road, third-best in the AL behind the Angels and Yankees.

Since Aug, 10, the Sox are 15-6 (.714), tied with the Yankees for the best record in the AL.

The Sox 13 losses at Tropicana Field since the start of the 2008 season are the most by any visiting team.

The Sox finished August with 50 home runs, a team record for the month. They have hit more homers in a month just twice previously, 55 in July 2003, and 53 in July 1964. They have hit homers in 14 of their last 16 games, with multiple homers in 11 of those games.

David Ortiz has 268 career home runs as a designated hitter, one shy of tying Frank Thomas for the all-time lead in that category. He is tied for second in the AL with Carlos Pena with 21 homers since June 6, trailing Kendry Morales by one.

Ortiz has 99 career RBI against the Rays, fifth all-time. Derek Jeter is fourth with 108. His 34 career home runs against the Rays are his most against any opponent, and are third all-time against the Rays, trailing Alex Rodriguez (39) for second.

Sox pitchers have eight shutouts this season.

Kevin Youkilis is the ninth Sox batter in history to record more than 30 doubles in at least four straight seasons, and the first since Johnny Damon (2002-2005).

Youkilis has hit safely in nine of his 10 games against the Rays this season.

Victor Martinez has hit safely in nine of his 10 games against the Rays this season.

In 12 career games against the Rays, Ramon Ramirez has pitched 11 scoreless innings, including eight shutout innings in eight outings this season.

Rocco Baldelli has six home runs this season, his most since 16 in 2006.

The Sox are hitting .201 (38-for-189) against Garza, with six home runs, 18 RBI, 15 walks, and 44 strikeouts.

Jacoby Ellsbury is hitting .346 (5-for-26) against him, with an RBI, two walks, and three strikeouts.

Nick Green and Brian Anderson are both hitting .400 (2-for-5), the only other Sox batters over .300 against Garza

Ortiz is hitting just .111 (2-for-18) against Garza but has two of the teams six home runs, with nine strikeouts.

Victor Martinez is 3-for-13 (.231) while Jason Varitek is 2-for-13 (.154) against Garza.

Rays
The Rays are 15-2-1 in their last 17 series at home, including five sweeps.

The Rays are 42-22 (.656) at home this season, third in the AL, behind the Yankees (45-20, .692) and Sox (45-21, .682).

Since the start of the 2008 season, the Rays have a 99-46 (.683) record at home, just behind the Sox (101-46, .687) for the best in the majors.

Carlos Pena had 12 home runs in August, just behind his team-record 13 homers in September 2007.  He has 29 homers in August in the last three seasons, his most of any month and most of any player in the majors.

The Rays are 14-3 in their last 17 games against the Sox at Tropicana Field since Sept. 23, 2007. The Rays have beaten the Sox 13 times at home since the start of the 2008 season, their most wins against any opponent at home.

The Rays have won five straight regular season series against the Sox at home, and are 23-12 (.657) at home against the Sox under manager Joe Maddon. Overall, the Rays are 15-7 against Boston since June 30, 2008.

Including the 2008 postseason, the Rays are 19-10 in their last 29 games against the Sox, after going 43-98 in the previous 141 games.

The Rays have 170 home runs and 167 stolen bases, one of three AL teams all-time with that many home runs and steals, with the 2001 Mariners (169 home runs, 174 stolen bases) and 1998 Blue Jays (221, 184).

The Rays are hitting .223 (59-for-264) against Beckett, with four home runs, 20 RBI, 20 walks, and 80 strikeouts.

Carl Crawford is hitting .333 (10-for-30) against Beckett, with three RBI, a walk, and nine strikeouts.

Carlos Pena is hitting .136 (3-for-22) with a home run, an RBI, three walks, and 13 strikeouts against Beckett.

Akinori Iwamura is hitting .310 (9-for-29) against Beckett, with a home run, an RBI, a walk, and five strikeouts.

Evan Longoria (.250, 5-for-20) leads the Rays with five RBI off Beckett.

Black and Blue

Red Sox
Right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 20 with a mild right shoulder strain. He made a rehab start for Double-A Portland Sunday, giving up five runs in two innings to Manchester. He is expected to make another rehab start Friday with the PawSox.

Jed Lowrie has been on the DL since Aug. 7 with ulnar neuritis of the left wrist.

Rays
Right-hander Jason Isringhausen is on the 60-day DL with a right elbow injury.

Right-hander Troy Percival is on the 60-day DL with right shoulder tendinitis.

This Date in Red Sox History

On Sept. 2, 1996, the Sox beat the Mariners, 9-8, in Seattle as Mike Greenwell drove in all nine runs, including the game-winner with a 10th-inning single.

Overheard

“I think he’s done a good job, even from the beginning. I can’t imagine that that’s real easy when you haven’t caught anybody. It certainly hasn’t been an issue. It hasn’t got in the way of us winning games or anything like that. He’s been real eager to ask questions and to learn.”
– Terry Francona on catcher Victor Martinez

Press Box

Red Sox
Jon Lester dazzled the Rays.

Jed Lowrie and Daisuke Matsuzaka are anxious to return.

Brad Penny says he would return to the AL East.

Rays
Errors hurt the Rays.

The Rays completed the Scott Kazmir trade.

The Rays expect more additions.

MLB
The Rangers swept a doubleheader.

Five home runs helped the Yankees to a win.

Cole Hamels pitched a gem.

Outlook

Getting Josh Beckett back to his ace form will do a lot for the Sox, both in this game and looking to the rest of the season. Expect Jason Varitek to return behind the plate. Billy Wagner, who pitched a scoreless inning Tuesday, will be unavailable Wednesday. And Jonathan Papelbon, who pitched two scoreless innings, could also be unavailable.

With the Sox leading the Rays by five games (and the Rangers by 3 1/2) in the wild card race, this three-game series (with three more next week at Fenway) could help the Sox better define the race and put one contender out of reach. But, the Sox are just 1-5 in Tampa Bay this season, 3-3 overall.

When and Where

7:08 p.m. ET (NESN), Sept. 1, 2009
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Records

Red Sox (76-54, 2nd place in AL East)
Rays (71-59, 3rd place in AL East)

Head to Head

The month of August got off to a difficult start for the Sox, losing six of their first eight games in the month, including six in a row for their longest losing streak of the season. But, Paul Byrd’s first start in almost a year Sunday helped to end the month on a positive note, beating the Blue Jays and ace Roy Halladay as the Sox won seven games on the 10-game homestand, going 16-12 in the month.

Lineups

Pitching Matchup

LHP Jon Lester (10-7, 3.60 ERA) vs. RHP Andy Sonnanstine (6-7, 6.61 ERA)

Lester did not get a decision in his last outing, as the Red Sox beat the White Sox Aug. 25 at Fenway. He gave up three runs in 6 2/3 innings on four hits and two walks with six strikeouts. 

He is winless in three starts against the Rays this season, posting a record of 0-2 with an 8.22 ERA, giving up 14 earned runs in 15 1/3 innings.  He has made just one start at Tropicana Field this season, getting a no-decision Aug. 4, going six innings, giving up one run with 10 strikeouts.  In four of his six starts against the Rays since 2008, he has allowed one or zero run and gone at least six innings.  In three career starts at Tropicana Field, he his 1-0, with a 5.00 ERA, giving up 10 earned runs in 18 innings.

Sonnanstine is making his first start since June 25, spending the last two months with Triple-A Durham, taking the place of Scott Kazmir, who was traded last week to the Angels.  This is his 16th start of the season, and 70th of his career. He is 5-0 with 4.54 ERA (18 earned runs, 35 2/3 innings) in six home starts, compared to 1-7 (8.22 ERA, 42 earned runs in 46 innings) in nine road starts this season. At the time he was optioned to Durham, he had the highest ERA in the majors and the most earned runs allowed in the majors.

This is his seventh regular-season career starts against the Sox and second this season. He is 2-1, with a 5.08 ERA (22 earned runs, 39 innings) against the Sox in his career. He last faced the Sox May 1 at Tropicana Field, earning the win, going 5 2/3 innings, giving two earned runs on eight hits.

Stat Sheet

Red Sox
The Sox hit .305 (106-for-347) on the 10-game homestand with 10 or more hits in seven games, going 7-3. They have hit 10 or more hits in 10 of their last 13 games.

The Sox finished August with 50 home runs, a team record for the month. They have hit more homers in a month just twice previously, 55 in July 2003, and 53 in July 1964. They have hit homers in 14 of their last 16 games, with multiple homers in 11 of those games.

Sox pitchers have eight shutouts this season.

Kevin Youkilis is the ninth Sox batter in history to record more than 30 doubles in at least four straight seasons, and the first since Johnny Damon (2002-2005).

David Ortiz has five doubles, seven home runs, 16 RBI, 18 runs scored, and 11 walks in his last 15 games, hitting .309 (17-for-55).

Rocco Baldelli has six home runs this season, his most since 16 in 2006. 

Alex Gonzalez has driven in four runs in his last five games. He hit .314 (11-for-35) with three home runs and five RBI on the homestand, going 10-for-23 (.435) in his last seven games.

The Sox are 12-7 on Tuesdays.

The Sox have scored 101 runs in the second inning, 17 more runs than their next most productive innings, with 83 in the first, fourth, and eighth.

The Sox have used 50 players this season. It is their most since using 53 in 2006. The 25 pitchers used are the most since 28 in 2006.  At this point last season, they had used 41 players.

Lester has six of the pitching staff’s eight pick-offs, with Justin Masterson and Hideki Okajima recording one each.

Jason Bay has 13 of the outfield’s 24 assists.

The Sox are batting .300 (42-for-140) against Sonnanstine, with four home runs, 17 RBIs, 11 walks, and 20 strikeouts.

Jason Varitek is hitting .462 (6-for-13) with a home run, four RBIs, two walks, and four strikeouts against Sonnanstine.

Mike Lowell is batting .412 (7-for-17) with two walks and a strikeout against him.

J.D. Drew is batting .385 (5-for-13) with a home run, four RBIs, a walk, and a strikeout against him.

Rays
The Rays are 15-2-1 in their last 17 series at home, including five sweeps.

The Rays are playing 243 percentage points better at home than on the road, the third-largest home-road differential in the majors behind the Tigers (+258) and Giants (+253).

Since the start of the 2008 season, the Rays have a 99-45 (.688) record at home, just ahead of the Sox (101-46, .687) for the best in the majors.

Carlos Pena had 12 home runs in August, just behind his team-record 13 homers in September 2007.  He has 29 homers in August in the last three seasons, his most of any month and most of any player in the majors.

The Rays are 14-2 in their last 16 games against the Sox at Tropicana Field since Sept. 23, 2007. The Rays have beaten the Sox 13 times at home since the start of the 2008 season, their most wins against any opponent at home.

The Rays have won five straight regular season series against the Sox at home, and are 23-11 (.676) at home against the Sox under manager Joe Maddon. Overall, the Rays are 15-6 against Boston since June 30, 2008.

Including the 2008 postseason, the Rays are 19-9 in their last 28 games against the Sox, after going 43-98 in the previous 141 games.

The Rays have 169 home runs and 167 stolen bases.

The Rays are 24-24 against left-handed starters.

The Rays have used 39 players this season – 20 pitchers, five catchers, eight infielders, and six outfielders.

The Rays are batting .287 (51-for-178) with six home runs, 21 RBIs, 20 walks, and 46 strikeouts against Lester.

Jason Bartlett is hitting .500 (8-for-16) with an RBIs, a walks, and five strikeouts against Lester.

Evan Longoria is hitting .333 (5-for-15) with a home run, four RBIs, and five strikeouts against him.

Carl Crawford is hitting .318 (7-for-22) with an RBIs, a walk, and five strikeouts against Lester.

Carlos Pena is hitting .250 (6-for-24) with three home runs, eight RBIs, a walk, and eight strikeouts against him.

Black and Blue

Red Sox
Right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 20 with a mild right shoulder strain.  He made a rehab start for Double-A Portland Sunday, giving up five runs in two innings to Manchester.

George Kottaras has been on the DL since Aug. 1 with a lower back strain. He is expected to be called up Tuesday.

Jed Lowrie has been on the DL since Aug. 7 with ulnar neuritis of the left wrist. He is expected to be called up Tuesday.

Rays
Right-hander Jason Isringhausen is on the 60-day DL with a right elbow injury.

Right-hander Troy Percival is on the 60-day DL with right shoulder tendinitis.

This Date in Red Sox History

On Sept. 1, 1906, in the longest game in American League history, Philadelphia beat the Sox, 4-1, in 24 innings. Both A’s starter Jack Coombs and Sox starter Joe Harris pitched complete games.

Overheard

“I'll take it a day at a time. My arm feels very strong. I just want to stay sharp and whatever happens with me, happens with me. I want a World Series ring and any way I can help this team get that. If they need me to clean toilets, I'll go do that. I'm excited and whatever they need me to do, I'll do. I told that to Tito. I said I'll help you out any way I can. I'll get ready and whatever you need me to do, I'll do."
– Paul Byrd after beating the Blue Jays Sunday in his first big league start since Sept. 24, 2008

Press Box

Red Sox
This is a crucial series for the Sox.

The Sox will get some reinforcements Tuesday.

Tim Wakefield was scheduled for a cortisone shot in his ailing back.

Rays
Carlos Pena’s AL-best 38th home run helped the Rays beat the Tigers.

The Rays are calm heading into this key series with the Sox.

The Rays are getting their own reinforcements, and a starting pitcher.

MLB
Are big leads taking the fun out of division races?

Brad Penny is heading to the Giants.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia appears headed for arm surgery.

Outlook

It hasn’t been easy for the Sox over the last few seasons at Tropicana Field. But, winning the series could help them take the Rays out of the wild card race.  With call-ups joining the team today, and with the turf at the Trop, and a lefty pitching against the Sox Thursday, look for manager Terry Francona to do some lineup juggling in the next few days.