Chicago Cubs (19-23) @ Boston Red Sox (22-20)
Doug Davis (0-1, 1.80) @ Jon Lester (5-1, 3.28)
7:10 PM EDT |Fenway Park (Boston, MA)
TV: NESN, MLB Network RADIO: WEEI 850, WWZN 1510
INJURY REPORT
Chicago: Randy Wells, forearm strain (Placed on the 15 day DL April 6th retroactive to April 5th); Andrew Cashner, strained rotator cuff (Placed on the 15 day April 6th)
Boston: Daisuke Matsuzaka, sprained elbow (Placed on the 15 day DL May 17th); John Lackey, strained elbow (Placed on the 15 day DL May 16th, retroactive May 12th) to Marco Scutaro, strained left oblique (Placed on the 15 day DL May 8th); Dan Wheeler, strained calf (Placed on the 15 day DL May 5th); Bobby Jenks, bicep soreness (Placed on 15 day DL May 5th, retroactive to May 2nd)
GAME NOTES
Almost three years ago, Jon Lester threw a no-hitter at Fenway park, beating the Kansas City Royals. Almost a century ago, the Chicago Cubs lost Game 6 of the World Series to the Boston Red Sox, clinching a series victory for Boston. Tonight, in a match up of perhaps the two most beloved franchises in Baseball, the Sox and Cubs square off again at Fenway Park as the fifteenth season of interleague play begins. While many things have changed for these teams, players rotating in and out, games won and games lost, one thing stays constant: the Cubs still have not won a World Series. In what seems like an annual rite of summer, the Cubs dwindle to mediocrity, disappointing a loyal fan base that painfully returns for more every year. Tonight they’ll watch Doug Davis, who starts for only the second time this season after pitching five one-run innings in a 3-0 loss to San Francisco. Davis was called up to replace Andrew Cashner and Randy Wells after they both hit the disabled list in early April. Left handed ace, Jon Lester takes the hill for Boston. He comes off two tough road starts, the last in New York, where he gave up four runs, walked four, and yielded two home runs. Lester leads the Sox with five wins. Yesterday, Boston made some moves to insure pitching depth. They signed Kevin Millwood, who was recently released by the Yankees, to a minor league deal. They also acquired left handed reliever Franklin Morales from Colorado via trade. Jose Iglesias was optioned back to Pawtucket today to get regular playing time. Drew Sutton will take his place on the roster. Mike Cameron gets the start in right field as J.D. Drew sits against the lefty. In a celebration of the sport and the past hundred years, the Red Sox and Cubs will battle tonight at Fenway Park. While one hundred years is an expansive span of time, tonight Cubs and Red Sox fans can watch their teams take the field and let it serve as a reminder; a reminder that maybe not much has changed at all.
Lineups
Red Sox
- Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B
- Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
- Kevin Youkilis, 3B
- David Ortiz, DH
- Jed Lowrie, SS
- Mike Cameron, RF
- Carl Crawford, LF
- Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Chicago
- Starlin Castro, SS
- Darwin Barney, 2B
- Jeff Baker, 3B
- Aramis Ramirez, DH
- Carlos Pena, 1B
- Marlon Byrd, CF
- Alfonso Soriano, LF
- Reed Johnson, RF
- Koyie Hill, C
Stats
-Lester is 7-2 with a 2.66 ERA in thirteen career interleague starts.
-After giving up six home runs all of last season, Daniel Bard has already given up three this season.
-Carlos Pena against Lester (34 AB’s): .294/.395/.765 with five home runs.
-Doug David last pitched against the Sox in 2008.
-The Cubs’ 9 stolen bases are second worst in the majors, behind only the Braves.
-Adrian Gonzalez leads American League first basemen with a 1.8 WAR.
-It has been 33,854 days since the Cubs last visited Fenway.
-Boston is tied at third all time with 140 interleague victories.
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What does everyone think of the Morales trade? Will the Sox continue to roll this weekend against Chicago? Let us know in the comment section and stick around for the game. We’d love to hear from you.