Daisuke Matsuzaka Returns For Red Sox’ Series Finale With Rockies

As amazing as the Red Sox’ recent homestand was, the start of their six-game road trip has been just as painful.

They will look to salvage the finale of a series with the Colorado Rockies when Daisuke Matsuzaka returns to the mound Thursday night.

A 2-1 loss in the opener, which featured a late Colorado run that came in on a bad-hop grounder, was followed up by a blown save by Jonathan Papelbon in an 8-6 loss on Wednesday.

Papelbon entered with a 6-5 lead but served up a tying solo shot to Ian Stewart on his second pitch. After a single and a bunt, Jason Giambi sent a Papelbon splitter deep into the night.

Matsuzaka will be pitching for the first time since June 7. He missed two starts after suffering a right forearm strain. Jason Hammel goes for the Rockies, looking to extend a long scoreless streak.

WHEN AND WHERE

HEAD TO HEAD

PITCHING MATCHUP

Matsuzaka allowed just four hits in eight scoreless innings against the Cleveland Indians back on June 7, five days before he went on the DL.

Overall, the 29-year-old righty has won five of his last six decisions and has a 1.98 ERA over his last four starts. Matsuzaka has never faced Colorado.

Hammel has quietly been one of the best pitchers in the National League of late. He carries a scoreless streak of 25 1/3 innings into Thursday’s start and he is 4-0 with a 0.78 ERA in his last five starts.

The one-time Tampa Bay Ray is 0-2 with a 5.50 ERA in eight games (two starts) against Boston.

LINEUPS

STAT SHEET

• Outfielder Daniel Nava has seven doubles and 10 RBIs in 10 games since being called up.
• Closer Jonathan Papelbon has set a career high with six home runs allowed and has matched a career high with four losses.
• Third baseman Adrian Beltre had an 11-game hitting streak snapped Wednesday.

Rockies

• Jason Giambi‘s home run Wednesday was the 412th of his career, moving him within two of tying Darrell Evans for 43rd on the all-time list.
• First baseman Todd Helton is 4-for-8 in the series. He was 2-for-18 in his previous four games.
• Righty Huston Street threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings in his 2010 debut on Wednesday.

BLACK AND BLUE

• Outfielder Jeremy Hermida was placed on the DL on June 11 after an MRI revealed five fractured ribs, the result of a collision with third baseman Adrian Beltre one week earlier. He is expected to begin outfield drills soon but has not started to swing yet.
• An MRI conducted June 9 revealed a new fracture in outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury’s ribs. Ellsbury, who was placed on the DL May 28 for the second time this year, went to the Athletes’ Performance center in Arizona last week for at least two weeks of rest and recovery. He will be re-evaluated this weekend.
• Josh Beckett will throw 55 pitches in his second bullpen session Wednesday and then a simulated game Saturday as he works his way back from a lower back strain.
  
• Infielder Jed Lowrie remains on the DL after coming down with mononucleosis during spring training. He is playing in extended spring training games.
• Righty Junichi Tazawa underwent Tommy John surgery in March. He is out for the year.

Rockies

• Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was placed on the DL on June 18 with a broken wrist. He is expected to be out until late July.
• Lefty Jorge De La Rosa is scheduled to make a rehab start for Triple-A Colorado Springs on Wednesday. He hopes to return in early July from a left middle finger injury.
• Right-hander Taylor Buchholz is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment this week. He had Tommy John surgery a year ago.

OUTLOOK

The club insisted that the injury was never a major concern. If Matsuzaka struggles in his return, the Red Sox will be in danger of suffering its first sweep since April 30-May 2 in Baltimore.