When and Where
7:10 p.m. ET (NESN), Aug. 26, 2009
Fenway Park, Boston, Mass.
Records
Red Sox (72-53, 2nd place in AL East)
White Sox (63-63, 2nd place in
Head to Head
The Red Sox continued their dominance of the White Sox with a 6-3 win Tuesday. Boston is 13-2 against Chicago, going back to July 20, 2007, and 24-9 since Aug. 20, 2004. With the Rangers beating the Yankees, the Red Sox drew a game closer to New York in the AL East, while maintaining their 1 1/2 game lead over the Rangers in the wild card race. The Rays beat the Blue Jays to stay three games behind the Sox in the wild card.
Starting Lineups
| White Sox | Red Sox |
| Jayson Nix, 2B | Jacoby Ellsbury, CF |
| Gordon Beckham, 3B | Dustin Pedroia, 2B |
| A.J. Pierzynski, C | Victor Martinez, C |
| Paul Konerko, 1B | Kevin Youkilis, 3B |
| Jim Thome, DH | David Ortiz, DH |
| Jermaine Dye, RF | Jason Bay, LF |
| Carlos Quentin, LF | J.D. Drew, RF |
| Alex Rios, CF | Casey Kotchman, 1B |
| Alexei Ramirez, SS | Alex Gonzalez, SS |
Pitching Matchup
RHP Tim Wakefield (11-3, 4.31 ERA) vs. RHP Gavin Floyd (10-8, 3.98 ERA)
Wakefield will be activated from the disabled list before the game. He has been on the DL since July 18 with a lower back strain and then with a left calf injury. His last start was July 8 against the A’s at Fenway. In that game he earned the win, giving up three runs on 10 hits and a walk, with a season-high eight strikeouts.
He has posted a career record of 7-11 with a 5.11 ERA and one save in 28 games and 19 starts against the White Sox He has gone at least six innings in all nine career starts against the White Sox at Fenway. He is 3-1 with a 3.12 ERA (nine earned runs in 26 innings) in his last four starts against the White Sox, but took the 4-2 loss in his last start against the them, giving up three runs in six innings Aug. 31, 2008, at Fenway.
This is Gavin’s 26th start of the season. He is 8-4 with a 2.61 ERA in his last 17 starts after going 2-4 with a 7.71 ERA in his first eight. In his last start, Friday against the Orioles, Floyd took the loss, going 7 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks with seven strikeouts. He has pitched at least seven innings in 14 starts this season.
In three career games (two starts) against the Red Sox, Floyd is 2-0 with a 5.74 ERA. In his last starts against the Red Sox, Aug. 10, 2008, Gavin got the win going 5 1/3 innings, giving up five runs on seven hits. He also worked 3 2/3 innings in relief of John Danks in the second game of a doubleheader on Aug. 24, 2007, in Chicago, giving up four runs on four hits as the Red Sox won, 10-1.
Stat Sheet
Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury’s steal of third base in the first inning Tuesday night was his 55th stolen base of the season, making him the Sox’ single-season stolen base leader, passing Tommy Harper, who had 54 in 1973.
The Sox are 17-19 since Wakefield went on the DL.
On Sunday, the Sox snapped their franchise-best streak of eight games with two or more home runs in a game, one shy of the major league record. They have multiple homers in 12 of their last 15 games and 18 of 24 since July 31.
Since the ninth inning of Friday’s game against the Yankees, 32 of the Sox’ total 38 runs have been scored with two outs. They lead the majors in 2-out RBI with 271. They are batting .275 with two outs, second in the majors, behind the Angels (.284).
Dustin Pedroia has 40 doubles this season, the second season in a row he’s reached that mark, with 54 in 2008. No Sox player has ever hit 50 or more doubles in consecutive seasons. Only two second basemen have reached that mark in back-to-back seasons, Craig Biggio (1998-99) and Billy Herman (1935-36).
Since trading for Alex Gonzalez on Aug. 14, the Sox lead the majors with a .994 fielding percentage. In 114 games prior to that, the Sox ranked 17th overall and eighth in the AL with a .984 fielding percentage.
The Sox are 18-6 against the AL Central this season, winning 12 of their last 14 games. Their single-season best record vs. the Central is 24-10 (.706) in 2008.
David Ortiz has 20 home runs against the White Sox, eighth among active players. Troy Glaus is seventh with 21.
Ortiz has eight straight seasons with 20 or more home runs, including seven seasons with the Sox. He is the sixth player in team history with at least seven 20-homer seasons, joining Ted Williams (10 seasons), Dwight Evans (nine), and Manny Ramirez (eight) as the players with seven or more consecutive 20-homer seasons.
With a fourth-inning double Tuesday, Mike Lowell extended his hitting streak to nine games, going .348 (11-for-32) in that time. He has hits in 11 of his last 12 games.
Victor Martinez is batting .337 (30-for-89) since joining the Sox Aug. 1 and leads the club in hits 30 and RBI 18 in that span.
The Sox are batting .256 (20-for-78) with four home runs, 15 RBI, 10 walks, and 21 strikeouts against Floyd.
White Sox
The White Sox having losing records against all three AL divisions – 14-16 vs. the East, 26-28 vs. the Central, 12-13 vs. the West – but are 11-6 vs. the NL.
The White Sox have 95 errors, most in the AL, and a .980 fielding percentage, lowest in the league.
They have allowed an AL-high 59 unearned runs, and have given up three or more unearned runs in game six times this season.
The White Sox have lost seven of their last eight games at Fenway Park, allowing eight or more runs in six of the losses.
Manager Ozzie Guillen is four wins shy of the 500-win mark, which would tie him for fourth with Jerry Manuel on the White Sox all-time list.
Jim Thome has 564 career home runs and needs five to tie Rafael Palmeiro for 11th all-time.
With 88, the White Sox have scored more runs in the fifth than any other inning, including three on Monday. At 82, they have allowed more runs in the fourth than any other inning, but held the Sox scoreless in that frame Monday.
Jermaine Dye has 161 career home runs and needs 10 to tie Robin Ventura for 6th on the White Sox all-time list.
Alex Rios needs two doubles to reach the 200-mark in his career.
The White Sox are 10-8 on Wednesdays.
In the last 27 games, the White Sox bullpen has a 2.51 ERA, lowering its season mark from 4.14 to 3.76, fourth in the AL.
The White Sox have lost 30 games this season after holding a lead. They have had a lead in 12 of their last 16 games, 23 of 30, and 29 of 37.
The White Sox are 22-16 vs. left-handed starters, after going 31-20 in 2008. They rank second in the AL with a .286 average against lefties.
The White Sox are hitting .224 in their last 21 games with runners in scoring position. They are fifth in the AL with a .268 average with runners in scoring position.
The White Sox are hitting .217 (49-for-226) with 12 home runs, 27 RBI, 16 walks, and 40 strikeouts against Wakefield.
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 started for the Sox’ Gulf Coast League team in Fort Myers Monday, going three innings, throwing 37 pitches. He was at Fenway Tuesday in preparation for his next rehab start.
Right-hander Tim Wakefield was placed on the 15-day DL retroactive to July 18 with a lower back strain. He is expected to be activated Wednesday.
First baseman/outfielder Jeff Bailey was placed on the 15-day DL retroactive to July 5 with a left ankle sprain. He began a rehab assignment with the PawSox Aug. 3.
Catcher George Kottaras is on the 15-day DL with a lower back strain. He is on a rehab stint with the PawSox.
Shortstop Jed Lowrie was placed on the 15-day DL retroactive to Aug. 7 with ulnar neuritis of the left wrist. He began a rehab assignment with the PawSox Monday.
White Sox
Right-hander Bartolo Colon has been on the DL since July 25 with a right elbow inflammation.
Infielder Chris Getz has been on the DL since Aug. 12 with a strained right oblique.
Right-hander Jake Peavy has been on the DL since June 13 with a strained right ankle tendon. He is rehabbing with AAA Charlotte.
Outfielder DeWayne Wise has been on the DL since Aug. 15 with a strained right AC joint.
This Date in Red Sox History
On August 26, 2007, the Red Sox completed a four-game sweep of the White Sox in Chicago, scoring at least 10 runs in every contest. The Red Sox outscored the White Sox, 46-7, in the four games.
Overheard
“Any way we could push a run across at that point, that was a beautiful swing. We did a lot of good things. Starting with Lester, the way he threw the ball. We created our own rally for them with a pop-out and the ball goes into center but then finding a way to wiggle out of it. Then when they come back, the offense staying on things, Victor being ready, Greenie. A lot of good things happened.”
— Sox manager Terry Francona on Tuesday’s 6-3 win over the White Sox
Press Box
Red Sox
The Sox eighth-inning rally led to their second straight win over the White Sox.
Billy Wagner waived his no-trade clause and will join the Sox Thursday.
Jacoby Ellsbury entered the Red Sox’ record books Tuesday night.
White Sox
Freddy Garcia was solid in the loss.
When and where will Jake Peavy’s next start be?
The White Sox have three players in Rookie of the Year contention.
MLB
The Rays beat the Blue Jays on Carlos Pena’s two home runs.
The Mets’ Johan Santana and J.J. Putz are done for the season.
Zack Greinke struck out 15 as the Royals ended their five-game losing streak.
Outlook
The Sox hope a healthy and strong Tim Wakefield takes the mound against the White Sox Wednesday. Getting the knuckleballer back will help define the starting rotation, which has been in flux lately. Victor Martinez will be behind the plate for Wakefield. Jacoby Ellsbury, who entered the Sox record books Tuesday, has been a catalyst at the top of the order and on the bases.
