Game Preview: Jays @ Sox GM3

McGowan (5-4, 4.65) vs. Matsuzaka (10-6 3.84)
Fenway Park 7:05

After last night's near four hour marathon loss in which the lead switch hands four times and another Sox player had to leave a game with an injury, Boston could really use an easy victory tonight to ease the pain of losing four of their past five games.

Luckily they will have one of the best candidates to supply an easy win on the mound, Daisuke Matsuzaka, who had been one of the hottest pitchers in the majors until his three-homer meltdown in Motown last Sunday.

Prior to that loss to the Tigers, in which he allowed 10 hits and 6 earned runs in five lousy innings of work, Dice had been on a roll in June, posting a 3-0 record to close the month while letting up only six earned runs in 42 innings (1.28 ERA) over six starts.

His opponent on the hill will be young Dustin McGowan, a strapping (6'2", 220) righthander who has shown flashes of brilliance for Toronto (took a no-hitter into the ninth in a 5-0 win over the Rockies June 24th) and, as per usual with a second year starter, crashes of youth (8 hits & 6 runs allowed in 1.2 innings vs. the Dodgers.)

For Boston several starters are nursing injuries and one, J.D. Drew, will probably be out of tonight's game. Drew left last night's game shortly after he beat out a double and scored in the third inning, and word is he tweaked his hammy that he had injured earlier this year.

Look for the ever-cautious Sox to rest him in favor of Hinske, and keep an eye on the Youk's quad injury and Papi's bad knee; if either of those two combine with Drew to miss significant time, things could go south in a hurry for the Sox.

Much like his last start we need Matsuzaka to come up big tonight and prevent another tough loss from turning into a losing streak. With a record of just 18-20 since May 30th, Boston needs to string some wins together, or it's only a matter of time before you-know-who will be creeping over our shoulders.

Go Sox!