Hi guys, welcome to tonight's liveblog of the Jays at Fenway to take on the Red Sox. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10pm, but there might be a little bit of a rain delay. In the meantime, here are your starting lineups.
Toronto Blue Jays (58-67)
Scutaro
Hill
Lind
Overbay
Wells
Ruiz
Barajas
Snider
Bautista
SP: Scott Richmond (6-7, 4.09 ERA)
Boston Red Sox (73-54)
Ellsbury
Pedroia
Martinez
Youkilis
Ortiz
Bay
Drew
Varitek
Gonzalez
SP: Josh Beckett (14-5, 3.65 ERA)
Josh Beckett has been roughed up a little bit in his last two starts. He was charged with 8 earned runs in his last start against the Yankees, and 7 runs in his second last start against the Blue Jays.
Scott Richmond is looking for his first win since June 24th. Since coming back from the DL, Richmond is 0-2 with a 6.19 ERA. The bright spot is that Scott struck out 10 in his last start versus the Angels.
Believe it or not, Vernon Wells has hit the most home runs against Josh Beckett than any other player. V-Dub has 5 HR off Beckett, 4 of which came in the 2006 season.
My personal opinion, I think the Angels are the winner in this deal. Kazmir started off slow, but he's had some good starts as of late. They also get him for the 2010 and 2011 season.
The Rays probably want to use some of that cash to lock up Carl Crawford.
Hopefully history will repeat itself tonight - Scutaro, Hill, Lind, Overbay, Wells, and Barajas are all .300+ hitters against Josh Beckett.
It looks like its raining a little bit in Boston, but they will go ahead with the game. Apparently they're more concerned with the showers in store for tomorrow. Suggestion: get a dome!
Red Sox currently holding on to a 1.5 game lead in the Wild Card over the Texas Rangers.
Just four lefties in the lineup tonight for the Red Sox, that will work towards Richmond's benefit. Lefties hit .263 off Richmond as opposed to .210 for righties.
He most certainly has the experience - I think the last time was that 5 inning outing in Cleveland. The game that ended up being 5+ hours with the rain delay.
Unfortunately for us that are watching in regular def, we can't see that. I really need to upgrade to HD!
An update to an earlier post: apparently the Kazmir trade is still up in the air. Conflicting reports.
Scutaro in to lead it off.
Second strike called on the outside corner.
Just a little further outside for ball two.
Leadoff single for Scutaro!
@imeanwegotguys Thanks! I keep seeing different reports, so for now let's just say it's true.
Yes, Aaron Hill's OBP is low but his HR are high (30).
Back to back singles, nobody out for Adam Lind.
@imeanwegotguys Keep us updated if you hear anything!
Strike one, even count to Lind. It looks like he's after an inside pitch.
@_L_Jay_ Often times the opposing fans are louder than the home fans. Especially those Jays fans in Seattle!
Broken bat grounder to Pedroia, Lind out at first but Scutaro and Hill advance. Runners on second and third for Overbay.
Overbay is a career .300 vs. Beckett - 9 for 30.
Overbay swings 3-0 and fouls away.
Youkilis is doing leg kicks over at third base to stay limber.
Overbay almost tosses the bat away thinking it's ball four. That's the strike zone at Fenway Park.
Tune in Friday at 7:00 PM ET as the Toronto Blue Jays take on the Boston Red Sox. Scheduled starters are Scott Richmond (6-7, 4.09 ERA) for Toronto and Josh Beckett (14-5, 3.65 ERA) for Boston. Ian Hunter from The Blue Jay Hunter will be liveblogging for your enjoyment.
