| 30 August 2010
After back-to-back losses in Tampa, the Sox are still mathematically in the playoff race, but Red Sox Nation seems to be coming to grips with the fact that 2010 was just not Boston's year. The players, for the most part, are saying all the right things, but starting on Tuesday, the Red Sox will likley begin preparing for the 2011 season.
Josh Beckett will get the start and after losing most of 2010 to injury, he'll be looking to find his groove and carry that into next season. Last time out, Beckett held the Mariners to just one hit through 6 innings, but coughed up three runs in the 7th, giving way to Daniel Bard. It was good to see Beckett looking sharp, but he continues to struggle after 90 pitches. He'll get a shot at another weak lineup in Baltimore. The O's rank 27th in runs scored with 482, and with a 6-2 record and a 3.61 ERA against them in 13 career starts, you'd like to think he will win this game. Beckett did face the Orioles this season, holding them to 2 runs through 7 innings while fanning 6... but that was on May 2nd.
The O's will counter with Brian Matusz (6-12, 4.79). Matusz is coming off back-to-back strong outings, holidng the White Sox to one run and three hits through seven innings and blanking the Rangers through eight, the start before that. He's actually 3-1 with a 2.32 ERA in his last five starts, so the Sox are catching him at the wrong time. The lefty youngster had one of his best starts of the year the last time he faced Boston, fanning 8 and hold the Sox to 2 hits and zero runs. Overall, he's 1-0 with a 2.41 ERA against the Red Sox.
Key Matchups
Victor Martinez kills lefties, is red hot right now and is 2 for 5 with a ding dong against Matusz.
Ty Wiggington is 9 for 29 (.310) with 4 homers and 3 doubles against Beckett, but he's been a funk lately. Luke Scott may be the other guy to watch out for: 8 for 18 (.444) 2 HR.
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