Boston Red Sox (77-49) @ Texas Rangers (74-55)
John Lackey (11-9, 6.02) @ Colby Lewis (11-8, 3.83)
8:05 PM EDT | Rangers Ballpark In Arlington (Arlington, TX)
TV: NESN, MLBN RADIO: WEEI 850, WWZN 1510
GAME NOTES
Terry Francona probably didn’t sleep last night, and if he did, the crack of Mike Napoli’s bat was probably echoing through his nightmares. The Texas DH took Erik Bedard deep in the sixth innings last night, extending Texas’s one run lead to a four one read, and putting the Sox out of reach for good. Have no fear though, John Lackey takes the hill tonight. On second thought, you should hide behind something right now and cower in fear. Lackey comes off a loss against Tampa Bay, in which he gave up four runs (three of them earned) in 6 2/3 innings of work. He struck out seven in that game, and surrendered two home runs. The loss leveled Lackey’s record to 11-9. His ERA still sits a bit north of six at 6.02.
Colby Lewis gets the nod from the Rangers. The 32 year old right hander has been nothing but reliable for Texas this year. He comes into night with an 11-8 record, and a solid 3.83 ERA. His last start was a gem against the Angels, in which he pitched seven shutout innings, striking out seven and giving up only four hits. The Rangers went on to lose the game on a Mark Trumbo walkoff homer in the ninth. The Sox get some offensive uplift with the return of Jacoby Ellsbury to the leadoff spot. Ellsbury missed three games after being hit by a pitch in Kansas City. Ryan Lavarnway again fills in for the injured David Ortiz, who has started to take batting practice and should return soon.
Boston
- Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
- Marco Scutaro, SS
- Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B
- Josh Reddick, RF
- Jed Lowrie, 3B
- Carl Crawford, LF
- Ryan Lavarnway, DH
- Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Texas
- Ian Kinsler, 2B
- Elvis Andrus, SS
- Josh Hamilton, LF
- Michael Young, 3B
- Nelson Cruz, RF
- Mike Napoli, DH
- Mitch Moreland, 1B
- Yorvit Torrealba, C
- Endy Chavez, CF
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 (day-to-day); Kevin Youkilis, sore back (Placed on 15 day DL August 18)
Texas: Adrian Beltre, strained hamstring (placed on 15-day DL July 23rd); Andres Blanco, lower back inflamattion (Placed on 15 day DL August 9th)
Stats
-Saltalamacchia bats 9th for the first time since June 16th.
-Lewis has a 1.78 ERA in his last three starts.
-Lackey has a 3.93 ERA since July 9th.
-The Sox play the Rangers five more times in the next two weeks after tonight. *Gulp*