The Sox need to win this series to stay ahead in the race for the American League wild card, and so far, all is well. The Sox won Friday's opener by rallying in the ninth against Texas closer Frank Francisco — first Victor Martinez supplied a go-ahead two-run single, and then Jason Bay and J.D. Drew helped pile it on. After that thrilling win, the Sox are itching for more. Who will provide the heroics this time out?
When & Where
8:05 p.m. ET (NESN), August 15, 2009
Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Arlington, Tex.
Records
Red Sox (66-49, 2nd place in AL East)
Rangers (64-50, 2nd place in AL West)
Skinny
The Rangers were choke artists Friday night, but they have had little to be ashamed of given this season as a whole. With career years from Michael Young, Nelson Cruz and Red Sox castoff David Murphy, these Rangers have resurrected a once-dead franchise. They've got the talent to make the push into the playoffs, but they've got to win now. Winning won't be easy against a Red Sox club that's tired of being pushed around and is fired up for the stretch run. This is a clash of the wild-card titans.
Starting Lineups
| Red Sox | Rangers |
| Jacoby Ellsbury, CF | Julio Borbon, LF |
| Dustin Pedroia, 2B | Michael Young, 3B |
| Victor Martinez, 1B | David Murphy, RF |
| Jason Bay, LF | Marlon Byrd, CF |
| Mike Lowell, 3B | Josh Hamilton, DH |
| David Ortiz, DH | Ian Kinsler, 2B |
| Jason Varitek, C | Hank Blalock, 1B |
| Brian Anderson, RF | Taylor Teagarden, C |
| Alex Gonzalez, SS | Elvis Andrus, SS |
Pitching Matchups
RHP Brad Penny (7-6, 5.16 ERA) vs. LHP Derek Holland (5-7, 5.04 ERA)
Throughout all the trade rumors that surrounded him in May and June, Brad Penny was cool as a cucumber and just kept on winning. But now that the pressure's off, things seem to have eased up a bit for the 31-year-old right-hander. He's making mistakes, he's walking guys, he's letting up big rallies. Penny's ERA since the All-Star break is a hideous 6.73 — he's got to regain his focus if he wants to help this Red Sox team into the playoffs and beyond.
For Holland, that 5.04 ERA is actually much better than Rangers fans are used to seeing when they check the rookie's stat line. The 22-year-old turned in the best performance of his young career on Sunday against the Angels — he pitched a complete-game shutout, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out eight. He's certainly got the hot hand, but whether he can figure out these Red Sox remains to be seen.
Stat Sheet
Red Sox
The Red Sox are 10-18 against American League West opponents this season.
Boston has a plus-86 run differential, second-best in the AL.
Brad Penny has a 4.26 career ERA and a 1.42 WHIP in 19 career innings against the Rangers. He's 1-2.
Kevin Youkilis has a .988 OPS, second in the AL behind the Twins' Joe Mauer.
Dustin Pedroia has scored 84 runs, second in the AL behind the Angels' Chone Figgins.
Jacoby Ellsbury has five triples, tied for 10th in the AL.
Victor Martinez is 14-for-50 (.280) since joining the Red Sox at the July 31 trading deadline.
Jason Bay has three home runs in his last five games.
J.D. Drew is a .229 career hitter against Texas. He has just two extra-base hits in 70 at-bats.
David Ortiz has a .594 OPS on the road this season.
Jason Varitek has just four home runs and 20 RBIs on the road this season. He's a .191 hitter away from Fenway Park.
Mike Lowell is 1-for-3 against Derek Holland. He is the only Red Sox batter with a home run against him.
Rangers
The Rangers are 16-12 this season against the AL East.
Derek Holland has faced the Red Sox only once — on June 6, he allowed four runs on six hits in 4.2 innings. The Sox won 8-1.
Michael Young is hitting .318 this season, eighth-best in the American League.
Nelson Cruz's .547 slugging percentage is ninth-best in the AL.
Omar Vizquel is 171-for-593 (.288) in his career against the Red Sox.
Hank Blalock has an .840 OPS against Boston. He has eight homers and 10 doubles in 201 at-bats.
Andruw Jones is 15-for-45 (.333) in his career against Penny. He has six home runs.
Marlon Byrd is 1-for-7 against Penny. He has singled once and struck out once.
Black and Blue
Red Sox
Tim Wakefield (back) will make a rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket at Gwinnett on Saturday.
Jed Lowrie is back on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to August 7, with ulnar neuritis in his left wrist.
Rocco Baldelli was placed on the 15-day DL on August 6 with a left ankle contusion.
Rangers
Jarrod Saltalamacchia left Friday night's series opener with numbness in his right hand.
Ian Kinsler (hamstring) has rejoined the team after playing two games in a brief rehab stint in the minor leagues.
Brandon McCarthy, currently on the 60-day DL with a stress fracture in his right shoulder, had a strong rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma on Thursday night, but the timing of his return to the big leagues is still uncertain.
This Date in Red Sox History
Babe Ruth outlasts Walter Johnson in a 13-inning pitchers' duel, leading Boston to a 1-0 win over Washington on August 15, 1916.
Overheard
"Boston really wanted him. You hate to see him go. This is a big trade for him. He's in the heat of the pennant race, and they liked him when he was there before, big time."
–Reds manager Dusty Baker on ESPN.com. The Red Sox made a deal with Cincinnati on Friday, reacquiring shortstop Alex Gonzalez from the struggling Reds.
The Press Box
Red Sox
The Red Sox won a wild one.
Clay Buchholz is still improving.
Welcome back, Alex Gonzalez.
Rangers
The Rangers blew their chance.
Big night for a Rangers farmhand.
Welcome back, Ian Kinsler.
MLB
The NL's two comeback kids.
Ryan Howard propelled the Phillies to victory.
Felix Pie hit for the cycle.
Outlook
The Red Sox need this one badly, and they know it. Even after Friday night's collapse, the Rangers are still nipping at their heels in the AL wild card race, and this series will go a long way toward determining who ends up playing in October. With a win on Saturday night, the Red Sox can guarantee a series win and ensure that they'll stay ahead of this upstart Texas ball club. They'll need Penny to come through with a slump-busting start — if that happens, they'll have a good shot.
