Boston Red Sox (8-11) @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (12-8)
Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-2, 6.43) vs. Ervin Santana (0-2, 5.26)

9:05PM EDT | Angel Stadium (Anaheim, California)
TV: NESN RADIO: WEEI 850, SBN 1510

INJURY REPORT
Boston: Kevin Youkilis, bruised shin (day-to-day)
Los Angeles: Scott Downs, stomach virus (placed on 15-day DL 4/22, retroactive to 4/14),  Scott Kazmir, stiff lower back (placed on 15-day DL 4/9, retroactive to 4/4); Kendrys Morales, fractured left leg (placed on 15-day DL 3/29, retroactive to 3/22); Joel Pinero, tight right shoulder (placed on 15-day DL 3/29, retroactive to 3/22); Freddy Sandoval, strained left oblique (placed on 15-day DL 3/29, retroactive to 3/22)

GAME NOTES
Last night’s game was one of those games that when things are going bad, the Red Sox would have lost.  They left 8 on base.  Even when they scored it was because of lucky breaks, 2 of the runs were unearned.  Jon Lester didn’t allow a run but was not dominant, needing 111 pitches to get through 6 innings.  Daniel Bard was not available and Dan Wheeler and Bobby Jenks turned in rocky outings to get the Angels within a run.  Jarrod Saltalamacchia had a very tough night behind the plate with 3 passed balls and a wild pitch by Lester and Jenks.  But, despite all that, they got the win.  The Red Sox have won 6 of their last 7, seemingly turning the corner from the tough start.  I think last night’s game is the best indication that they have turned a corner, it wasn’t pretty, but they got the win;  the Red Sox of two weeks ago probably would not have.

LINEUPS
Boston
Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Youkilis 3B
Ortiz DH
Lowrie SS
Drew RF
Crawford LF
Varitek C

Los Angeles
Izturis 2B
Aybar SS
Abreu RF
Hunter DH
Wells CF
Callaspo 3B
Conger C
Trumbo 1B
Willits LF

PLAYER OF THE DAY
On April 23, 2005, Earl Wilson died.  Wilson was a starting pitcher for the Red Sox from 1959-66.  After playing for the Red Sox, he went on to Detroit and finished his career in 1970 with San Diego.  Wilson had the game of his career in June 26, 1962 at Fenway, no-hitting the Los Angeles Angels.  The Red Sox won the game 2-0, and Wilson helped his own cause with a home run off of Angels pitcher Bo Belinsky.  Wilson is one of three pitchers to homer during their own no-hitter, Wes Ferrell with the Indians in 1931 and Rick Wise with the Cardinals in 1971 are the other two.  Coincidentally, both Ferrell and Wise pitched for the Red Sox.  Ferrell in 1934-37 and Wise in 1974-77; additionally Wise pitched the top of 12th inning of Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, becoming the winning pitcher when Carlton Fisk homered in the bottom half.

 

Tonight during the game at 9:05, Troy and others here at Fire Brand will be holding a live chat. We will be joined by Angels blogger Garrett Wilson of Monkey With a Halo. Please join us and in the meantime check out Garrett’s site, www.monkeywithahalo.com to read up on the Sox’ opponent.