Boston Red Sox (74-48) @ Kansas City Royals (51-73)
Josh Beckett (9-5, 2.40) @ Luke Hochevar (8-9, 4.89)
8:10 PM EDT | Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City, MO)
TV: NESN RADIO: WEEI 850, WWZN 1510
GAME NOTES
The American League East see saw tilted again in the last two days, and the Red Sox now find themselves a game and a half out of first place. Their quest for home field advantage in the playoffs continues tonight as they play the first game in a four game series against the Royals. Josh Beckett leads off the series for the sox, coming off his worst start of the season. He was shelled for five first inning runs against the Mariners last Saturday. Although he pitched four scoreless innings afterward, the damage had been done. The loss left him at 9-5 for the season, and even the five runs kept his ERA at a terrific 2.40. The first overall pick in the 2006 draft, Kyle Davies, takes the hill for the Royals. He continues to disappoint for a player that the Royals projected as an ace for their staff. He was lit up for five runs in six innings of work in his last start in Chicago. He struck out four and allowed two long balls. His ERA sits at a mediocre 4.89 and his record stands at 7-9. Kevin Youkilis was placed on the 15 day disabled list earlier today with a sore back. Slugging catcher Ryan Larvarnway was called up from Pawtucket to take his spot on the roster. He’ll DH tonight and bat seventh. David Ortiz and Marco Scutaro will both sit out another game due to hell bursitis and a sore back respectively.
Lineups
Boston
- Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
- Jed Lowrie, 3B
- Adrian Gonzalez, DH
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B
- Josh Reddick, Rf
- Carl Crawford, LF
- Ryan Lavarnway, DH
- Jason Varitek, C
- Mike Aviles, SS
Tampa Bay
- Alex Gordon, RF
- Melky Cabrera, CF
- Billy Butler, DH
- Eric Hosmer, 1B
- Jeff Francouer, RF
- Johnny Giovatella
- Salvador Perez, C
- Mike Moustakas, 3B
- Alcides Escobar, SS
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); Marco Scutaro, stiff back back (day-to-day); Kevin Youkilis, sore back (Placed on the 15 day DL August 18)
Kansas City: Kyle Davies, right shoulder impingement (placed on the 15 day DL August 1)
Stats
-The Sox have scored just 5 runs and tallied 9 hits in the past three games.
-Beckett is 4-0 with a 2.93 ERA in 5 career starts in Kansas City.
-Pedroia is a career .477 hitter with two homers and nine RBI’s in 44 at bats.
-Josh Reddick is 3 of his last 26.