Red Sox Trying to Avoid Being Swept at Hands of White Sox in Finale

Following one of the more miserable days of baseball that Fenway Park has seen in some time, the Red Sox will attempt to salvage the finale of a three-game set with the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

Boston lost both ends of a crucial day-night doubleheader Saturday. It combined to score two runs on 13 hits, just two of which went for extra bases. The lifeless day dropped the Sox 7 1/2 games behind the wild card-leading Tampa Bay Rays with only 26 games to play.

The Rays enter Boston on Monday for the last three games between the two teams.

Josh Beckett opposes Mark Buehrle in the finale.

WHEN AND WHERE

White Sox (75-60) at Red Sox (76-60)
Sunday, Sept. 5, 1:35 p.m. NESN
Fenway Park, Boston

HEAD TO HEAD

The White Sox have won more than two games in a season at Fenway Park for the first time since 2004.

PITCHING MATCHUP

LHP Mark Buehrle (12-10, 3.95 ERA) vs. RHP Josh Beckett (4-4, 6.21 ERA)

Although his season as a whole has been a disappointing one, Beckett has improved in each of his last four starts. He was a hard-luck loser Tuesday in Baltimore after giving up two earned runs in seven innings.

Beckett is 3-3 with a 5.22 ERA in eight starts since coming off the disabled list in July. He is 4-1 with a 3.72 mark in his career vs. Chicago.

Buehrle remains one of the most consistent performers on the mound in all of baseball. He has at least 12 wins in nine of his last 10 seasons and is aiming to finish the season with an ERA below 4.00 for the fourth straight time.

The 31-year-old lefty is 6-5 with a 4.43 ERA vs. Boston.

LINEUPS

STAT SHEET

Red Sox

• Boston scored two runs in a doubleheader Saturday, the first time it has been limited to that few in a twinbill since July 16, 1976, at Kansas City.
• Daniel Bard started the eighth inning of the night game Saturday trailing 3-1. It is the first time he opened an inning with the Red Sox down at least two runs since July 22, 2009.
• Infielder Jed Lowrie entered Saturday's nightcap leading the Red Sox in on-base percentage since his season debut July 21 with a .387 mark.

White Sox

• Saturday's doubleheader sweep was Chicago's first at Fenway Park since July 27, 1991.
• Left fielder Manny Ramirez is 8-for-20 (.400) with a home run in five games against the Red Sox this season.
• The White Sox have reached double digits in hits in 14 of their last 20 games.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox

• Second baseman Dustin Pedroia had season-ending surgery Friday on his broken left foot. He is expected to be fully healed for spring training.
• Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury has another broken rib near where he was hurt earlier in the year, the result of a collision at first base in Texas on Aug. 13. He will likely miss the remainder of the season.
• Center fielder Mike Cameron had season-ending surgery Friday 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) will begin a rehab assignment Sunday at Pawtucket. The plan is for Varitek to catch four or five innings and then serve as the designated hitter the next night before being activated.
• Right-hander Junichi Tazawa underwent Tommy John surgery in March. He is out for the year.

White Sox

• Right-hander J.J. Putz is on the DL with right knee tendinitis.
• Left-hander Erick Threets had Tommy John surgery Aug. 28.
• Right-hander Jake Peavy had season-ending surgery July 14 to repair a detached muscle in his back.

OUTLOOK

Josh Beckett said after his last start that if it came down to it he would relish the role of spoiler. A loss Sunday would just about relegate the Red Sox to that role.