Texas Rangers (79-61) @ Boston Red Sox (84-54)
Matt Harrison (10-9, 3.59) @ John Lackey (12-10, 5.94)
1:35 PM EDT | Fenway Park (Boston, MA)
TV: NESN, TBS RADIO: WEEI 850, WWZN 1510
GAME NOTES
The Red Sox had their way with the Rangers pitching staff in yesterday’s 12-6 victory, coming up with the timely hits that have been lacking in the last few games. Today the Rangers will send Matt Harrison to the mound on 10 days rest, his last start having been skipped. Will this provide for a rested Harrison or a rusted Harrison? Harrison has set career highs in wins, starts, innings, losses, and strikeouts. Harrison has the lowest run support of all Rangers starters at 4.70 per 9 innings.
The conundrum that is John Lackey takes the mound for the Sox today. He seemed to be Red Sox fans’ favorite whipping boy, but he has turned it around, going 7-2 with a 4.22 ERA in his last 10 starts. Lackey has lost three times this year when giving up two or less runs, second in the American League to Jeremy Hellickson of the Rays. Lackey hopes for a similar start as August 23, when he earned the win against the Rangers in Texas.
Lineups
Boston Red Sox
- Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B
- Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
- Kevin Youkilis, 3B
- David Ortiz, DH
- Conor Jackson, RF
- Carl Crawford, LF
- Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
- Marco Scutaro, SS
Texas Rangers
- Ian Kinsler, 2B
- Elvis Andrus, SS
- Josh Hamilton, LF
- Michael Young, 3B
- Adrian Beltre, DH
- David Murphy, RF
- Mike Napoli, C
- Mitch Moreland, 1B
- 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, currently rehabbing); Bobby Jenks, strained back (placed on 15-day DL July 16, transferred to 60-day DL on September 1)
Texas: Nelson Cruz, pulled left hamstring (placed in 15-day DL August 30); Darren O’Day, right shoulder inflammation (placed on 15-day DL August 30)
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Fun Facts
-Dustin Pedroia’s base-clearing double in the 6th inning of yesterday’s game was the 200th double of his career
-Today’s game marks the final game of the season for the Red Sox against non-division opponents. The rest of the games this year will be against teams in the American League East.
– On September 4, 2000, the Red Sox retired Carlton Fisk’s #27.
-And for today’s Totally Untrue Fun Fact: Carlton Fisk adjusted his cup so much while batting that at his number retirement ceremony the Red Sox presented him with a bronzed cup.