Dice-K, Red Sox Return Home For Clash With Mariners
BOSTON (CBS) - The Red Sox (11-13), fresh off a successful 6-3 road trip, are set to host the Seattle Mariners for a three-game weekend series beginning Friday.
The Sox salvaged the final game of their series with the Orioles on Thursday night, winning 6-2 behind a strong pitching performance from Jon Lester. The lefty went eight strong innings, giving up just two runs to improve to 3-1 with a 2.52 ERA this year. He also improved to 14-0 in his career against the O's.
Carl Crawford sprinkled in a couple 2-for-4 efforts in the Angels series last week (a series that the Red Sox swept four straight out in Anaheim), but he's still struggling overall. He enters Friday's game with a .160 batting average and just five extra-base hits this season.
Adrian Gonzalez, meanwhile, is beginning to heat up again. He clubbed two doubles as part of a 3-for-5 effort Thursday against the Orioles, and is now hitting .306 with 11 RBI.
Pitching Matchups For This Weekend's Series:
The Red Sox will send a couple of starters (Daisuke Matsuzaka and John Lackey) coming off back-to-back dominant outings to the hill in the first two games of the series. Clay Buchholz, who has scuffled a bit as of late, will oppose reigning Cy Young award winner Felix Hernandez on Sunday afternoon.
Friday 7:10 p.m.
- LHP Jason Vargas (0-2, 5.53) vs. RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (2-2, 4.09)
Saturday 7:10 p.m.
- RHP Doug Fister (1-3, 3.19) vs. RHP John Lackey (2-2, 6.35)
Sunday 1:35 p.m.
- RHP Felix Hernandez (3-2, 3.32) vs. RHP Clay Buchholz (1-3, 5.33)
