Red Sox, Rays Resume Battle With Each Other, Mother Nature

by NESN Staff | Apr 17, 2010 | 5 Min Read

Following the completion of a suspended game from Friday night, the Red Sox and Rays will attempt to dodge the rain drops again as they eventually meet in the second game of a four-game series.

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

Rays (6-3) vs. Red Sox (4-5)
Saturday, April 17, 7 p.m. (NESN)
Fenway Park, Boston, Mass.

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.

What do you think?  Leave a comment.

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

Rays

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox
  • 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.

About the Author

NESN Staff

More From NESN

Trending on NESN

In This Article

More from this article