Game Preview: Sox @ Rays GM3

Into the belly of the beast
Matszaka (9-1, 3.21) vs. Kazmir (7-3, 2.28)
Game 3 of 3 710 ESPN @ Tropicana Field

As the Sox try to salvage one game from this washout of a series on Florida's left coast I am heading down to the Trop to try and do everything I can to prevent a catastrophic sweep from occurring.

In other words I'll be sporting my Sox gear, swilling much beer and screaming my head off in the general direction of any suddenly smug Tampa Bay Rays fan that dares stick it in my face that they have the best team in baseball right now.

Which could be, like, 3/4 of the stadium.

Honey, get the bail money out of the account.

Let it be known that for the first time in the history of this formerly feeble Rays franchise I had to buy tickets at a premium price through fan fave StubHub.com. That's because I asked my wife to contact her ticket connection too late to procure ducats for this highly anticipated series, and as I was browsing Ticketmaster the few remaining seats were snatched up quicker than I could maneuver my mouse.

And so for a mere $60 a a pop my stepson and I are going to brave the insane scene that will be taking place in and around Tropicana Field this evening in what is likely the biggest game to be played in this building since the Lightning packed in 27,000+ hockey fans for a playoff game against the Flyers over a decade ago.

In fact this thing might even be bigger than the annual home show, which is really saying something in these parts.

Another reason this game is so big, aside from the fact that the Rays can put the Sox 3 1/2 games out of first place with a win, is the starting pitcher match up.

For Boston wins leader Daisuke Matsuzaka will be faced with the challenge of stopping the runaway train that is the recent Rays, and for Tampa Bay Red Sox killer Scott Kazmir will try and improve on his already stellar record against the defending champs.

Although the young lefty is just 6-6 in 18 starts against Boston over the course of his career, his ERA is a terrific 2.82 in 105.1 innings of work, and he has struck out 123 Boston batters while walking just 51 in that time.

This year he is 0-1 against the Sox, losing a 7-3 decision at Fenway in early May in his first start of the season after spending the opening month on the DL.

On the other side of the mound Matsuzaka has not fared very well against the Rays in his brief ML career. He is 1-3/4.09 in five starts overall and 0-2/4.26 at the Trop. That record will have to improve - quickly - if Boston is going to pull this one out.

Especially since Boston's offense has apparently gone on holiday while visiting scenic Tampa/Clearwater/St. Pete. Not only has the team managed just five runs and 14hits in two games, but stalwarts like Manny Ramirez, Jason Varitek and Jacoby Ellsbury are all in protracted slumps that have hurt the club immensely over the past two weeks.

Evidently all Ramirez can hit right now is someone in the Sox clubhouse (rimshot, please.)

It all comes down to which team wants it more, and for the last couple of nights that team has been the Tampa Bay Rays. They've pitched better, they've hit better, their fans have come out to cheer better, and it's added up to the position the Sox find themselves in now - hurtling towards the middle of the division as they enter a 4 game set against the Stanks this weekend.

But I aim to help change all that tonight. I just hope Dice-K and the boys got my back.

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Game preview: Sox @ Rays GM2

Wakefield (5-5, 3.88) vs. Garza (6-4, 3.76)
Game 2 of 3 7:10 @ Tropicana Field

If the Sox are going to stem the tide of the red hot Rays and stay within striking distance of first place it will be up to Boston's Rays killer to get the job done tonight.

Tim Wakefield has enjoyed an uncanny mastery of the team from Tampa Bay over the course of his career, especially in the Trop. In 29 career starts (39 apps) against the Rays the knuckelballer owns a 19-3 record with a 3.16 ERA, and in the dome he is even better: 9-1 with a 2.52 ERA in 15 starts (22 apps).

Blame it on the lack of wind, the sterile conditions inside the Teflon Trop or just plain luck, but whatever the reason Wake owns the Rays.

Hopefully that ownership continues tonight.

Luckily for Boston Wake has pitched lights out over the past month. Since May 28th he has allowed 10 earned runs in 43 innings (2.09 ERA) spanning six starts, and he hasn't pitched fewer than seven innings or allowed more than 3 earned runs in any of them.

Last time out he tossed a brilliant 2 hitter against the Diamondbacks, which earned him just his second win since early May.

Unfortunately for Boston Wake's mound opponent is just as hot as he is.

24-year-old righty Matt Garza is coming off a 1-hit gem against the Marlins in which he went 9 innings and struck out 10, walking just 1 batter and throwing only 108 pitches. In his last four starts he's allowed 8 earned runs in 26 innings (2.79) as he has finally lived up to expectations the Rays had when they traded Delmon Young for him in the offseason.

Unlike Wake he owns a modest 2-1, 4.71 mark in four career starts against the Sox, and he allowed five earned runs and six hits in a 7-4 loss in Fenway earlier in June.

It promises to be another intense game in St. Pete, and for a change the Sox backs are up against the wall as they find themselves needing a win to keep pace in the AL East.

Another solid effort from Wake should get the job done.

But if that knuckler isn't dancing it could be a long night for the reeling Red Sox.

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Interleague Game preview: Sox @ Astros Game 3

Beckett (7-5, 3.73) vs. Moehler (4-3, 4.03)
Game 3 of 3 2:05 @ Minute Maid Park

The Sox will try and put the bitter memories of last night's heartbreaking 11-10 loss behind them today when Josh Beckett goes for win number 8 against Houston's Brian Moehler.

Luckily for Boston Beckett has been pitching much better than his record indicates of late, allowing just seven earned runs in his last 27 innings (2.33 ERA) over his last four starts, but he's only got a 2-1 mark in those games after losing a tough 2-1 decision to Dan Haren and the A's last time out.

The veteran Moehler has pitched well for Houston recently also, wrapping three starts in which he's allowed one earned run or less around a horrible outing against Milwaukee in which he gave up seven earned in 4 2/3 innings of a 9-6 loss.

But if today's game is anything like last night's, both these guys ERA will skyrocket amidst a flurry of long balls and laser beams bouncing off the odd angles of Minute Maid Park.

That contest saw 21 runs scored, 27 base hits, 11 extra base hits, 3 hit batters, 6 walks, 16 strikeouts, 20 position players used, 9 pitchers toe the slab and 319 pitches thrown.

I know, it was exhausting just writing that. Imagine playing in that game.

There were so many big hits and strong performances that anyone could have been the hero at any time, but the bottom line is that Boston could have - and should have - won the game if their bullpen had just come through when it had to.

Instead something that has happened way too often this season occurred, namely the pen unable to hold a lead, either by allowing inherited runners to score or just blowing the game outright, and now today Boston will have to scrap to salvage aa series it shoudl have swept heading into the Rays showdown tomorrow.

With Tampa Bay just a half game out after losing a heart breaker of its own in 13 innings last night and playing the lowly Pirates today, a great outing by Josh and a solid win is a must if the team wants to head to the Trop still in first place in the AL East.

But a loss today coupled with a Rays win will make those pesky sea animals even tougher to play knowing that a series win would ensure they hold their grip on the top spot.

Just win, baby. That's all I got to say.

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Interleague Game Preview: D-Backs @ Sox GM3

Johnson (4-5, 5.09) vs. Wakefield (4-5, 4.17)
Game 3 of 3 7:05 ESPN2 @ Fenway Park

Wow, what a coincidence - tonight's pitching match up features 4-5 Randy Johnson vs. 4-5 Tim Wakefield, and they're both 45 years old! Freaky, huh?!

Okay, so the Unit is 44 and Wake is "only" 41, but the joke was too easy to pass up.

Seriously though these two veterans are two of the oldest players in the game right now, and between them they have 460 wins, 1,105 starts, 6,647 1/3 IP and 6,540 Ks.

And they're a combined 85 years old.

Just sayin'.

Luckily for the Sox their 40-something starter is pitching much better than Arizona's lately, even though the both have identical records and similar ERAs.

In his last five starts Wake has allowed an average of 5 hits and 2 earned runs per start, yet he is 1-2 with two NDs due to an abysmal lack of run support.

In those five starts Boston has scored 0, 3, 11, 6 and 4 runs, and for the season the Sox offense is supplying the knuckleballer with just over four runs per game, among the lowest of all starters in the league.

As for Johnson he has been awful the last month. In four June starts Unit has allowed 33 hits 21 runs in 24 1/3 innings (7.77 ERA), losing all four starts and raising his ERA from 3.83 to 5.09.

To be fair Arizona has scored a grand total of 13 runs in his last 6 starts, but when you toss back-to-back 10+ hit, 7 ER games, it doesn't really matter how many runs your teammates score for you.

One thing's for sure, Boston needs to put those kind of numbers on the board and tonight would be a good time to start. During this home stand the Sox have scored just 18 runs in five games and are a few clutch hits away from an 0-5 mark.

According to the Globe Kevin Youkilis will return to the lineup tonight, which is a good thing considering he had been one of the club's hottest hitters (11-28, 4HR, 8RBI last 8 gms) before he got popped in the eye by an errant grounder and missed the last two games, but slumping outfielder J.D. Drew (2 for his last 19) will get the night off in favor of Brandon Moss.

The only thing that would make this game better would be if Johnson's ex-teammate and sparring partner Curt Schilling was going up against him tonight.

As it is we'll have to settle for the two old timers with contrasting styles in a battle royale to decide who's the best of the rest (home).

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Game Preview: Cards @ Sox GM2

Boggs (1-0, 5.56) vs. Matsuzaka (8-0, 2.53)
Game 2 of 3 3:55 FOX @ Fenway Park

The return of Daisuke Matsuzaka from the disabled list this afternoon is a blessing for Boston's beleaguered rotation, stung by the loss this week of Bartolo Colon and the news that Curt Schilling will not be joining it at all this season, but it is also a bonus for the bullpen as well.

To make room for Dice-K the team placed reliever Mike Timlin on the DL for, of all things, a bad knee. You guys sure it has nothing to do with his noodle arm?

Either way it's another day and another set of moves for the constantly flowing Red Sox roster, which has had more changes to its makeup this season than the cast of "Dancing with the Stars."

When we last saw Dice K on the mound he was pitching in Seattle at the end of May. After pitching four innings and allowing two runs, Matsuzaka grabbed his side while warming up before the fifth inning began and was immediately removed from the game.

Turns out he injured his shoulder reaching for a throw while covering the first base bag earlier in the game, and after nearly a month on the DL and one rehab start, the Japanese righthander stated he is ready to pitch at the big league level again.

That remains to be seen about his tired armed teammate Timlin.

When Matsuzaka went down he was leading the league in wins and was second in ERA. One month later he's still tied for the third most wins in the majors and can jump right back into the ERA leaders with a solid performance today.

You can bet Tito & John Farrell will have a close eye on their stud starter, and should his pitch count get high or he appear to be struggling at all he will probably be on a short leash.

The fact that he's facing rookie righty Mitchell Boggs can only benefit Matsuzaka and the Sox. A veteran of 2 major league starts, the 24-year-old Boggs has pitched fairly well since being being called up on June 7th, but his inexperience combined with pitching in Fenway for the first time against one of the top offensive clubs in baseball should play into Boston's favor.

The Sox hope to rebound from last night's messy loss, in which the hurlers surrendered three homers to three obscure Cards and Julio Lugo was the key offensive contributor but also committed a pair of errors in what was a lackluster performance for the team coming off a solid 4-2 road trip.

So it's no excuses today. The top starter is back. The starting lineup (minus Papi) is intact. And a greenhorn is on the mound to face the World Champs in a national TV game in the ballpark where Boston has lost only 8 games all season.

Let's not eff this one up, fellas.

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Game Preview: Sox @ Philly GM3

Masterson (3-1, 2.90) vs. Kendrick (6-2, 4.54)
Game 3 of 3 1:05 @ Citizens Bank Park

In my exuberance over the Celtics winning title #17 last night I failed to touch on a significant piece of injury news that rippled through the nation yesterday:

Bartolo Colon was placed on the DL due to a back injury he incurred swinging the bat against Cole Hammels the other night.

The irony here is that the Sportscenter goons were cracking on Colon's less-than-glorious swings against the hard-throwing Phillies southpaw. Little did we know one of those ugly hacks would render Colon unable to perform, although anyone watching could've guessed something wasn't right.

I mean when was the last time you saw someone corkscrew their batting helmet off trying to hit a breaking ball?

The Sox recalled righthander Chris Smith to take Colon's place on the roster, and the good news is that Daisuke Matsuzaka should be able to start Saturday against the Cards at Fenway after completing his rehab Monday night at Pawtucket.

So the injury merry-go-round continues for Boston, but as usual the team will keep plugging away and hope to win its third straight road series with a victory this afternoon in the rubber match with the Phils.

Justin Masterson will make his second straight road start against young Phillies righty Kyle Kendrick in what could be a battle of future staff aces.

After winning his first three decisions Masterson took his first major league loss last Friday in Cincy despite notching a career high 9 strikeouts and only letting up three runs in 6 2/3 innings against the Reds.

Kendrick, meanwhile, has been a pleasant surprise for Philadelphia, winning five games in a row since late April and proving to be a capable backup to aces like Hammles, Moyer and the disappointing Brett The Animal Myers.

If Boston is going to take this series Masterson will have to do what teammate Jon Lester did last night - shut down the powerful trio of Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and pat Burrell. Those three boppers went 0-12 with 8 Ks last night, and if you have any hopes of defeating this team you've gotta keep this potent Philly offense in check.

As long as Mike Timlin doesn't enter the game we should be alright.

Or Oki.

Just pitch another Masterpiece, Justin, and then we won't have to worry about the pen men.

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Game Preview: Orioles @ Sox GM3

Guthrie (3-6, 3.40) vs. Lester (4-3, 3.50)
Game 3 of 3 6:05PM @ Fenway

The Sox will bid adieu to the Birds for a month after this evening's game at Fenway, and the way these last few games have gone it's not a moment too soon.

After trouncing the O's in the first three games of a four-gamer at Camden two weeks ago Boston lost the next two meetings before eeking out a win last night in a game that was a lot closer than it should have been.

The problem with these pesky avians is that a bunch of their hitters have been thriving on Red Sox pitching this season, as Hideki Okijim'a struggles have proven.

Here are some of the numbers for Baltimore batters vs. Boston pitchers this season:

-Luke Scott .462 (12-26), 2 2Bs, 3HRs, 7R, 6BI the 3rd year player acquired from Houston in the Miguel Tejada deal has been the ringleader of the Baltimore Birds of Boston Destruction as he has simply torched Boston pitching all season long; almost a 1/3rd of his 10 homers have come against the Sox

-Audrey Huff .424 (14-33) 3 2Bs, HR, 6R, 4BI the former DRay has had a lot of experience hitting Boston pitching, but never has the surly DH capped them at a .400 clip. His 2-run single off Oki the other night was the back breaker in the come-from-behind win

-Nick Markakis .364 (12-33), 5 2Bs no surprise here as the solid right fielder has hit Boston at a .300 clip for his young career, and though he doesn't have the power numbers against them he still manages to get on base vs. Boston. A lot.

-Adam Jones .303, 3 2Bs, 5BI although he's only hitting .252 overall the second-year center fielder has been having a field day against Boston; his 3-run double off (who else?) Oki won a game for the O's back in late May

This list of Boston bashers doesn't even include Kevin Millar, who's only batting .200 vs. his old mates but has 6 runs batted in and 5 runs scored against them, or Jay Payton, another ex-Sox who's hitting .294 and has driven in 8 runs in only 17 at bats against his old team this season.

Talk about the Boston stranglers.

The task of stopping these maniacs will fall on the shoulders of Jon Lester. Fresh off serving his (unwarranted) five game suspension for his role in the Raysbrawl, whatever his role may have been, Lester should be rested and ready to put brushbacks and beanballs behind him and concentrate on winning games again.

Since tossing his no hitter on May 19th Lester has one win, one loss and one ND on his record and though he hasn't pitched poorly he hasn't been close to unhittable, allowing 22 hits and 7 earned runs in 16 1/3 innings of work.

His mound opponent will be the unlucky righty Jeremy Guthrie. Despite being 10th in the league in ERA Guthrie has often fallen victim to a pitcher's worst nightmare - poor run support.

In half of Guthrie's 14 starts the O's hitters have scored three runs or less including his recent three-game losing streak in which they scored 0, 1 and 2 runs for him.

Since that streak he is 1-0 with one ND, which came in Baltimore's 6-3 win over Boston when Jones hit his game winning double off Oki. For the season Guthrie is 1-0 with a 2.92 ERA against the Sox, striking out a dozen batters while walking only two in 12 1/3 innings.

As long as J.D. Drew, who has a 10 game hitting streak in which he's batting .500 (16-32) with 5 homers and 13 RBI, and Manny Ramirez, who owns a 15-game streak and has homered in 4 of his last 5 games against Baltimore, keep bashing like they have been the Sox should be alright in this one.

But it's up to Lester to calm the Baltimore bats and help the Sox win the series before they head out on a six game interleague road trip beginning in Cincy tomorrow.

Not an easy task they way these guys have been hitting Boston pitching, especially with the game set to start at six o'clock again.

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Game Preview: Orioles @ Sox GM1

Daniel Cabrera (5-2, 3.98; 1-0, 3.21 vs. BOS in '08)
vs. Josh Beckett (6-4, 4.07; 0-1, 5.40 vs. BAL in '08)
Gm 1 of 3 6:05 @ Fenway Park

Tonight (or should I say 'this evening? thanks, Celtics!) these two AL East foes will renew their "rivalry" as the two staff aces will face off again for the second time in less than two weeks.

In that outing on May 30th in Baltimore both starters pitched well, with Beckett (6IP, 4H, 2ER, 3BB, 10K) barely having the better performance over a surprisingly solid Cabrera (7IP, 6H, 2ER, 2BB, 2K), but the outcome wasn't decided until long after the starters had exited the ballgame.

Stellar lengthy outings by both bullpens were wasted when Baltimore's defense crumbled in the 13th inning as they committed three costly errors, leading to three unearned runs and a 5-2 Boston victory.

This time hopefully the game will end a lot sooner so the nation can watch the Celtics go up 3-0 on the L.A. Fakers in the NBA Finals; in other words no extra innings or benches-clearing brawls allowed.

After a rough stretch where Beckett allowed 30 hits including 7 homers and 16 earned runs over 27 2/3 innings, the near Cy Young winning form of 2007 has returned. Over his last three starts Becks has surrendered just 18 hits (2 homers) and 5 earned runs over 19 innings, walking just 3 batters while striking out 24, although he's just 1-1 with an ND to show for his efforts.

But a vet like him knows that as long as he keeps the ball in the yard and men off the bases, the Boston offense will eventually score enough runs early to get him a win.

Cabrera has long been an enigma for Baltimore management and fans, but this season the former wild child has turned into a more controlled man. Gone is the hairtrigger temper and erratic outings filled with as many walks as strikes, in is an even- keeled pitcher who has walked 2 batters or less in 7 of his 12 starts this season.

Still the lanky righty has not fared well in his career against Boston, posting a 2-9 record with a 6.82 ERA against the Sox in 13 starts including 0-3, 8.41 at Fenway.

Boston should get the services of Jacoby Ellsbury back tonight, and the speedsters presence plus the blazing bats of Manny Ramirez and JD Drew should combine to give Beckett all the support he'll need to get the win and start the series off right.

And if they can get it over with by 9:00PM EST, that would be much appreciated as well.

GO SOX & GO CELTS!

BEAT LA! BEAT LA! BEAT LA!

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Game Preview: Mariners @ Sox GM3

Bedard (4-4, 4.47) vs. Masterson (2-0, 1.95)
Game 3 of 3 1:35 @ Fenway

The rubber game of this series features an enticing pitching matchup, with Seattle's big bucks off-season acquisition Erik Bedard going up against the new kid on the Boston pitching block, Justin Masterson.

For the first time in his young career Masterson did not get sent right back to the minors following his last start. Instead, with Daisuke Matsuzaka still on the mend and Clay Buchholz working on his mechanics in Pawtucket, Masterson was allowed to stick around with the big club after his second career victory last Tuesday, a six inning, four earned run performance against the Rays on Tuesday.

You have to think the experience of palling around with the big boys would only help the 23-year-old's development, although with all the shenanigans that have gone on this week I'm not sure this was the best time to have him hanging around.

Oh well, just like our kids he's gotta learn about the real world someday.

His mound opponent Bedard finally lived up to his offseason hype as the savior of the M's staff in his last outing; unfortunately his breakout performance came against the Sox.

On May 28th in Seattle the hard throwing lefty pitched seven innings of 2-hit, 8-strikeout shutout ball, proving to the Seattle fans and ballclub that he was worth the enormous financial and psychical package the Mariners gave up in acquiring him from Baltimore in the offseason.

The question for them is, can he do it again?

In his next outing following that gem Bedard surrendered 5 runs (4 earned) and seven hits with three walks and one strikeout in 3 1/3 innings in a 5-4 loss to the Angels, looking more like Julian Tavarez than a staff centerpeice.

He was booed off the Safeco mound after that wretched performance, so maybe a start away from home is exactly what he needs.

Let's hope not.

The real question about today's game is what kind of lineup configuration is Tito "the Juggler" Francona going to come out with today. With so many regulars out or nursing injuries, we could almost create a game show out of this new daily routine.

"Who's gonna leadoff for the Bosox" or "Are you stronger at the top or bottom of the lineup" could be a couple of contenders.

As always we'll just have to wait and see.

As long as whomever's out there puts some runs on the board and keeps Masterson's winning streak intact, it's all good.

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Game Preview: Mariners @ Sox

Batista (3-6, 5.90) vs. Wakefield (3-4, 4.50)
Game 2 of 3 3:55 FOX @ Fenway Park

The Sox will try to regroup after three tumultuous days in which they engaged in an on field brawl with the Rays that resulted in the suspensions of three players, an in-house disagreement between teammates that resulted in numerous denials in the clubhouse, and a shutout at the hands of the Mariners that resulted in the end of their 13-game home winning streak.

All in favor for getting back to winning, Bosox baseball say "aye".

Tim Wakefield will try to right the ship today, although the knuckleballer has had little success historically against the M's, posting a 3-9 record with a 4.15 ERA in 145 career starts (24 appearances.)

But the veteran has been awesome in his last two starts, allowing just 3 earned runs in his last 15 innings, although he's only got a loss and an ND to show for it.

His mound opponent, Miguel Batista, has been equally impressive in his last two starts, allowing 5 earned runs in 12 1/3 innings including a 7 inning, 5-hit, 2 earned run performance against the Sox in Seattle, but he only hasd 2 NDs to show for his efforts.

Boston should have Manny Ramirez back in the lineup this afternoon, but Jacoby Ellsbury will miss his second staright game with his wrist injury. With Sean Casey covering first and Kevin Cash catching Wake it will be another patchwork lineup for Franbcona and the Sox.

No matter. The Sox need to break the 21 inning scoreless stretch against the lowly Ms and take this game to get back on the winning track and put all the craziness of the last few days behind them.

No excuses today.

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Game Preview: Rays at Sox GM2

Jackson (3-4, 3.70) vs. Beckett (5-4, 4.30)
Game 2 of 3 705 ESPN @ Fenway Park

The Sox hope to get the second game against the Rays in tonight, especially since it was switched to a nationally televised game and they will have a chance to regain first place in the AL East with a win, but if Mother Nature has a say in the matter don't count on it.

It's currently raining in Boston (what else is new) and the forecast calls for intermittent showers all night long making a delay or postponement a definite possibility, so we'll have to wait and see if the weathermen are wrong, as usual.

If the game does get played as scheduled there will be some significant changes to the starting lineup, and this time I'm not talking about Boston's.

Yesterday the Rays sat All Star outfielder Carl Crawford after he took a trip to see Dr. James Andrews regarding a knee problem he has been experiencing; needless to say a trip to Dr. Andrews office is never a good thing for an athlete.

Crawford did pinch hit and grounded out in the 8th inning of the loss, and although he is not at 100% he is expected to be in the lineup tonight.

That's a good thing for Tampa Bay because first baseman and team home run leader Carlos Pena will not be in the lineup tonight or for the foreseeable future as he was placed on the 15 day DL with a broken finger sustained when he was hit by a pitch from Justin Masterson in the first inning of last night's game, according to MLB.com.

The loss of Pena and the injury to CC along with closer Troy Percival being on the DL are huge blows for a club attempting to hang on to its tenuous grip of first place and could spell the beginning of the end of the good times for the major league's most surprising team this season.

If the Sox are going to capitalize on the Rays misfortunes they will have to get another solid start from Josh Beckett and hope for another disaster by Rays starter Edwin 'up & down' Jackson.

Beckett has pitched well in his last two starts, surrendering just four earned runs over 13 innings while recording 19 strikeouts, but all he's got is a loss and a no decision to show for it. Still his efforts are a marked improvement from his previous two starts when he allowed 11 runs, 18 hits and 5 homers in 12 2/3 innings.

Jackson has been erratic all year, alternating terrific outings with miserable ones, and the Rays never know which version of Jackson is going to show up. In his last two starts he's given up 7 runs and 14 hits 11 innings, going 1-1, but before that he had allowed just 1 earned run over three starts covering 20 1/3 innings, although he didn't receive a decision in any of those games.

This season he is 0-1 with a 5.73 ERA in two starts against the Sox while Beckett is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts against the Rays this year, including his 13-strikeout gem in an April loss.

So the game will most likely come down to which starter performs up to his potential, and will major offensive weapons missing from both teams someone else will have to step up and provide the firepower in order to get his team a win, like JD Drew and coco Crisp did last night.

The battle for first place continues tonight, and the Sox have a change to regain the top spot with a win.

Weather permitting.

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Game Preview: Sox @ Orioles GM4

Wakefield (3-4, 4.70) vs. Guthrie (2-6, 3.64)
GM 4 of 4 7:05 @ Camden Yards

The fourth and final game of this wraparound weekend series gets underway shortly at Camden with the Sox looking to sweep and the O's hoping to salvage one game and a bit of dignity following three horribly played games.

Two notes here:

1.) I absolutely hate these 4 game series that continue into Monday. Why? Because the start of the work week should coincide with the start of a new series (if it's not an off day). Continuing something from the weekend when everyone else has switched gears from weekend to weekday mode just doesn't feel right.

2.) The Orioles have looked like a little League team this weekend. Six physical errors have been compounded by numerous mental miscues, base running blunders, hit batters and general shoddy baseball fundamentals to add up to three straight miserable losses.

Perhaps that's why the Globe's Nick Carfado reported that the team was taking extra infield practice, spring training-like, before the game this afternoon.

That being said the results have been extremely positive for Boston. Coming in to this series the team had been in an offensive slump and had fallen to an anemic 11-19 on the road.

Three games later almost everyone on the club is hitting the ball well (save for Coco Crisp who is in the midst of an 0-21 skid), and even the loss of Big Papi didn't slow the team down yesterday.

With the results of Ortiz' MRI not expected for a while it's safe to say they will have to make due without their top slugger for at least a few games, but with Manny back to being Manny and the rest of the offense clicking, the loss shouldn't affect the team tonight.

Now if they can just get another spectacular outing from Tim Wakefield, they will be in perfect position for a sweep.

Last time out Wake tossed an absolute gem, going eight innings while allowing just five hits and a run in that heartbreaking 1-0 loss in Seattle last Wednesday.

That outing came on the heels of three straight poor efforts in which Wake surrendered 21 hits and 17 earned runs over 13 innings. So even with the performance in Seattle the knuckleballer is just 1-4 in his last 6 starts and needs to get back on the winning track ASAP.

His mound opponent tonight will be the unlucky Jeremy Guthrie. I say unlucky because despite allowing three runs or less in 9 of his last 10 starts the righty is just 2-5 in those starts thanks to the horrid Oriole offense.

For example in his last 3 starts he has allowed just 15 hits and 5 earned runs in 20 2/3 innings, yet he's 0-3 in those games even though his ERA is just 2.17.

See, unlucky.

As long as he remains that way the Sox will be poised for the sweep before heading into the big home series with the Rays tomorrow.

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Game Preview: Sox @ Orioles GM3

Colon (2-0, 2.25) vs. Burres (4-4, 4.15)
Game 3 of 4 1:35 @ Camden Yards

Just as the excitement of Manny Ramirez joining the 500 home run club starts to subside the Sox are hit with more depressing injury news as David Ortiz will miss today's game and possibly more due to a wrist injury he incurred while swinging the bat in the 9th inning last night.

An X-ray after the game proved negative but the wrist is sore and Papi says he will need to have an MRI to determine the extent of the injury.

So we can add his name to those of Daisuke Matsuzaka and Clay Buchholz as key members of the club who are currently injured.

On the bright side Boston goes for its third win in a row today when Bart Colon goes for his third consecutive win since being called up a couple of weeks ago from Pawtucket.

In his first two starts with the Sox he has gone from decent (5IP, 6H, 2ER, 2BB, 4K) in his first start to superb in his last one (7IP, 5H, 1ER, 1BB, 4K), flashing a 95 mph fastball while hitting his spots and limiting any potential damaging innings.

Which means he's about due for a letdown.

His mound opponent on the afternoon is the struggling lefthander Brian Burres. In his last outing Burres was tagged for 8 runs and 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings against the Stanks in a game Baltimore came back to win, 10-9 in extra innings.

Before that start Burres had been pitching well, allowing 3 runs and 10 hits over 14 1/3 innings in his previous two starts, and in 8 appearances against Boston he has surrendered 14 hits and 5 runs with 9 walks and 9 Ks in 14 2/3 innings.

Hopefully the euphoria over Ramirez' milestone will carry over to today's contest and the Sox can overcome the loss of Ortiz and the probable letdown of Colon to take Game 3 of this series.

Maybe they'll steal six more bases and Baltimore will make six more errors.

NOTES:
-Bailey to start: with Ortiz sitting out and Manny most likely spent from celebrating #500 last night Jeff Bailey will get the nod and make his first ML start since last July this afternoon. Bailey will play left while Manny slides to DH

-Tito out again: Terry Francona will miss another game as he attends his daughter's high school graduation today. Brad Mills will take the helm for the third time against the O's and 5th time this season.

-Bradford bitter about 500: Baltimore reliever Chad Bradford wasn't too concerned with his historic homer he allowed to Ramirez, basically blowing it off as another bad pitch that got hit out of the park and not something that will consume him. Yeah, right. Not until he hears "the man who surrendered Manny Ramirez' 500th homer" for about the 5,000th time

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Game Preview: Sox @ Seattle GM2

Matsuzaka (8-0, 2.40) vs. Batista (3-6, 5.83)
GM 2 of 3 10:00 @ Safeco Field

The Sox will try to make it two wins in a row when they send the AL's wins leader to the mound tonight at Safeco Field.

Daisuke Matsuzaka will put his perfect record on the line in what is probably the most Japanese friendly ballpark in the majors. Seattle is the home of Ichiro, Kenji Johjima and a large Japanese-American population, so Dice K should feel right at home when he toes the slab looking for win number nine this evening.

As we all know Matsuzaka's quest for perfection has been anything but perfect as his starts have featured a slew of base hits, walks and pitches thrown.

Yet here we are nearly into June and the perplexing righty has yet to lose a start, so who are we to complain?

We'll at least wait until he loses to start that shit.

Against the Mariners Matsuzaka owns a 1-1 record with a 4.33 ERA. The loss came in the memorable showdown last April with Felix Hernandez, Dice-K's first career start at Fenway, which was spoiled when King Felix blanked Boston with a 1-hit masterpiece.

At Safeco Matsuzaka is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in two starts, so his undefeated record here is at stake as well.

His mound opponent will be veteran journeyman Miguel Batista. The lanky righty has tooled for 8 teams in his 13 year career, some more than once, and his second season in Seattle has been the kind that will get him shipped out again.

In his last 4 starts Batista has allowed 29 hits and 19 runs over 16 innings for an ERA of 10.69 in losing 3 of the 4. Needless to say those stats don't bode well for a team that has lost 7 games in a row and is facing the best offensive team in the AL.

But anything can happen in this game and we know Matsuzaka has to lose sooner or later, and what better place than the house that Ichiro, his countrymen and former Japan League nemesis, built?

Fingers crossed.

NOTES:
-Youk out? Kevin Youkilis is still smarting from the mysterious hand injury that kept him out of last night's game and according to the Globe he is questionable for tonight. Hopefully he didn't hurt it smashing something, like that idiot pitcher for the Royals.

-Lester named Player of the Week: technically the soft spoken lefty had to share the honor with Detroit outfielder Magglio Ordonez, but he'll take it. I guess a no hitter doesn't carry as much weight as it used to. For the week Lester was 1-1 with a 1.93 ERA, earning his first ever POTW award. Great job, Jon.

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Game Preview: Sox @ Oakland GM3

Lester (3-2, 3.41) vs. Blanton (2-6, 3.87)
Game 3 of 3 @ 4:05, Oakland Coliseum

On the heels of the announcement that Sox starter and cancer survivor Jon Lester's father has also been diagnosed with cancer, six days after Lester pitched a no hitter at Fenway and one day after A's hurler Justin Duchscherer nearly duplicated the feat to send Boston to its second straight loss, Lester will take the mound today in Oakland.

Good thing for the quiet lefty there won't be much hubbub or pressure surrounding this start.

But if the Sox are to get back on the winning track it will be up to the unassuming young hurler-turned-role model to get the team back to its winning ways.

Since the Sox have taken their recent seven game home winning streak on the road they have lost two straight in the city by the Bay, and neither game has been close, or pretty.

Friday night Boston got crushed ,8-3, in a game that wasn't even that close, and last night the inexperienced starter Duchscherer held the Sox hitless for 6 1/3 innings before settling on a one-hit shutout.

Today the attention will turn back to Lester, whether he likes it or not, as not only will he have to deal with ending a losing skid, but the pressure of trying to follow up his magical performance of last Monday night.

Not that we're asking him to duplicate the feat, which has only been accomplished once in MLB history by Johnny Van Der Meer in 1938, but the Nation will settle for a solid start and hope that the suddenly anemic offense can get back to mashing the ball like it did all during the homestand.

During that seven game stand Boston averaged 7 runs per game, scoring less than three runs only once in a 2-1 win against the Royals. In two games in Oaktown Boston has managed just three runs total, dropping the teams road mark to an underwhelming 10-16 comapred to its steallar 21-5 record at home.

Manny Ramirez, who has been slumping majorly, will return to the lineup today after sitting out yesterday's game, and hopefully the combination of the regular lineup and the presence of Lester on the mound will lead to an inspired win.

Ramirez, who is in the midst of a 3-26 skid that has dropped his average to .280, should benefit from facing Oakland starter Joe Blanton, off whom he is hitting a robust .556 (10-18) in his career, although he has not homered off the stocky right hander.

Manny is still trying to reach the 500 homer mark and has been stuck on 498 for weeks now. Maybe facing a guy who he has success off of but no homers will change his fortunes.

Blanton has been the victim of poor run support this season as Oakland has scored an average of just over 3 runs per game in his starts, including a 2-1 loss to Boston in the second game of the season in Tokyo.

So we'll see what transpires in the series finale in Oakland today.

Chances are there won't be another no no or near no no on the horizon, though.

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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.

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Game Preview: Royals at Sox GM3

Tomko (2-4, 5.32) vs. Colon (NR)
Game 3 of 4 705 @ Fenway Park

If two kids can pitch brilliantly in back-to-back games against the sliding Royals, why can't a former Cy Young winner keep the streak going?

That's the question the entire Nation wants the answer to as Bartolo Colon, the 2005 Cy winner while pitching for the LA/Anaheim/California Angels, makes his Red Sox debut tonight against KC.

The travails of the hefty Colon have been well documented since he slipped from one of the game's elite pitchers to an embarrassment to his profession in such a short period of time. But just in case you haven't heard the tale, let me recount it here.

Coming up with Cleveland in 1997 Colon became one of the games top hurlers, compiling a 75-45 record, including an 18-5 campaign in 1999, in 5 1/2 seasons with the Tribe before he was shipped to the Expos (remember them?) at the trading deadline in 2002.

Ironically two of the players he was traded for - Grady Sizemore and Cliff Lee - have become fixtures of the Indians organization.

After bouncing from Montreal to the White Sox to Anaheim, Colon settled in in Orange County and produced the finest season of his career in 2005, when he went 21-8 with a 3.48 ERA, struck out 157 batters while walking only 43 in leading the Angels to the ALCS, where they lost to eventual World Series champion Chicago.

But since that magical season it has been all downhill for the rotund one as injuries, ineffectiveness and innumerable trips to In and Out Burger derailed his career and made him the laughingstock of baseball.

In 2006 & 2007 Colon went 7-13 while making just 28 starts and pitching 155 2/3 innings while battling shoulder woes that began late in his Cy season. By comparison in 2005 he started 33 games and pitched 222 2/3 innings, so to say the drop off was immense would be an epic understatement.

Long story short the Sox picked him up in the offseason for a mere mil (pending his making the big club) and quickly set about getting him in shape for a potential return to glory. After a lengthy rehab/condition program this spring, he posted a 2-0 record with an 0.64 ERA in three starts for the PawSox, and here we are.

No one is expecting miracles from the guy. But if he turns out to be anywhere near his previous form and can contribute solid innings and keep the opposition under 4 runs per game, the pickup will have proven to be another coup for Theo and the boys.

If not they cut ties and forget it ever happened.

Win/win, I say.

NOTES:

-Hello again Julie, hello: Julian Tavarez, who was not claimed off waivers nor traded to the Rockies as had been rumored, cleared waivers and accepted his reassignment to Pawtucket. Not sure if he'll ever be back with the Bosox, but Francona thinks he will pitch again in the majors.

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Game Preview: Royals at Sox GM2

Meche (3-5, 5.98) vs. Masterson (0-0, 1.50)
Game 2 of 4 705 @ Fenway Park

So how does a team top a no hitter thrown the night before?

How about two in a row?!

That might be a lot to ask from young righthander Justin Masterson, who will make just his second career major league start tonight against the Roayls, but maybe not. After all the kid did pitch a 2-hit, 1-run 6 inning gem versus the Angels in his major league debut a month ago.

But I think it's safe to say that the back-to-back no-no feat will not be duplicated tonight. Instead we in the Nation will settle for another strong performance by the lanky 23-year old Jamaican-born Masterson, and another impressive showing by the sizzling Boston offense.

The team has been averaging over 6 runs per game in May and has a five game and currently a four game winning streak to show for it. Never mind the mini slump when it lost 5 of 6 in Minny and Baltimore, because this offense is clicking on all cylinders right now and shows no signs of slowing down, especially against tonight's Royals starter, mediocre Gil Meche.

You remember Meche don't you? No.

He's the former Seattle Mariner starter who parlayed a 55-44 career record into a 5 year, $55 million contract from KC before the 2007 season, a deal that had baseball experts shaking their heads and middling pitching prospects salivating at the thought of getting paid big bucks for accomplishing basically nothing in the major leagues.

A year and change later Meche is 12-18 for Kansas City with a 4.12 ERA and he has as many victories this year as rookie Luke Hochevar and reliever Leo Nunez.

Nice investment, KC.

Here's to the Sox batters pummelling the ish out of Meche, and Masterson duplicating the feats of fellow phenoms Buchhoz and Lester.

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Game Preview(s): Brewers at Sox - let's play 2!

Game 1 355 on FOX
Suppan (2-2, 4.88) vs. Matsuzaka (6-0, 2.22)
Game 2 835
Bush (1-4, 6.06) vs. Wakefield (3-2, 4.25)

With the rainout last night, amazingly the first of 2008 despite the rotten spring conditions, the Sox are forced to spend a long day and night at the ballpark today thanks to the decision to play a two games basically back-to-back.

Since the original Saturday game was already scheduled as the national FOX game and tomorrow the teams will play the TBS national game at 1:30, it was either squeeze the makeup game in tonight or find a mutual off day later in the season they could agree on, something two teams from different leagues that hope to be in pennant races obviously wanted no part of.

So here we are, staring at the Sox playing 3 games of baseball in the next 24 hours after spending the last 2 1/2 days doing absolutely nothing.

And I thought my son's Little league schedule was bad.

In the opener Dice-K will take his perfect record to the hill and try to go 7-0; he will be opposed by original Sox drafteee Jeff Suppan. In the nightcap Tim Wakefield will try to shake off the memories of his last start (7H, 7R in 2.2inn) against someone named Mike Bush.

In Matsuzaka's last start he allowed 6 hits and 2 runs in seven innings of a 6-2 win against Minnesota a week ago today, and although he is second in the league in wins and 5th in ERA, his lack of control at times which has led him to the 3rd highest walk total (30) in the AL has been cause for concern throughout the Nation.

In other words, when is this high priced import gonna wow us with his stuff.

As for Wake he has been hot and cold this season, as most knuckleballers tend to be. On top of that last atrocious start he has allowed at least 3 earned runs in 5 of his 8 starts, but in his other three he has allowed 0, 1 and 2 runs, including his brilliant 8-inning, 2-hit shutout at Detroit 11 days ago.

In other words it's a toss up as to how this double dip is going to turn out for Boston. Dice-K could come out and toss a no-no, or he could give up a dozen walks and lose the opener. And Wake might baffle those NL hitters who aren't used to seeing a knuckler en route to a complete game gem, or Braun, Fielder, Cameron et al could pound him like chop meat before the night is over at Fenway.

But if the Rays were to lose their game at St. Louis, and the Sox could sweep today...


...then it's say hello to 1st place again time in the Hub.

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Game Preview: Sox @ Baltimore GM2

Lester (2-2) vs. Cabrera (3-1)
GM 2 of 2 305 PM @ Camden Yards

Beware: Do not try and reach base against this man - he is armed with an unpredictable cannon and could go off at any time!

Finally the Sox catch a break with the MLB schedule makers.

After two consecutive 4-game road series ended with night games necessitating red eye's for the Sox both in the air and on the ground, Boston gets a businessman's special this afternoon at Oriole Park at Camden Yards before the team heads into its first off day in 17 days.

And it's a great thing for all the Nation's unemployed/laid off workers/lazy asses, who get to watch their favorite ballclub play in the daytime, thus providing a convenient excuse to start drinking early(er).

Another bonus for myself, er I mean those guys I mentioned above, is that the game is on MLB InDemand HD, a new for 2008 channel my local cable provider conveniently added to my high def tier last week.

Thanks, BrightHouse Networks! (plug plug, honey)

Unfortunately I'll be exposed to the annoying tones of Mssrs. Gary 'let me rephrase that' Thorne and Jim 'paint dry' Palmer instead of Rem Dog and Don-O, but still.

As for the Sox they better get things going in the right direction today because what started out as a terrific road trip, with a series win in Detroit coming on the heels of a sweep of the Rays at home, has turned into a roadie from hell as the team has dropped four of its last five games, including last night's 5-4 defeat to these Os.

If the Sox hope to split this mini series it will be up to Jon Lester to pull off the difficult feat. On this trip the starters have been less-than spectacular, evening factoring in Wake's 2-hit, 8 inning gem in Game 2 in Detroit.

In the 9 games of the trip thus far the Boston starting pitchers have combined to throw 49 innings while allowing 60 hits, 22 walks and 30 earned runs, which equal out to sub-par stats of a 5.51 ERA and 1.67 WHIP.

Considering the Sox have dropped four of its five losses by only one run, many after the hitters had either handed them an early lead or come back after falling behind, and it's easy to see how starting pitching has been the main downfall of the club on this trip.

Unfortunately Lester will be opposed by the always erratic, most of the time psychotic Baltimore starter Daniel Cabrera.

The hard throwing right has made a name for himself over the years by being a supremely talented pitcher who cannot control his lively heater, thus leading to a multitude of high strikeout, high walk games. He is also renowned for his high strung temperament and idiotic antics on the mound.

I'm sure all you in the Nation remember last September's game against the Sox in which the animated Dominican native went all Chuck Norris when Coco Crisp had the gall to try and bunt his way on base in the 4th inning of a game at the Yards, an incident that was well documented here at the Sock.

God forbid the Sox get a lead today and then attempt to keep getting on base or Hairtrigger Cabrera might channel Tito Ortiz and try and take out thew whole team, not just mites like Coco and Little Big Man.

It might have something to do with the fact that he is 1-9 with a 7.84 ERA in 49.1 innings over 11 career starts against the Sox.

Should be a good one this afternoon the combo of day baseball, HD, brews and the threat of a nuclear mound meltdown looming on the horizon making for a memorable contest at Camden.

For all you working folk, I will try and recap it by the time you finish dinner.

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