Game Preview: Sox @ Detroit GM3

Matsuzaka (10-5, 3.53) vs. Robertson (4-6, 4.86)
Comerica Park 1:05P

The Sox and Tigers will battle it out again one more time before heading into the much-deserved All Star break following the game, and Boston needs to pull out a win to prevent a demoralizing sweep.

Well, I should say some players will get a much-needed break, except for the 11 All Stars on both teams who will take a cross-country flight to San Fran to engage in the Midsummer Classic festivities.

In the light of day last night's heartbreaking loss doesn't feel any better, and it has nothing to do with the fact that I was coming off an afternoon of Heinekens at the beach and an evening of Grey Goose martinis at dinner afterwards.

Okay, maybe it has a little bit to do with that.

But hey, like I said before, when your son is away the married mice must play.

Reading through the articles about the game (which I mostly missed, save for the horrible extra frames) I cannot believe how many chances Boston had, once again, to put more runs on the board early and/or wrap this thing up in the latter innings.

Time after time the Sox had men on base, and time after time they would come up with some way not to drive them in. Boston was 0-11 with runners in scoring position on the night, an unfathomable stat for a team loaded with professional hitters like Boston.

Manny was a particularly inept participant in these failures, recording multiple instances where he failed to produce a potential run: he flied out after Ortiz doubled in the 6th, grounded into a fielder's choice with two on in the 8th, and most egregiously, he grounded into a double play with men on first and third and one out in the 10th.

Ouch.

There were a few positives to take away from the game though, and what else can you do after a nut-buster like that than take some kind of plus away from the performance?

Kason Gabbard threw six solid innings and continues to improve; David Ortiz busted out of a lengthy power drought with his first homer since June 20th, and also had a double and was walked four times, three intentionally; and the Sox smacked 10 hits and got multi-hit games from Coco, Pedroia, Papi and Tek.

Oh yeah and the bully did a terrific job as well. That is until Papelbon came in and blew the game.

Anyway, with a record of 53-33 and an 11-game lead on the competition today's can't be called a must-win game, but let's just say that closing the first half with a three straight losses to one of the better teams in the AL is not the way Boston wants to head into the break.

Luckily they have their hottest starter throwing the final game. Daisuke Matsuzaka has been nearly unhittable in the last month, making it even more of a mystery why he wasn't added to the All Star game along with fellow countryman Hideki Okajima.

Over his last four starts Dice is 3-0 and has allowed only 15 hits and two runs in 29 innings of work, equating to a mind-boggling 0.62 ERA. Oh yeah, he's also struck out 34 batters in that time, and he has fanned at least 8 batters in six straight starts.

I'd say he's starting to earn some of that $50 million, along with all the preseason accolades and massive media hype.

Matsuzaka will be opposed on the mound by hard-throwing lefty Nate Robertson, who is having a tough season after spending some time on the DL in early June and has yet to fulfill the high expectations Detroit has had for him the last four seasons. His career mark is an underwhelming 37-48.

All of RSN will be rooting for Dice to stop the bleeding and send the Sox into the break on a high note.

Who knows, maybe an AL hurler will suddenly drop out of the game and then he can join his teammates at AT&T Park on Tuesday.

But we'll settle for a win.

GO Sox!