Chicago Cubs (19-24) @ Boston Red Sox (24-20)
Carlos Zambrano (4-2, 4.89) @ Alfredo Aceves (1-0, 2.60)
7:10 PM EDT |Fenway Park (Boston, MA)
TV: FOX 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
While the Cubs had not visited Fenway Park in ninety-three years, it seemed like the Boston Red Sox had been waiting even longer to break out offensively like they did last night. Tallying a season high fifteen runs and nineteen hits, every starter in the lineup had a hit save for right fielder Mike Cameron. Most of that came off mediocre pitchers, including the starting pitcher, Doug Davis, who was getting the nod for only the second time this season. Now, the Sox must be able to replicate their performance against proven starters the enxt two nights. The first is Cub veteran Carlos Zambrano, known for his unkempt emotions and raging temper. He comes in with a 4-2 record and a 4.89 ERA. He’s been inconsistent this season, often following scoreless starts by getting shelled. Last Monday he pitched five scoreless innings in Cincinnati before getting shellacked for six earned runs in the sixth inning. Boston counters with Alfredo Aceves, who gets his first start since 2009 when we was with the Yankees. He fills in for Daisuke Matsuzaka who hit the DL after his start on Monday and will most likely be out for at least a month. Aceves has pitched well in relief for the Sox this season, posting a 2.60 ERA. The Cubs shuffled their order a bit today, moving normal leadoff man Starlin Castro down to the three-hole. Kosuke Fukudome gets the start in right field and bats first. After committing four errors in last night’s game, the Cubs look to tighten their defense by starting Alfonso Soriano at DH. Both teams will wear throwback uniforms from 1918, supposedly they aren’t the most fashionable choice. While some have predicted the end of the world today, the Sox are just hoping it’s not the end of their winning streak which will move to eight with a victory tonight.
Lineups
Red Sox
- Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B
- Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
- Kevin Youkilis, 3B
- David Ortiz, DH
- J.D. Drew, RF
- Jed Lowrie, SS
- Carl Crawford, LF
- Jason Varitek, C
Chicago
- Kosuke Fukudome, RF
- Darwin Barney, 2B
- Starlin Castro, SS
- Aramis Ramirez, 3B
- Carlos Pena, 1B
- Marlon Byrd, CF
- Alfonso Soriano, DH
- Blake DeWitt, LF
- Koyie Hill, C
Stats
-Kevin Youkilis is working on an 8 game hitting streak. Over that span he has a .387 average with three homers and eleven RBI’s.
-The Cubs lead the majors with a .328 BABIP
-Carlos Pena and Marlon Byrd are the only Cub players who have faced Aceves. Pena has two strikeouts in three at bats, Byrd has one hit on two at bats.
-Fukudome has a 1.0 WAR, good for third on the team.
-Mike Cameron has a .235 OBP in 52 plate appearances this season. He’s slugging .283
-Jacoby Ellsbury is hitting .350 0ver his last 60 at bats.
-Boston is 13-5 in May.
-David Ortiz has 299 career homers with Boston. He’s batting .297 this season.
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