Baltimore Orioles (63-89) @ Boston Red Sox (87-66)
Brian Matusz (1-7, 9.84) @ John Lackey (12-12, 6.19)
7:10 PM EDT | Fenway Park (Boston, MA)
TV: NESN, MLB Network RADIO: WEEI 850, WWZN 1510
GAME NOTES
After taking a close loss in the opening tilt of the doubleheader, the Sox will try to get back on track tonight against the Orioles. The Red Sox are now a mere 1-1/2 games ahead of the Rays for the AL Wild Card Spot. The Red Sox started the season 2-10, are 2-10 in their past 12 games, and were 83-46 in between. Memories…
John Lackey takes the mound in the nightcap. Although this season for Lackey has been, let’s call it challenging, he has had great success against the O’s. Lackey threw 6-2/3 innings of shutout ball agaisnt the Orioles on July 9, and is 11-4 in his career against Baltimore with a 2.89 ERA (his best career ERA against any AL team).
Facing the Red Sox tonight is Brian Matusz. Matusz has had success against the Red Sox. In five career starts against Boston (all in 2010) he is 2-0 with a 2.43 ERA, and is 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA at Fenway.
Lineups
Boston Red Sox
- Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
- Marco Scutaro, SS
- Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B
- David Ortiz, DH
- Jed Lowrie, 3B
- Conor Jackson, LF
- Jason Varitek, C
- Darnell McDonald, RF
Baltimore Orioles
- Matt Angle, CF
- J.J. Hardy, SS
- Nick Markakis, RF
- Vlad Guerrero, DH
- Chris Davis, 1B
- Robert Andino, 3B
- Nolan Reimold, LF
- Ryan Adams, 2B
- Craig Tatum, 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, broken finger (placed on 15-day DL July 26, placed on 60-day DL September 13); Erik Bedard, left knee, left lat (day to day, will start on September 20); Kevin Youkilis, left hip bursitis and sports hernia (day-to-day)
Baltimore: Cesar Izturis, left groin strain (placed on 15-day DL August 8); Adam Jones, sore left ankle (day-to-day), Mark Reynolds, head injury (day-to-day)
Fun Facts
– This is the fourth doubleheader of the Red Sox season. The Sox split against the Tigers and Rays, and swept the Athletics.
– On September 19, 1977, Ted Cox tied then broke the 44-year-old record for consecutive hits at the start of a career. Cox’ sixth consecutive hit broke the record of five held by Cecil Travis of the Washington Senators, set in 1933.
– And for today’s Totally Untrue Fun Fact: Engineers have invented a way to collect the wind energy created by Vlad Guerrero’s swings. Using sensors placed in the pockets of his uniform, Guerrero singlehandedly powers Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.