Josh Beckett and reigning Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke will toe the slab opposite one another. While the two aces figure to draw plenty of attention at Kauffman Stadium, many might still be buzzing about the opener of the set Friday night.
After honoring Greinke in a ceremony before the game, the Royals fell behind 3-0 against Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. Consecutive home runs in the sixth by Billy Butler and Rick Ankiel trimmed the gap, and a two-run single by Ankiel in the eighth propelled Kansas City to a dramatic 4-3 win.
The wild affair saw Boston designated hitter David Ortiz get tossed and the Sox’ bullpen blow a lead for the third straight game.
Boston is now 7-10 in Kansas City since 2005.
WHEN AND WHERE
Saturday, April 10, 7 p.m. (NESN)
Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Royals’ win Friday came in the first of seven games between the teams this season. Boston is now 91-117 all-time in Kansas City.
PITCHING MATCHUP
RHP Josh Beckett (0-0, 9.64 ERA) vs. RHP Zack Greinke (0-0, 1.50 ERA)
One of Beckett’s two shutouts last season came against the Royals at Fenway Park. His one appearance in Kauffman Stadium resulted in him giving up a season-high 12 hits.
Overall, however, Beckett is 5-0 with a 2.03 ERA in seven career starts against Kansas City. He has walked just nine Royals and has yet to give up a home run in 48 2/3 innings.
Greinke yielded just two hits in six scoreless innings in his lone start vs. Boston last year, a 5-1 win at home.
LINEUPS
| Red Sox | Royals |
|---|---|
|
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF Dustin Pedroia, 2B Victor Martinez, DH Kevin Youkilis, 1B J.D. Drew, RF Mike Lowell, 3B Jeremy Hermida, RF Jason Varitek, C Marco Scutaro, SS |
David DeJesus, RF Scott Podsednik, LF Alberto Callaspo, 3B Billy Butler, 1B Rick Ankiel CF Jose Guillen, DH Jason Kendall, C Yuniesky Betancourt, SS Chris Getz, 2B |
STAT SHEET
Red Sox
- The Boston bullpen has allowed seven runs in its last nine innings.
- At 43 years, 250 days, Tim Wakefield became the oldest Red Sox pitcher to ever make a start when he got the ball Friday night.
- David Ortiz has struck out five times in 14 at bats. When he was ejected in the sixth inning Friday, Jeremy Hermida took his place, the first substitution of any kind made by manager Terry Francona this year.
Royals
- Ankiel’s 4-for-4 effort was the first of his career.
- Five Kansas City relievers combined to throw three scoreless innings Friday.
- Entering the series opener, Royals starters had a collective ERA of 0.92. The bullpen ERA was 13.50.
BLACK AND BLUE
Red Sox
- Daisuke Matsuzaka will start Saturday in Pawtucket, the first of what is expected to be three minor league outings.
- Boof Bonser, on the disabled list with a groin injury, gave up three runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings in a start at Pawtucket on Thursday. He threw 76 pitches, 43 for strikes.
- Jed Lowrie remains on the disabled list with mono. Francona said Wednesday that Lowrie has yet to make any real progress toward a return.
Royals
- Third baseman Josh Fields is eligible to come off the disabled list Monday. He is out with a sore hip.
- Starter Gil Meche is scheduled to start the series finale Sunday against Clay Buchholz. He had a minor league rehab start earlier in the week as he works through right shoulder stiffness.
- Third baseman Alex Gordon begins a rehab assignment this week. He is on the disabled list with a fractured right thumb.
OUTLOOK
Although there have been two off-days mixed in, Boston has not won a game in five days overall. It may have to get to the best starter in the league to end that slide or else we could be looking at the first four-game losing streak of the year.
Expect to finally see a few of the reserves get some action, meaning the Sox will not have their optimal lineup in against Greinke. It looks like a great time for Beckett to continue his mastery of the light-hitting Royals.
