Red Sox, John Lackey Hoping to Continue Dominance of Mariners
Boston enters on a bit of a high after back-to-back wins against Toronto over the weekend, but the club remains unable to make up ground in the wild card and American League East races. The Sox enter Monday 5 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay and 6 1/2 back of New York.
The Mariners dropped two of three to the Yankees over the weekend. They were able to split four games with Boston at home last month.
John Lackey opposes Doug Fister in the opener.
WHEN AND WHERE
Mariners (49-75) at Red Sox (71-54)
Monday, Aug. 23, 7:10 p.m.
Fenway Park, Boston
HEAD TO HEAD
The Sox are 18-8 against the Mariners at Fenway Park since 2002.
PITCHING MATCHUP
RHP Doug Fister (4-8, 3.92 ERA) vs. RHP John Lackey (11-7, 4.62 ERA)
In an otherwise up-and-down year Lackey had perhaps his best outing in Seattle on July 22. He took a no-hitter two outs into the eighth inning and left after that inning with a 6-1 lead.
The bullpen blew it up and the Red Sox needed 13 innings to eke out an 8-6 win, but Lackey's effort was impressive. He did not get a decision but lowered his career ERA vs. Seattle to 3.70 in 26 starts.
Lackey got the win five days ago against the Angels despite giving up five runs on 10 hits in seven innings. He did not walk a batter for just the second time this year.
Fister threw at least seven innings in eight of his first 10 starts but has failed to do so in his last 10. Included in that stretch was a no-decision in a 4-2 win over Boston in the series finale in July.
The lefty is 1-4 with a 5.44 ERA on the road, allowing opponents to hit .322 against him away from Safeco Field.
LINEUPS
| Mariners | Red Sox |
|---|---|
| Ichiro Suzuki, RF Chone Figgins, 2B Russel Branyan, DH Franklin Gutierrez, CF Casey Kotchman, 1B Adam Moore, C Ryan Langerhans, LF Matt Tuiasosopo, 3B Chris Woodward, SS |
Marco Scutaro, SS J.D. Drew, RF Victor Martinez, C David Ortiz, DH Adrian Beltre, 3B Mike Lowell, 1B Jed Lowrie, 2B Daniel Nava, LF Ryan Kalish, CF |
STAT SHEET
Red Sox
- Bill Hall has four home runs and eight RBIs in his last nine games.
- David Ortiz is one of two American League players with at least one triple in each of the last 11 seasons.
- Clay Buchholz has not allowed an earned run in 23 1/3 innings.
Mariners
- Seattle has won five of its last six series openers.
- Second baseman Chone Figgins over the weekend became the only major leaguer with at least 30 steals in seven straight seasons.
- Entering Sunday, the Mariners' starting pitching had a 3.02 ERA against American League East opponents.
BLACK AND BLUE
Red Sox
- Second baseman Dustin Pedroia was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday with soreness in his left foot. He played just two games after coming off the DL on Tuesday, having already missed nearly two months since first breaking the foot on June 25.
- Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury has another broken rib near where he was hurt earlier in the year, the result of a collision at first base Friday in Texas. He is out four to six weeks at minimum and will likely miss the remainder of the season.
- Center fielder Mike Cameron will have season-ending surgery to repair an abdominal tear.
- First baseman Kevin Youkilis had successful surgery to repair the torn right adductor muscle on his right hand. He will miss the remainder of the season.
- Catcher Jason Varitek (broken right foot) received good news on Friday, as he will be able to continue his recovery program without fear of further injury. He won't play for at least a week, but he's not expected to suffer setbacks similar to those of Pedroia.
- Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia is on the DL with an infection in his lower right leg. He will remain at Mass General Hospital until Monday, receiving IV fluids and antibiotics.
- Catcher Kevin Cash is on the DL with a left hamstring strain. He caught for Pawtucket on Friday and will play a rehab game at Lowell on Sunday.
- Left-hander Hideki Okajima is on the DL with a right hamstring strain. He threw a scoreless inning for Pawtucket on Saturday and will throw one more time with the PawSox on Monday before returning to Boston for a reevaluation.
- Right-hander Junichi Tazawa underwent Tommy John surgery in March. He is out for the year.
Mariners
- Outfielder Michael Saunders has been bothered by a sore shoulder.
- Outfielder Milton Bradley is on the DL with right knee tendinitis.
- Shortstop Jack Wilson is out for the year following surgery to repair a broken bone in his right hand.
- Left-hander Ryan Rowland-Smith is on the DL with a lower back strain.
OUTLOOK
When you're playing last-place teams at home in the thick of a playoff race, you have to find a way to win. Simple as that.
