With the kind of pitching rotation the Red Sox have it’s not very hard to miss an excellent pitching matchup.
Even without the likes of Josh Beckett the rest of the rotation has picked up their game and delivered some memorable games. So which one was (or will be) your favorite?
Opening night featured a showcase of aces in Josh Beckett and CC Sabathia. Beckett had trouble early when he allowed back-to-back homers and dug himself an early hole. He ended up throwing 4 2/3 innings, giving up five runs. Sabathia had the advantage until he allowed a big inning himself, allowing the Sox to come back from a 5-1 deficit. Though it was not the pitcher’s duel that was advertised the matchup did lead to one of the more memorable wins of the season with the Sox coming back late to win it.
Then there was the matchup between John Lackey and Ubaldo Jimenez. Jimenez is having a once-in-a-lifetime season, going 13-1 with a minuscule 1.60 ERA even after the Red Sox roughed him up Wednesday. His season is drawing Bob Gibson-like comparisons, but again the Sox found a way to get to him only to lose the game in the ninth.
Finally, the coming matchup between two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum and Jon Lester rounds out the list. Lester is currently 8-3 with a 3.03 ERA and is arguably one of the best left-handers in the American League and will be facing a low-scoring offense. On paper, this one looks like an epic showdown.
