Boston Red Sox (38-26) @ Toronto Blue Jays (32-33)
Jon Lester (8-2, 3.98) @ Kyle Drabek (4.4, 4.98)
1:07 PM EDT | Rogers Centre (Toronto, ON)
TV: NESN RADIO: WEEI 850, WWZN 1510
INJURY REPORT
Boston: Bobby Jenks, left back tightness (Placed on the 15-day on DL June 8); Rich Hill, left elbow sprain (Placed on the 15-day DL on June 3, retroactive to June 2) Franklin Morales, left forearm strain (Placed on the 15-day DL on May 29, retroactive to May 26); Darnell McDonald, sore left quad (Placed on the 15-day DL on May 26); Daisuke Matsuzaka, sprained elbow (Placed on the 15-day DL on May 17, transferred to the 60-day DL on June 3); Junichi Tazawa, right elbow surgery (placed on the 60-day DL on March 26)
Toronto: John McDonald, right hamstring strain (Placed on the 15-day DL on May 20, retroactive to May 27); Jesse Litsch, right shoulder impingement (Placed on the 15-day DL on May 20, retroactive to May 19); Jesse Carlson, left rotator cuff (Placed on the 60-day DL on March 29); Dustin McGowan, torn right rotator cuff (Placed on the 60-day DL on March 12)
GAME NOTES
With yesterday’s 16-4 blowout of the Blue Jays, the Red Sox have won eight in a row (five in a row on the road) and have a chance to take their third series sweep in a row. Facing the Red Sox today is Kyle Drabek. Baseball America ranked Drabek as its 29th best baseball prospect for 2011. Drabek took a no decision against the Red Sox on May 10, pitching five innings and surrendering eight hits, four earned runs, two home runs and three walks against five strikeouts. Although Drabek has a 4-4 record, the Blue Jays are 9-4 in games he has started this season. Adrian Gonzalez and David Ortiz hit home runs against Drabek on May 10; here’s hoping for more of the same.
Jon Lester is on the hill for the Red Sox today. This will be Lester’s third start against the Blue Jays in 2011; he has a 1-0 record with a 4.76 ERA against them. Lester enjoys pitching against the Blue Jays: he has a career 8-4 mark and a 3.59 ERA against the Torontonians. Jose Bautista and Jayson Nix have each hit two homers against Lester, and Corey Patterson is 7-15 lifetime with one home run against Lester.
Lineups
Red Sox
- Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B
- Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
- Kevin Youkilis, 3B
- David Ortiz, DH
- Carl Crawford, LF
- Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
- J.D. Drew, RF
- Marco Scutaro, SS
Toronto
- Yunel Escobar, SS
- Corey Patterson, LF
- Jose Bautista, RF
- Adam Lind, 1B
- J.P. Arencibia, C
- Edwin Encarnacion, DH
- Aaron Hill, 2B
- Rajai Davis, CF
- Jayson Nix, 3B
Fun Facts
– The Red Sox have won 10 of its last 11 road games, and 13 of its last 15 since May 13th.
– According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Adrian Gonzalez has had an RBI in each of the Red Sox last eight victories. The last Red Sox player to accomplish the feat? Dwight Evans. Dewey knocked in a run in 10 straight Red Sox victories in 1989.
– On June 12, 1932, the Red Sox traded Earl Webb to the Detroit Tigers for Dale Alexander and Roy Johnson. Alexander would go on to win the American League batting title that year.
– And for today’s Totally Untrue Fun Fact: While a member of the Blue Jays, Roger Clemens used the CN Tower as a needle to inject his ample buttocks with various substances.