Game Preview: Jays @ Sox GM4

Litsch (1-3, 4.74) vs. Beckett (12-2, 3.44)
Fenway Park 2:05

The Sox and Jays play the finale of their four game set this afternoon, and with a chance to clinch the hard-fought series with a victory, who better to have on the mound for Boston than its All Star ace, Josh Beckett?

Beckett is not only coming off a scintillating first half in which he won 12 games (against 2 losses) and made his first AS team, but he shook off being snubbed by Jim Leyland to start the game (damn you, Leyland!), and came in to pitch two scoreless innings and wound up getting the win for the AL in the 78th Midsummer Classic.

So even though technically he's going for his ML-leading 13th victory today, unofficially he's already won 13 games this season; ironically it's the one game that doesn't count towards the stats that might end up being the biggest one of all, should the Sox make it to the...

...shit, almost did it again.

Beckett will be opposed by Toronto rookie Jesse Litsch. The 22-year old kid from here in the TB area (Pinellas Park, to be exact) will be making his sixth start of the season, but just his second since being brought back from the minors on July 3rd.

In his first start since his recall, Litsch gave up just two unearned runs and seven hits in seven innings against Oakland, yet the kid wound up with a hard-luck 3-1 loss. Still, the righty is a quality prospect, and if his big league debut against the Orioles (4H, 1R in 8.2 innings) is any indication, he could be a staple of someone's rotation for years to come.

For now the newbie will have to take his chances against a team full of All Stars, and with the way the Boston batters are swinging the bats right now (33 hits & 21 runs in three games), it's gonna be a tall order for the rook to contain this powerhouse lineup.

But with the way Boston has been unable to defeat some of the lesser starters in the league, combined with its inability to put together a decent winning streak, nothing is out of the question when these two division rivals take the field.

Not even a once skinny kid from P.P. besting the mighty Cy Young candidate and All Star winner.

NOTES: While Curt Schilling is progressing nicely from his shoulder injury, showing no ill effects after a 55-pitch side session Friday, reliever Brendan Donnelly is regressing. Donnelly couldn't take the mound after his start for the Paw Sox was delayed by rain Friday night when a new pain occurred in his forearm, and he is heading to Cali to consult with specialist Dr. Lewis Yocum on Tuesday; not good news...no surprise here, but J.D. Drew will not be in the lineup today as he rests that sore hammy again. Big Hit Hinske will take his place, and the Globe also reports that Alex Cora will start instead of Pedroia and Doug Mirabelli will give Varitek a day off after his action-packed & painful night last night

Go Sox!