Red Sox to Face Rockies Ace Ubaldo Jimenez For First Time Since 2007 World Series

The Red Sox’ offense may have picked a bad time to start sputtering.

With just three runs scored in their last 17 innings and some challenging pitchers on the horizon, the Sox will face perhaps the most challenging of them all when they take on Ubaldo Jimenez and the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday.

Jimenez, who gave up two runs in 4 2/3 innings in Game 2 of the 2007 World Series at Fenway Park, has dominated opponents this year. He leads the majors in wins with 13 and ERA with a 1.15 mark.

John Lackey gets the ball for Boston, which had won six straight before dropping the opener 2-1.

WHEN AND
WHERE

Red
Sox (43-29) at Rockies
(37-33)
Wednesday, June 23, 8:40 p.m.
Coors Field, Denver

HEAD TO HEAD

Colorado owns a 6-4 series advantage.

PITCHING MATCHUP

RHP John Lackey (8-3, 4.53 ERA) vs. RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (13-1, 1.15 ERA)

There have been parties formed after several of Lackey’s recent starts. One gives him credit for finding a way to win. The other takes a look at some numbers not on par with his career norms and wonders when it will all come together.

On Wednesday, both camps will be looking at the other guy on the mound, Jimenez.

The 26-year-old has won eight straight starts, including a dominant effort against the high-powered Minnesota Twins his last time out. Jimenez gave up just a run in eight innings to win in Target Field.

He has been a tad more hittable at home, although he still remains dominant in Coors Field. In five starts in Denver, he is 5-0 with a 1.85 ERA.

Lackey is 4-0 over his last five starts but has not had a remotely dominating start since his debut with the team back on April 7. He gave up four runs — three earned — in six innings of an 8-5 victory over Arizona six days ago.

The right-hander won his only career start against Colorado and is 14-5 in interleague play.

LINEUPS

STAT SHEET

Red Sox

• Third baseman Adrian Beltre is hitting (.395) 17-for-43 during an 11-game hitting streak.
• A loss Wednesday or Thursday would snap the Red Sox’ streak of nine straight winning series in interleague play.
• Jon Lester had won eight straight decisions before Tuesday night’s loss, his first in 12 starts overall.

Rockies

• Catcher Miguel Olivo has thrown out 19-of-35 (54 percent) would-be base stealers this year.
• Lefty reliever Joe Beimel has allowed two runs in 23 2/3 innings this year.
• Matt Belisle on Tuesday picked up his first save since 2005.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox

• Daisuke Matsuzaka threw a 49-pitch simulated game
  Saturday and will be activated Thursday to start in Colorado. He is on
  the 15-day disabled list with a right forearm strain.
• 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

• Projected closer Huston Street, who has not pitched this year, was activated Tuesday from the disabled list.
• Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was placed on the DL on June 18
  with a sore left 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

It may be tempting to say that Jimenez has not faced a lineup like the Red Sox, but he did dominate the Twins in his previous start and without the use of the designated hitter, Boston is forced to always sit one of its big guns.

The Sox are simply a different offensive team away from home and will need someone to solve Jimenez in order to avoid potentially falling into a team-wide slump.