The originally scheduled Saturday night contest will begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of the suspended game, which will resume with no outs in the bottom of the ninth and the score tied 1-1.
With the two games to be completed Saturday and an early Patriots' Day game Monday morning, there is a good chance the two teams will complete four games in the span of 40-plus hours.
Much of that will depend upon the weather Saturday.
WHEN AND WHERE
HEAD TO HEAD
When the clubs resume play, the Sox will be looking to build on a 74-28 record against the Rays at Fenway Park.
PITCHING MATCHUP
RHP James Shields (0-0, 3.97 ERA) vs. RHP Clay Buchholz (1-0, 3.60 ERA)
There is a slight sense that it is make-or-break time for Buchholz. His inconsistent spring was followed up with a less-than-stellar debut Sunday in Kansas City, and Daisuke Matsuzaka has tossed 11 scoreless innings in two rehab starts.
A quality start will help Buchholz remain a factor in the rotation. If he struggles he might open the door for Matsuzaka to claim a spot after next weekend.
Buchholz gave up three runs — two earned — on seven hits and two walks in five innings against the Royals. He did get the win, but struggled to do so, allowing the leadoff man to reach in all five frames.
Shields has yet to get a decision in two starts. He has given up five runs in 11 1/3 innings. The 28-year-old is 3-7 with a 5.32 ERA against the Sox.
LINEUPS
| Rays | Red Sox |
|---|---|
| SS Jason Bartlett LF Carl Crawford RF Ben Zobrist 3B Evan Longoria 1B Carlos Pena CF B.J. Upton DH Pat Burrell C Jon Jaso 2B Sean Rodriguez |
SS Marco Scutaro 2B Dustin Pedroia C Victor Martinez 1B Kevin Youkilis DH David Ortiz 3B Mike Lowell RF J.D. Drew CF Mike Cameron LF Jeremy Hermida |
STAT SHEET
Red Sox
- Bill Hall is 0-for-8 with two errors in a Red Sox uniform.
- Kevin Youkilis has reached base safely in 20 straight games dating to Sept. 23, 2009.
- Boston has won 10 of the last 11 starts by Clay Buchholz.
Rays
- Tampa Bay was 4-for-4 on stolen base attempts Friday. It is now 35-of-39 against Boston since the start of the 2009 season.
- Center fielder B.J. Upton is 2-for-4 with a double against Buchholz.
- Evan Longoria's 74 RBIs against American League East opponents since 2009 is 17 more than any other player. Red Sox catcher Victor Martinez is second in that span with 57.
BLACK AND BLUE
- Jacoby Ellsbury is likely still a few days away from returning from a bruised rib. For now, the Sox are hoping he is able to return soon and do not want to put him on the disabled list.
- Mike Cameron passed his kidney stone and was seen doing some light jogging in the Fenway Park outfield Friday afternoon. Manager Terry Francona said there is a chance Cameron could play as early as Saturday.
- Daisuke Matsuzaka will throw a third rehab start Wednesday at Lehigh Valley. Whether he returns to the rotation five days after that remains to be seen.
- Boof Bonser, who gave up nine runs in just two innings in his second rehab start Tuesday for Pawtucket, was examined by the team before Friday's game.
Rays
- Catcher Kelly Shoppach is on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 11 with a sprained right knee.
- Outfielder Matt Joyce is on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Durham. He is on the DL with a right elbow strain.
- Lefty reliever J.P. Howell played catch over the weekend as he rehabs a left shoulder injury. He is targeting a return in May.
OUTLOOK
With more rain in the forecast Saturday night, the clubs would love to at least finish the suspended game. David Ortiz is due up for the Sox to start the bottom of the ninth, followed by Adrian Beltre and Jeremy Hermida.
When the second game begins, the Red Sox may actually have an extra player available in Cameron. They had only Martinez and Mike Lowell available off the bench Friday night, so Cameron's presence will help in the event of an extra-inning affair and then another game on the heels of that.
