Boston Red Sox (28-22) @ Detroit Tigers (24-17)
Tim Wakefield (1-1, 4.50) @ Rick Porcello (4-2, 3.08)
7:05 PM EDT |Comerica Park (Detroit, MI)
TV: NESN RADIO: WEEI 850, WWZN 1510
INJURY REPORT
Detroit: Phil Coke,(Placed on the 15 day DL May 24th) ;Brad Thomas, left elbow inflammation (Placed on the 15 day DL May 21st retroactive to May 11th); Carlos Guillen, recovering from knee surgery (Placed on the 15 day DL March 30th); Magglio Ordonez, right ankle weakness (Placed on the 15 day DL May 13th retroactive to May 11th)
Boston: Darnell McDonald, sore left quad (Placed on the 15 day DL May 26th); J.D. Drew, strained right hamstring (Day-to day, missed Wednesday’s game); 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); Felix Doubront, left groin strain (Placed on the 7 day DL on May 11)
GAME NOTES
For the first time this season, the Boston Red Sox can call themselves a first place team. After a 14-2 beat down of the Detroit Tigers, the Red Sox drew even with the idle Yankees to stake a claim for the lead in the AL East. It seems impossible to build on consecutive fourteen run outputs, but the Sox look to keep their torrid bats heated tonight. Tim Wakefield has to be hoping that the offense saved a few runs for him. He takes the mound Friday night for his fourth start of the season, looking to get one win closer to the franchise record. Wakefield picked up his first win of the season last Sunday against the Cubs, working 6 2/3 innings, while only surrendering one run and striking out three. In a combination of relief pitching and starting games, he has earned a 4.50 ERA so far this season, while posting a 1-1 record. Detroit looks to rebound from a demoralizing loss, one that saw the rain show mercy on them after 7 1/2 innings. That responsibility falls on twenty-two year old Rick Porcello. He’s been strong for Detroit this season, carrying a 4-2 record with a 3.08 ERA. He hurled eight shutout innings in his last start against the Pirates in his last start, allowing only one hit and striking out three. Jarrod Saltalamacchia is set to start behind the plate, further developing his skills in handling the butterfly-like pitch. Carl Crawford again hits sixth in the lineup, and looks like he may be sticking around there for awhile. Josh Reddick gets the nod in right field for a second day after going three for five with three RBI’s in yesterday’s affair. Jed Lowrie is back at shortstop and batting seventh. Victor Martinez starts at first for the Tigers as Miguel Cabrera gets half a day off starting as the DH. The Sox may not score fourteen runs off a tough pitcher tonight, but they still look to extend their win streak to four games, and keep their share of first place.
Lineups
Red Sox
- Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B
- Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
- Kevin Youkilis, 3B
- David Ortiz, DH
- Carl Crawford, LF
- Jed Lowrie, SS
- Josh Reddick, RF
- Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Detroit
- Austin Jackson, CF
- Ramon Santiago, 2B
- Ryan Raburn, LF
- Miguel Cabrera, DH
- Victor Martinez, 1B
- Jhonny Peralta, SS
- Alex Avila, C
- Casper Wells, RF
- Brandon Inge, 3B
Stats
-Wakefield currently has a 2.40 BB/9, compared to a career mark of 3.38
-Carl Crawford is eight for his last nine with a homer, two triples, five runs, and five RBI’s.
-The Red Sox have record 36 hits over the last two days.
-Porcello has two starts against Boston in his career, going 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA.
-Old friend Victor Martinez against Wakefield (15 at bats): .400/.500/.667 with a home run.
-Boston scored fourteen runs in back to back games for the first time since 1998.
-Tim Wakefield makes his franchise high 410th start tonight.
-Over the last two days, Boston had increased their run differential from +6 to +31.
How will Wakefield perform tonight? Who should go back to the bullpen and John Lackey returns to the rotation? Let us know in the comments section and stick around for the game. We’d love to hear from you.