Boston Red Sox (45-32) @ Philadelphia Phillies (49-30)
Josh Beckett (6-2, 1.86) @ Cliff Lee (8-5, 2.87)
7:05 PM EDT | Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia, PA)
TV: NESN, MLB Network RADIO: WEEI 850, WWZN 1510
INJURY REPORT
Boston: Clay Buchholz, lower back strain (Placed on the 15-day DL on June 19, retroactive to June 17); Carl Crawford, strained left hamstring (Placed on the 15-day DL June 18); Jed Lowrie, right shoulder injury (Placed on the 15-day DL on June 17); Rich Hill, left elbow sprain (Placed on the 15-day DL on June 3, retroactive to June 2, transferred to the 60-day DL on June 27); Daisuke Matsuzaka, sprained elbow (Placed on the 15-day DL on May 17, transferred to the 60-day DL on June 3)
Philadelphia: Ryan Madson, bruised right hand (Placed on the 15-day DL on June 28, retroactive to June 19); Roy Oswalt, lower back inflammation (Placed on the 15-day DL on June 24); Jose Contreras, right forearm strain (Placed on the 15-day DL on June 23, retroactive to June 20); Joe Blanton, right elbow inflammation (Placed on the 15-day DL on May 23, retroactive to May 16); Brad Lidge, right posterior rotator cuff strain (Placed on the 15-day DL on March 30, retroactive to March 25, transferred to the 60-day DL on April 29)
GAME NOTES
The Red Sox hope that better competition brings better results as they come into Philadelphia tonight for the first game of a three-game series against the Phillies. Starting for the Red Sox will be Josh Beckett. Beckett is finally feeling better and will have his first start since his stellar start against the Rays, where he had a complete-game one-hit shutout on 97 pitches. Beckett is 8-4 with a 3.98 ERA in 19 appearances (17 starts) against Philadelphia in his career, and is 2-1 with a 4.76 ERA in three Interleague starts against the Phillies since joining the Red Sox. Chase Utley is 8-25 with two home runs and four RBI against Beckett. The Red Sox activated Bobby Jenks and Franklin Morales from the 15-day DL and optioned Scott Atchison and Tommy Hottovy to Pawtucket.
Cliff Lee is starting for the Phillies tonight. Lee also had a complete-game shutout in his last start, giving up six hits and one walk against three strikeouts against the Cardinals. Lee is 2-4 with a 4.06 ERA in his career against the Red Sox. Adrian Gonzalez (surprise!) is hitting .700 against Lee (7-10) with one homer and three RBI.
Lineups
Red Sox
- Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B
- Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
- Kevin Youkilis, 3B
- Darnell McDonald, LF
- Jason Varitek, C
- Mike Cameron, RF
- Marco Scutaro, SS
- Josh Beckett, P
Philadelphia
- Jimmy Rollins, SS
- Placido Polanco, 3B
- Chase Utley, 2B
- Ryan Howard, 1B
- Shane Victorino, CF
- Raul Ibanez, LF
- Domonic Brown, RF
- Carlos Ruiz, C
- Cliff Lee, P
Fun Facts
– Don’t forget to join us for a live chat with our friends at Crashburn Alley tomorrow night.
– The Red Sox have won 14 of its last 18 road games and 17 of its last 22 since May 13.
– On June 28, 1984, Dwight Evans hit for the cycle in a 9-6 victory against the Seattle Mariners.
– And for today’s Totally Untrue Fun Fact: John Kruk’s love of Philly cheesesteak sandwiches led the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to place the cow on the endangered species list in 1993.