Clay Buchholz Shoots for Ninth Win As Red Sox Welcome Diamondbacks to Fenway Park
Boston enters having split its last eight games, the latest a 5-3 loss to Philadelphia on Sunday. The club has won or tied its last nine series and is four games back in the American League East.
Clay Buchholz, who had a personal five-game winning streak snapped six days ago in Cleveland, gets the call for the Sox. Former New York Yankee Ian Kennedy goes for Arizona, which is mired in last place in the National League West.
Tuesday's contest marks the third time that brothers J.D. and Stephen Drew, the starting shortstop for Arizona, play against one another.
WHEN AND WHERE
Diamondbacks (26-38) at Red Sox (37-28)
Tuesday, June 15, 7:10 p.m.
Fenway Park, Boston
HEAD
TO HEAD
The Diamondbacks own a 5-4 series advantage, including four wins in six games at Fenway Park.
PITCHING
MATCHUP
RHP Ian Kennedy (3-3, 3.17 ERA) vs. RHP Clay Buchholz (8-4, 2.52 ERA)
Buchholz's loss last Wednesday in Cleveland was an odd one. He was wild early and ended up walking four against just one strikeout and allowing one of three runs to score on a wild pitch.
However, the 25-year-old righty yielded just three hits and became stronger as the game dragged on. Overall he is 5-1 with a 1.45 ERA in his last six outings.
Buchholz has never pitched in an interleague game.
Kennedy, also 25, struggled to get going with the Yankees before they shipped him to Arizona as part of a three-team deal that also involved Detroit. Life in the desert has been a bit better.
The right-hander has quietly been the Diamondbacks best starter and is coming off his third scoreless outing of the year. He did not get the decision but surrendered only three hits in seven innings of a 2-1 win over Atlanta last Wednesday.
LINEUPS
| Diamondbacks | Red Sox |
|---|---|
| Kelly Johnson, 2B Stephen Drew, SS Mark Reynolds, 3B Adam LaRoche, 1B Miguel Montero, C Chris Young, CF Justin Upton, RF Tony Abreu, DH Gerardo Parra, LF |
Daniel Nava, LFS Dustin Pedroia, 2B David Oriz, DH Kevin Youkilis, 1B Victor Martinez, C J.D. Drew, RF Adrian Beltre, 3B Bill Hall, SS Mike Cameron, CF |
STAT SHEET
Red Sox
- Outfielder Daniel Nava is the first Red Sox player since 1952 to have at least one RBI and two hits, including a double, in each of his first two major league games. He is 4-for-8 with five RBIs.
- Designated hitter David Ortiz has a double in three straight games, with four overall in that stretch.
- Third baseman Adrian Beltre's home run Sunday was his first on an 0-2 count since Sept. 1, 2008.
- Closer Chad Qualls, whose job may be in jeopardy, has three losses and an 8.46 ERA to go along with his 12 saves.
- Center fielder Chris Young hit his third walk-off home run Sunday in a win over St. Louis.
- Right-hander Dan Haren, who will pitch in Thursday's series finale, is batting .425 (17-for-40) this season.
- Daisuke Matsuzaka was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a right forearm strain.
- Outfielder Jeremy Hermida was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday after an MRI revealed five fractured ribs, the result of a collision with third baseman Adrian Beltre one week earlier.
- First baseman Kevin Youkilis left Saturday's game after a hit-by-pitch. He has no structural damage and is day-to-day.
- Josh Beckett resumed throwing Saturday. He will slowly work his way out to long tosses from 120 feet. Beckett is on the DL with a lower back strain.
- Infielder Jed Lowrie continues to try to work back from mononucleosis.
- Former Cy Young Award winner Brandon Webb remains on the 60-day DL after right shoulder surgery last summer. He threw off a mound earlier in the week and plans to do so again Wednesday.
- Right-hander Kris Benson is on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Reno as he works his way back from a right shoulder strain.
- Infielder Tony Abreu expects to return soon from a sprained left wrist.
STAT SHEET
Red
Sox
Diamondbacks
BLACK AND BLUE
Red
Sox
Diamondbacks
OUTLOOK
The Diamondbacks can slug with the best of them, at least in the National League. But they whiff at an incredibly high rate, making Buchholz's ability to be effective in the zone that much more critical.
If he can throw strikes down, the Sox will be in good shape. They may also want to wait out Kennedy as much as they can — Arizona's bullpen is an absolute mess, sporting a 7.33 ERA, far and away the worst mark in the majors.
