Game Preview: Toronto @ Sox GM3

Burnett (2-2, 6.07) vs. Wakefield (2-0, 4.06)
Gm 3 of 3 705 Fenway Park

The series with the Jays wraps up tonight with the Sox having the ability to return the sweep favor Toronto inflicted upon them early this season.

Thanks to a pair of thrilling, one-run walk-off wins, Boston has righted the ship after losing five straight games, and a victory tonight will reestablish its 1 game lead over Tampa Bay before the Rays come to town tomorrow for a three game set.

To do so the Sox will have to beat Blue Jays starter AJ Burnett, something that has proven to be quite easy to do so far this season.

Burnett has given up at least 3 or more earned runs in 4 of his 5 starts, and unlike former teammate Josh Beckett, he's never panned out to be the pitcher the Jays thought he would when the signed him to a huge deal after the 2005 season.

For the Sox Tim Wakefield will try to put together back-to-back quality starts after settling in to pitch pretty well (3R, 6H in 6IP) Friday at the Trop after a rough start to the game.

Like Burnett, and most of the Sox staff, he has allowed far too many walks this season (17 in 31IP), plus he's hit 4 batters and thrown 3 wild pitches, and that more than anything has gotten him into quite a few jams this season.

As for the lineup of course Kevin Cash will be behind the plate, and it looks as if JD Drew and Jacoby Ellsbury will remain on the bench nursing their nagging injuries, especially with the chilly temps expected at Fenway tonight.

That means Coco Crisp in center and Brandon Moss in right, plus a gimpy David Ortiz DHing and a struggling Mike Lowell (7-37, .189, 1-7 since coming off the DL) at third.

It ain't gonna be easy, but hopefully the Sox can pull off the sweep and get some momentum heading into the big showdown this weekend with Tampa Bay.

Wait, did I really just print that?