6/13 G2: Evening delight

GAME NOTES: Jon Lester takes the mound. Let's hope he starts off better than the canceled Friday affair, when he got the bases drunk in the first and only had one out before the torrential rain come. He'll go against 'Big Game James' Shields, who is looking to move to .500 on the season, given his 9-10 record.

6/13 G1: Afternoon delight

GAME NOTES: A special shoutout to Alex Gonzalez, who has been unbelievable since joining the Sox. He's solidified the lineup, hitting .295/.295/.511 with 4 HR and 11 RBI in 24 games. Walks? Who needs walks? Gonzo also stole his first base since 2006 -- when he was with Boston.

9/12: Beckett, meet Tampa. Tampa, fear Beckett

GAME NOTES: Beckett was well on his way to Cy consideration before he started channeling 2006 with all these home runs. In his last start, he refused to give up any home runs, and Commander Kick-Ass now lays his fiery eyes on Tampa Bay. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

9/11: Rays here to play spoiler

GAME NOTES: Jon Lester is in the midst of a rain delay against James Shields. The Rays are down and out, essentially, but you can bet they'd love to play spoiler against the Sox.

9/9: The Berken Byrd

How's that for a play on words? Except for the whole birds being able to bark thing, of course. Byrd threw a gem against Toronto and followed it up with a stinker against Chicago. What's he got in store for Baltimore? On the other side, Berken has a 6.07 ERA an 4-11 record. These are the types of games we should win. Will we?

9/8: Buchholz meets his old friend/foe

Clay Buchholz tangles with the Baltimore Orioles, who he handcuffed two years ago for a no-hitter... and whom handcuffed him the last time the two dueled on Aug. 2 when Clay gave up seven runs over four innings.

9/7: No more Sox

Today is the final game of the season against the accursed White Sox, stealers of Carlton Fisk. Josh Beckett has given up 12 home runs in his last four starts (!!!) while Mark Buehrle is 2009's Mr. Perfect. Curt Hennig would roll over in his grave if he knew that the wrong Sox had the 'Perfect' label. Can Beckett keep balls inside the Cell? If he wants a future job as prison guard, he better show it here.

9/6: Two young lefties duel

John Danks needs one more win to set a single-season career high in victories and move over .500 in his career. He'll be opposed by John Lester, who now is the Red Sox's career leader in strikeouts by a left-hander in one season. Should be fun.

9/5: Wakefield returns (triumphantly?)

Wakefield returns! Perhaps the Sox's most consistent starter when healthy, Wake will go against Gavin Floyd, who has a 2-0 career record against Boston.

9/4: Two Sox go at it

Paul Byrd goes against Freddy Garcia; two pitchers both returning from the dead. Garcia held the Yankees to three runs in six innings last time out, so he may be rounding into form. The ChiSox certainly aren't; they're collapsing. A sweep would be nice; I still haven't given up hope for the division title.