Boston improved to 11-4 against National League teams this year with a come-from-behind 13-11 victory in Colorado on Thursday. Dustin Pedroia set career highs with three home runs and five RBIs, including a two-run blast in the 10th that proved to be the game-winner.
The Sox have not visited San Francisco since 2004, when the Giants took two of three.
Tim Wakefield starts opposite Jonathan Sanchez in a contrast of styles, a crafty right-handed knuckleballer against a hard-throwing lefty.
Boston hopes to have Kevin Youkilis back in the starting lineup. He has been bothered by a sore elbow suffered when he was hit by a pitch during the team's recent homestand, but was able to come off the bench Thursday.
Red Sox (44-30) at Giants (39-32)
Friday, June 25, 10:15 p.m.
AT&T Park, San Francisco
The Sox have won four of the six meetings.
RHP Tim Wakefield (2-5, 5.33 ERA) vs. LHP Jonathan Sanchez (5-5, 2.90 ERA)
Wakefield will be taking his third stab at career win No. 192. He pitched well enough to get it in his previous start, allowing just three earned runs in 6 1/3 innings, but got a no-decision against Los Angeles six days ago.
The 43-year-old has a 3.43 ERA over his last three starts and is 2-0 with a 0.59 ERA in his last two away from home.
Wakefield is 2-3 with a 6.03 ERA in six career starts against the Giants.
So much was made before the Sox' six-game road trip of the challenges they would face against Colorado's Ubaldo Jimenez and San Francisco's Tim Lincecum.
However, Sanchez is no slouch. His 2.90 ERA is second on the club and his opponents' batting average of .205 is fifth in the National League.
One thing opponents can always hope for is for Sanchez to be wild. He was in his previous outing, walking five in just 2 2/3 innings at Toronto.
Sanchez is 4-2 with a 2.32 ERA at home.
Red Sox | Rockies |
---|---|
Marco Scutaro, SS Daniel Nava, LF Dustin Pedroia, 2B Kevin Youkilis, 1B Victor Martinez, C Adrian Beltre, 3B Bill Hall, RF Darnell McDonald, CF Tim Wakefield, P |
Andres Torres, RF Freddy Sanchez, 2B Aubrey Huff, LF Juan Uribe, SS Pablo Sandoval, 3B Buster Posey, 1B Aaron Rowand, CF Eli Whiteside, C Jonathan Sanchez, P |
Red Sox
Giants
Red Sox
Giants
Although it may sound elementary, the Sox could use a long outing from Wakefield in this one. They needed to use six relievers Thursday, including closer Jonathan Papelbon for two innings and 32 pitches.
Papelbon will likely not be available, so Daniel Bard will be the likely candidate for any save opportunities.