Tampa Bay Rays (64-56) @ Boston Red Sox (74-46)
Jeff Niemann (7-4, 3.43) @ Erik Bedard (4-7, 3.55)
7:10 PM EDT | Fenway Park (Boston, MA)
TV: NESN RADIO: WEEI 850, WWZN 1510
GAME NOTES
After coming out of the day portion of this day-night doubleheader victorious, the Sox look to mimic their success from the morning tonight against the Rays. Erik Bedard has made two starts for the Sox since coming over at the trade deadline, and so far, so healthy. His was squeezed by the umpire in his last start, getting an inordinate amount of strikes called balls. He went five innings in that game, giving up two runs and striking out six in Minnesota. The 6’9 right-hander, Jeff Niemann takes the mound for Tampa Bay. His last start was a 6 1/3 inning effort against Kansas City in which he allowed one run while striking out two.
Terry Francona sends a very strange lineup to the plate tonight. It looks fairly similar to the order used against lefties, with Lowrie batting higher in the order, and Darnell McDonald getting some playing time. The thing is, Niemann isn’t left-handed. (Which explains why Reddick is hitting fifth.) Mike Aviles gets his second start at shortstop today, and Kevin Youkilis gets the night off. David Ortiz is out of the lineup again after missing the morning with what is now confirmed to be right heel bursitis. No word on how long he’ll be out.
Lineups
Boston
- Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
- Jed Lowrie, 3B
- Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B
- Josh Reddick, RF
- Carl Crawford, DH
- Mike Aviles, SS
- Jason Varitek, C
- Darnell McDonald, LF
Tampa Bay
- Desmond Jennings, LF
- Johnny Damon, DH
- Evan Longoria, 3B
- Ben Zobrist, 2B
- BJ Upton, CF
- Casey Kotchman, 1B
- Sean Rodriguez, 2B
- Matt Joyce, RF
- Robinson Chirinos, C
INJURY REPORT
Boston: Clay Buchholz, lower back strain (placed on 15-day DL June 19, retroactive to June 17); J.D. Drew, left shoulder impingement (placed on 15-day DL July 26); Bobby Jenks, strained back (placed on 15-day DL July 16); David Ortiz, right heel bursitis (scratched from the lineup in the first game of today’s doubleheader)
Tampa Bay: None.
Stats
-The last time Jeff Niemann pitched against Boston, he hurled eight scoreless innings. The game continued for eight more innings once he was finished.
-The Sox are now 11-29 in games in which they score three runs or fewer.
-Collectively, the Rays have the fifth lowest BABIP in the majors with a .283 mark.
-Bedard has allowed eight runs in 8 1/3 innings against the Rays this year.
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