Tune in at 7:10 PM ET as the White Sox take on the Red Sox. Craig Seward will be liveblogging for your enjoyment.
Good evening everyone and welcome to the Score’s liveblog of this AL match-up between the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox.
The White Sox are 8-2 over their last 10 games at Fenway
Park, but need a win tonight to avoid a rare series’ loss. The White Sox are 5-0-1 in their last six series and are trying to avoid their first series loss since losing 2 of 3 to the Cubs at the end of interleague play.
A victory tonight will give the Red Sox have their 1st home series win against the White Sox since 2009 (3-1). Boston had been in a bit of a “Fenway funk”, losing 11 of its 1st 15 home games but has since won 20 of its 34 contests at Fenway Park.
The Red Sox get back yet another of their walking wounded tonight in the form of Dustin Pedroia. Here’s how the rest of tonight’s line-up cards look:
Tonight’s Starting Pitchers: Jose Quintana (4-1, 2.60) vs. Clay Buchholz (8-3, 5.54)
This is the 1st time Quintana has faced the Sox in his career; and what a career he’s had thus far! Quintana has allowed a run in just six of his last 40.1 IP (6 starts). His 2.60 ERA is the second-lowest in baseball this season among rookies.
That bodes well for him tonight, although the Sox have hit lefties very well this season. The Sox are 19-10 (.655) when facing a lefthanded starter this season, the 3rd-best mark in the Majors behind the Giants (19-9, .679) and Yankees (21-11, .656).
Meanwhile , Clay Buchholz seems to be getting his season on track after a horrid start. He is 5-2 with a 3.60 ERA over his last 9 starts and is averaging 8.10 strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched over that span. Buccholtz ranks 2nd in the Majors with 7.48 runs of support per 9.0 innings, so if you like that Red Sox team total, tonight may be a great time to jump on it!
The Red Sox take to the field and we are moments away from 1st pitch. Beautiful night for baseball tonight in Beantown.
These are important games for sure as that last wild card spot may very well come down to these two clubs.
Joan Rivers sitting atop the green monster tonight. That's kinda fitting, isn't it? That plastic surgery isn't doing so well.
Ready for baseball! 1st pitch from Buchholz to De Aza...down the gun! We are underway!
De Aza is 3-13 in the series with a pair of double and a couple of RBI.
De Aza flies to center to start the game. One away for Ramirez, who has been on base quite often in the series.
Ramirez is 2-9 in the series with a double and a couple of runs scored.
Ramirez lines the 1-0 into left for a basehit and the Sox have speed at 1st early in the inning. Dunn to the plate.
Dunn is just 1-12 in the series with a BB. Dunn leads the AL with 73 walks this season. Expect Buchholz to pay close attention to ramirez at 1st.
Dunn fouls back the 1-1 to get behind in the count. Ramirez gaining a bigger lead at 1st.
Strike three called! Nice change from Buchholz featured early as he freezes Dunn on the outside black. Two away for Konerko.
Konerko is 3-8 in the series with a double and a couple of RBI. Look for Ramirez to be moving early in the count here.
Nice block by Shoppach after a Buchholz offering finds dirt. 1-1 to Konerko.
Tons of red seats at Fenway tonight. How they can still justify that sell-out streak is simply a joke.
Strike three called! Back-up change is working for Buchholz early as he buckles Konerko.
Due Up for Boston
1. J. Ellsbury
2. C. Crawford
3. D. Pedroia
Buchholz had that change working before missing his last start and doesn't look to have lost it a bit.
Speed throughout this Red Sox line-up right now, 9 through 4. They have more stolen bases in this series than they had in the last month of play.
Ellsbury takes a ball outside to lead off the bottom of the 1st. Ellsbury has hits in 5 of 6 games since coming off the DL on Friday. He is 11-for-27 (.407) with 3 doubles, 5 runs and a SB in that stretch of games.
Ellsbury seeing the ball great right now. He rips a shot to right, but Rios has him played well for the 1st out of the inning.
Crawford to the plate. Crawford has hit safely in all 3 games this year since being activated from the DL. In that span, Crawford is 5-for-10 with 3 SB and has scored in 6 of 7 times reaching base.
Crawford promptly chops the 1st pitch to Konerko for the easy put out. Big ovation for Pedroia as he takes to the box.
A five pitch 1st for Quintana as he gets Pedy to fly to shallow center. Wow, a 3 minute inning from the Red Sox! #rare
Looking forward to watching the red soxby Swanykdy via twitter 7/19/2012 11:01:08 PM
So glad that the Red Sox game is on ESPN America tonight. Go Red Sox!by Fanxxxxtastic via twitter 7/19/2012 11:02:43 PM
Go White Sox !
Welcome back to the line up Dustin Pedroia. Sox are finally getting over that injury bug.by JCease via twitter 7/19/2012 11:04:18 PM
Jose Quintana's 4 wins have come against 4 winning teams: Yankees, Rangers, Indians, Cardinals.by ChuckGarfien via twitter 7/19/2012 11:05:44 PM
Bring the good stuff tonight Clay Buchholzby BDohertyTSHQ1 via twitter 7/19/2012 11:07:46 PM
Ramirez channels his inner-Youkilis and singles to left out of the two-slot in the White Sox orderby scottmerkin via twitter 7/19/2012 11:13:56 PM
Still can't figure out how Adam Dunn was an All Star with a .210 batting average. #WhiteSoxby JayJersey14 via twitter 7/19/2012 11:14:54 PM
Adam Dunn may be the most well rested everyday player in baseball. He doesn't play defense and rarely has to run hard to first.by reUPSportsPG via twitter 7/19/2012 11:15:56 PM
Konerko needs to start hitting bombs to hell my fantasy team #hopefultweetby AHuStLinHooSier via twitter 7/19/2012 11:19:55 PM
And the K to Konerko.by _TylerHetu via twitter 7/19/2012 11:21:09 PM
