Toronto Blue Jays (41-44) @ Boston Red Sox (49-34)
Brandon Morrow (4-4, 4.56) @ John Lackey (5-7, 6.81)
1:35PM EDT | Fenway Park (Boston, MA)
TV: NESN, MLB Network RADIO: WEEI 850, WWZN 1510
GAME NOTES
I feel like every semi-good outing that John Lackey has gets me saying “This is it, this start is going to get on a roll. We are finally going to see the John Lackey of a few years ago for the Angels.” So far, that hasn’t quite happened. But his last start has given me even more than the usual optimism. He went 7.2 in Philadelphia, giving up only 2 runs on 8 hits. Yes, it was a National League line-up with the pitcher batting, but it was the Phillies, not the Padres, that is even more cause for optimism. One of these days I have to be correct, right? Will John Lackey ever get going and reel off a string of solid starts? Discuss in the comments.
Line-ups will be posted in the comment when they are available, feel free to add them if they aren’t there.
INJURY REPORT
Toronto: Yunel Escobar, swollen left hand (day-to-day); Casey Janssen, sore right forearm (Placed on the 15-day DL June 16 ); Jesse Litsch, (Placed on the 15-day DL 5/20 )
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)
PLAYER OF THE DAY
I usually lean towards the more obscure players, but I’m going to choose Ted Williams, today is the day. Teddy Ballgame served the United States as a Marine fighter pilot in both World War II and Korea, giving up parts of 5 seasons during his baseball prime. On July 4, 1948, Williams and the rest of the Red Sox offense had a holiday to remember as they slaughtered the 19-5, scoring 14 runs in the 7th inning at Fenway. Williams came to bat 3 times in the 7th inning alone against 3 different A’s players, none of which could retire him; he reached base on two walks and a hit. He finished the day 0-for-3 with 3 walks and 2 runs scored. The Red Sox had 20 hits in total; second baseman Bobby Doerr led the offensive fireworks going 2-for-4 with 2 walks, 4 Rs and 2 RBIs.