The Sox could use a little home cooking after a 2-3 road trip that ended with Tuesday night's grinding win in New York. The comeback 7-6 win got Boston back to .500
The club may have the right guy on the mound. It has won 13 of the last 17 starts made by Clay Buchholz, including a victory to start the road trip.
The Twins, who took two of three from the Sox at home back in April, are 2-3 thus far on a seven-game road trip against AL East teams.
Twins (24-15) vs. Red Sox (20-20)
Wednesday, May 19, 7 p.m.
Fenway Park, Boston
Boston is 5-0 at home against Minnesota over the last two seasons.
RHP Scott Baker (4-3, 4.93 ERA) vs. RHP Clay Buchholz (4-3, 3.46 ERA)
Although he has had some control issues of late, Buchholz has been the team's most consistent starter. In fact, he is the only one of six who have made starts for the Sox this year to have not allowed more than five earned runs in a game.
The command issues have been a bit of a concern of late, however. Buchholz has walked 13 batters while striking out just six in the month of May. He is walking more than one every two innings in 2010.
In his only career start against Minnesota, Buchholz gave up seven runs on eight hits and five walks in 4 1/3 innings.
Unlike Buchholz, Baker's control has been impeccable of late. He has 23 strikeouts and just three walks in 21 innings over his last three starts, winning two of them. Baker is 0-1 with a 4.30 ERA in three games — two starts — against Boston.
Twins | Red Sox |
---|---|
J.D. Drew, RF Dustin Pedroia, 2B Victor Martinez, DH Kevin Youkilis, 1B David Ortiz, DH Adrian Beltre, 3B Jeremy Hermida, LF Bill Hall, SS Darnell McDonald, CF |
Denard Span, CF Orlando Hudson, 2B Joe Mauer, C Justin Morneau, 1B Michael Cuddyer, RF Jim Thome, DH Jason Kubel, DH Brendan Harris, SS Nick Punto, 3B |
Red Sox
Twins
Red Sox
Twins
These are the only two home games for the Red Sox in a span of 13, all against quality opponents, so making the most of them is imperative.