Seattle Mariners(13-15) @ Boston Red Sox (11-15)
Felix Hernandez(3-2, 3.32) @ Tim Wakefield (0-0, 5.56)
1:35 PM EDT |Fenway Park (Boston, MA.)
TV: NESN RADIO: WEEI 850, WWZN 1510
INJURY REPORT
Seattle: David Aardsma, torn hip labrum (placed on 15-day DL 3/30, retroactive to 3/22); Franklin Gutierrez, irritable bowel syndrome (placed on 15-day DL 3/30, retroactive to 3/22)
Boston: Daisuke Matsuzaka, stiff right elbow (day-to-day, left April 29th start in 5th inning); Clay Buchholz, “internal distress” (day-to-day, will miss start tomorrow); Kevin Youkilis, sore left hip (day-to-day, will miss game today)
GAME NOTES
Tim Wakefield goes for win 194 as the Red Sox try to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Seattle Mariners. They have their work cut out for them, facing reigning AL Cy Young winner, Felix Hernandez. The 25 year old comes in with a 3-2 record and a 3.32 ERA. Tim Wakefield, 18 years Hernandez’s senior, gets his first start of the season in the place of Clay Buchholz who is sidelined with “internal distress”. The knuckleballer, who needs 13 wins to tie the club record, has been publicly irritated about his role on the team since he was demoted to the bullpen last year. Kevin Youkilis, who tweaked his left hip on his double last night, will sit out today. Jed Lowrie slides over to third base in his place and Marco Scutaro gets the start at short.
Lineups
Mariners
- Ichiro Suzuki, RF
- Chone Figgins, 3B
- Ryan Langerhans, LF
- Miguel Olivo, C
- Justin Smoak, 1B
- Jack Cust, DH
- Luis Rodriguez, SS
- Michael Saunders, CF
- Jack Wilson, 2B
Red Sox
- Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B
- Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
- David Ortiz, DH
- J.D. Drew, RF
- Jed Lowrie, 3B
- Marco Scutaro, SS
- Carl Crawford, LF
- Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Stats
-The Mariners have a collective .272 AVG and .323 OBP against Wafefield.
-Jack Cust has the best numbers against Wakefield, hitting .440. Surprisingly, none of those hits are home runs.
-Hernandez is 4-1 with a 2.91 ERA in eight career starts against the Sox.
-J.D. Drew has robust numbers against Hernandez: .391 AVG, .481 OBP, 1.134 OPS.
-Wakefield and Hernandez faced each other as recently as August 25th of last year. A rain out provided Wakefield the chance to get the spot start. He went 5 2/3, giving up 4 runs, as the Sox lost 4-2. Kevin Cash got the start at catcher that day, hoping to improve on his .173 average. He didn’t.
Do you think Wakefield will fare better this time against the King? Let us know in the Comments section.