Boston Red Sox (45-34) @ Philadelphia Phillies (51-30)
Jon Lester (9-3, 3.66) @ Cole Hamels (9-4, 2.49)
1:05 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 will try to salvage one game from the finale of the three-game series against the Philles today at Citizens Bank Park. The Sox hope that Jon Lester will be their stopper. Jon took a loss in his last start against the Pirates despite getting a quality start, giving up three runs (two earned) on eight hits and a walk with five strikeouts. Lester has an 0.64 ERA in two starts against the Phillies, his lowest ERA against any Major League team. Raul Ibanez is 4-9 against Lester. The Red Sox have designated Mike Cameron for assignment. A sad result for a good guy. The Sox have recalled Yamaico Navarro to take Cameron’s place on the roster.
Facing the Red Sox will be Cole Hamels. Hamels took the loss in his last start against the Athletics, going eight innings and giving up only two runs on eight hits and two walks with five strikeouts. Hamels is 3-0 in his career with a 1.71 ERA against the Red Sox. As each pitcher has an excellent pitching record against their opponents, we’ll probably get a slugfest. Of today’s starters, Dustin Pedroia is 5-10 with one home run against Hamels and Adrian Gonzalez is 8-22 with two home runs against him.
Lineups
Red Sox
- Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
- Darnell McDonald, RF
- Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B
- Jason Varitek, C
- Josh Reddick, LF
- Drew Sutton, 3B
- Marco Scutaro, SS
- Jon Lester, P
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Philadelphia
- Jimmy Rollins, SS
- Placido Polanco, 3B
- Chase Utley, 2B
- Ryan Howard, 1B
- Shane Victorino, CF
- Ben Francisco, RF
- Raul Ibanez, LF
- Carlos Ruiz, C
- Cole Hamels, P
Fun Facts
– With his next victory, Terry Francona will join Tony LaRussa, Mike Scioscia and Ron Gardenhire as the only active managers with 700 wins with their current team.
– With his next extra-base hit, Jason Varitek will reach 500 for his career.
– On June 30, 1908, 41-year-old Cy Young pitched a no-hitter with one walk in an 8-0 win against the New York Highlanders.
– And for today’s Totally Untrue Fun Fact: Terry Francona was crowned the King of Philadelphia during his tenure as manager of the Phillies. Every male child born in the Philadelphia region between 1997-2000 was, by law, named Terry.