After their four-game series with the Texas Rangers over the weekend to conclude their seven-game road trip, the Boston Red Sox return to the confines of Fenway Park to play in a four-game series with the most surprising story in baseball thus far.
Baseball fans discussing the leader of the American League Central would probably be thinking of the Detroit Tigers or Kansas City Royals, who both jumped out of the gates to the top of the division. However, it’s the upstart Minnesota Twins who are 28-18 (as of 5/28), and are tied with the Royals for the division-lead. Hall of Famer Paul Molitor, the club’s new manager, has Minnesota playing high-quality baseball, and will meet with the Red Sox again after sweeping a three-game set against them from May 25-27.
None of the three games will have average ticket prices over $48. Boston Red Sox tickets for Monday, June 1 have an average ticket price of $40, with a get-in price of $9, while Tuesday’s game has an average ticket price of $47 with a get-in price of $14. The series finale on Wednesday will cost the same as Monday’s action, with an average ticket price of $40 and a get-in price of $9, according to TiqIQ.com.
Fenway Park parking, meanwhile, can be found through ParkWhiz.com. Boston parking starts from $14 for all three games of the series in over ten locations.
The Red Sox have not found their way out of their early-season rut, losing six of their last eight. After taking two out of three against the Los Angeles Angels, Boston was swept by the Twins on the road at Target Field.
Clay Buchholz gave up two runs in the first inning in the series opener and was out-pitched by Mike Pelfrey, who threw seven innings of one-run baseball en route to a 2-1 final. Joe Kelly’s struggles continued, giving up seven runs in the first two innings while Ricky Nolasco retired 15 straight at one point in the middle game. The series finale was filled with home runs by both teams, but the Twins outslugged the Red Sox for a 6-4 victory.
Boston is in the bottom third of Major League Baseball in both team ERA and hitting. Boston ranks 21st in runs scored, 24th in team batting average and 24th in slugging percentage. The Red Sox are currently in last place in the AL East, tied with the Toronto Blue Jays, although they’re still relatively close to the top of the division from the cellar.
The team needs a spark and no one knows for sure where it will come from. Boston and their fans should realize winning two out of three or even sweeping this year’s Twins team is more of an accomplishment than it has been in seasons’ past.