The Boston Red Sox earned a thrilling victory over the Texas Rangers on Friday, and they’ll be looking to make winning a trend this weekend.
The Red Sox have a chance to win three games in a row Saturday for the first time in June after their offense came roaring back in the ninth inning for an 8-7 comeback win in the series opener. And Boston will have its best starting pitcher on the mound in Steven Wright.
Wright boasts the American League’s best ERA at 2.01 and has easily been Boston’s most consistent starter this season. He has already pitched three complete games, which is something that puts him in the same sentence as Johnny Cueto, Clayton Kershaw, Corey Kluber and Chris Sale. Plus, Wright might have an advantage Saturday, as fellow knuckleballer R.A. Dickey already pitched eight shutout innings with just three hits allowed against Texas on May 13.
Otherwise, the Red Sox will be trotting out the same lineup that came up big Friday, with Travis Shaw and Bryce Brentz switching places into the Nos. 7 and 8 spots, respectively.
RED SOX (41-32)
Mookie Betts, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
David Ortiz, DH
Hanley Ramirez, 1B
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Travis Shaw, 3B
Bryce Brentz, LF
Christian Vazquez, C
Steven Wright, RHP (8-4, 2.01 ERA)
RANGERS (47-27)
Shin-Soo Choo, RF
Ian Desmond, CF
Nomar Mazara, LF
Adrian Beltre, 3B
Prince Fielder, DH
Rougned Odor, 2B
Elvis Andrus, SS
Mitch Moreland, 1B
Robinson Chirinos, C
A.J. Griffin, RHP (3-0, 2.94)
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
