Game Preview: Royals at Sox GM4

Bannister (4-5, 4.29) vs. Matsuzaka (7-0, 2.15)
Game 4 of 4 1:35 @ Fenway Park

How can a team top a no hitter, a terrific performance by a Double A pitcher for his first major league victory, and a reclamation project earning his first win in nearly a year?

By having its top pitcher earn his American League-leading 8th win by lowering his ERA to and American League-leading sub-2.00, and extending the team's winning streak to a season high 7 games before the club heads out on another grueling 10-game West Coast/Baltimore road trip.

That's how.

Daisuke Matsuzaka will be in the position to do all of the above when he takes the mound this afternoon in a getaway day matinee at Fenway against the Royals, vying to become the AL's first 8 game winner against the team his made his major league debut against last April.

If he were to defeat the Royals again, as his did in that game, he would give Boston its longest winning streak since the summer of 2006, move the team to a season high 12 games over .500, and provide another 1/2 game cushion to their AL East lead, as the 2nd place Rays have the day off today.

Other than that there's not much to play for this afternoon.

If the Sox are going to do all of the above they will have to beat the Royals' resident day tripper, Brain Bannister.

In what has to be the oddest day/night disparity since the age of Count Dracula, the 27-year-old righty has been unbeatable in day games (4-0, 0.62) but he can't buy a victory at night (0-5, 8.13)

Hopefully the blazing Boston offense will be able to put an end to his daylight dominance, and you have to think for a club that has only scored fewer than 3 runs twice in the last three weeks that shouldn't be a problem.

It's day baseball time at Fenway, so it's time to flip on NESN HD, crank up the surround sound, grab a few keg cans and watch another spectacular performance by a Boston starting pitcher.

Fingers crossed, of course.