St. Patrick’s Day won’t be Jason Bay Day, as the former Red Sox outfielder will not make the trip with the Mets to Fort Myers.
Bay did meet his former team last week in Port St. Lucie, going 0-for-2 in an 8-2 Red Sox victory.
Boston will be sporting a touch of green on Wednesday in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.
WHEN AND WHERE
1:05 p.m. ET (NESN), March 17, 2010
City of Palms Park, Fort Myers, Fla.
RECORDS
Mets (8-6)
Red Sox (8-5)
HEAD TO HEAD
The Red Sox won the first Grapefruit League meeting in Port St. Lucie last week by a score of 8-2. John Lackey got the win behind a 15-hit attack led by outfielder Darnell McDonald, who was 3-for-3 with an RBI.
LINEUPS
Red Sox
1. Marco Scutaro, SS
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Victor Martinez, C
4. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. Adrian Beltre, 3B
7. Jeremy Hermida, LF
8. Mike Cameron, CF
9. Josh Reddick, RF
Mets
1. Angel Pagan, LF
2. Alex Cora, SS
3. Gary Matthews, RF
4. Daniel Murphy, 1B
5. Fernando Tatis, 3B
6. Frank Catalanotto, DH
7. Omir Santos, C
8. Fernando Martinez, CF
9. Ruben Tejada, 2B
PITCHING MATCHUP
RHP Mike Pelfrey (0-1, 9.00 ERA) vs. RHP John Lackey (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
STAT SHEET
Red Sox
The Red Sox managed eight combined hits in being shut out twice Tuesday in split-squad action.
David Ortiz is 4-for-4 with a walk in his last two games.
Mike Cameron is 5-for-15 with five walks this spring.
Felix Doubront has yielded four singles in seven innings.
Boof Bonser has given up four runs in five innings.
Mets
Fernando Martinez has two home runs, two triples, two doubles and seven singles in just 22 spring at-bats.
Nelson Figueroa has struck out nine in eight scoreless innings.
David Wright and former Red Sox Chris Carter lead the Mets with three Grapefruit League home runs.
BLACK AND BLUE
Red Sox
Daisuke Matsuzaka is slated to throw a batting practice session Wednesday to test his sore neck. It will be the first time he has faced live batters this spring.
Josh Beckett is still in line to start Friday against Pittsburgh in Bradenton, but was told to stay home Monday after being scratched from his start Sunday due to an illness.
The Red Sox are still waiting on some test results to determine if and when infielder Jed Lowrie can resume activities. He has been away for the team for a week after complaining of fatigue.
Mets
Shortstop Jose Reyes remains out until early April with a thyroid condition. He needs his thyroid levels to normalize before returning.
Center fielder Carlos Beltran is out until May following offseason knee surgery.
OVERHEARD
“It sounds like very encouraging news so we’re obviously thrilled about that and thankful.”
–Red Sox Manager Terry Francona, on the news that outfield prospect Ryan Westmoreland came through brain surgery successfully
PRESS BOX
Red Sox
Red Sox first base coach Ron Johnson and his son reunite.
There is an outpouring of hometown support for Ryan Westmoreland.
Mike Lowell is garnering attention from other clubs.
Mets
A look at the arm of right fielder Jeff Francoeur.
K-Rod will stick with the specs.
How should the Mets handle their top pitching prospect?
OUTLOOK
Lackey has been dominant early on and may get to open it up for an extra inning in this one. He yielded just three hits in three scoreless innings in the win over the Mets last week.
Pelfrey, on the other hand, was reached for three runs in his three innings against the Sox. He’s looking to rebound from an off year which saw him go 10-12 with a 5.03 ERA.
The Sox have been held scoreless in 21 straight innings so Pelfrey catches them at a good time. The righty has given up seven runs — six earned — in six spring innings.
