| 01 September 2009
The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays begin a crucial series tonight in the Trop.
For the Rays, this series is the doorway back into the playoff race... but it could also prove to be the trap door that sends them plummeting out of contention.
For the Red Sox, it's a chance to put some distance between them and one of their competitors for the AL wild card spot.
Both teams will be throwing some of their big guns in this series and it all starts with Jon Lester and Andy Sonnanstine tonight.
Sonnanastine is not a "big gun" for the Rays... while Lester has been absolutely dominant for the Red Sox. Lester is 6-2 with a 2.29 ERA in his last 15 starts. He's been robbed a few wins over that span, but he's done his job, fanning 113 batter while issuing just 29 free passes and holding opponents to a .203 BAA. He's given the Sox 6.8 innings per start over the past three months and the Sox will be looking for more of that tonight and in September.
Last time Lester faced the Rays he held them to one run and three hits through six innings in what eventually became a 2-4 loss for the Sox in Tampa back on August 4th. But that was when our offense was in hibernation. Now the bats are clicking, and with an off day on Monday, the Sox should be fresh.
They be stepping in against Sonnanstine, who returns to the big after being demoted to Triple A in late June. "Sonny" posted mediocre number in the first half (6-7, 6.61) and didn't exactly light 'em up in AAA (5-3, 4.40), but with Scott Kazmir now in LA... Sonny gets the call over prospect Wade Davis.
Sonnanstine actually earned a win against the Red Sox back on May 1st, holding the Sox to two runs through 5 2/3 innings despite allowing eight hits and four walks. The Sox need to take advantage of those mistakes this time around.
It will be interesting to see how Tito plays with the lineup over the next three days. Rumors are that Varitek will catch Lester and Beckett, and although I'd rather see Martinez, Ortiz, Lowell and Youk all in the lineup, Tek has pretty good numbers against Sonnanstine: 6 for 14 (.462) with a homer and 4 RBI. Big Papi is just 3 for 18 (.167) while Lowell is 7 for 17 (.412), Youk is 3 for 15 (.200) and V-Mart is 1 for 7 (.143).
Seeing that, you might argue for an extra off day for V-Mart, but he's a career .378 against the Rays and a .396 hitter in the Trop.
I really don't know what Tito will do tonight, but it should be interesting.
As for the Rays... their best hitters have given Lester trouble over the years: Bartlett is 8 for 16 (.500), Crawford is 7 for 22 (.308), Longoria is 5 for 15 (.333) and Pena is 6 for 24 (.250) with 3 dong dongs and 8 RBI.
Bottom Line: The pitching match-ups are in our favor, but this series could turn into a slugfest like the last Yankees series... I like out bullpen better than theirs, but let's hope the starters can keep the Rays quiet.
Go Sox!
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