Red Sox win; Heading to Chicago for Three

Clay Buchholz is starting to come into his own. After a J-Bay RBI double in the first, Clay allowed two runs in the bottom half of the inning. He then settled down and spun a quality start spinning six inning of three run ball. His walks continue to decline giving up one and he struck out three while scattering six hits. Lowell hit the go ahead sac-fly in the sixth to take the lead. Baldelli hit another HR in his spot start, as he continues to rip LHP (.304 AVG). Wagner, Bard, and Papelbon went three hitless inning striking out five to finish the game. The Sox are three up on Texas, and six games on Tampa. We are 7.5 behind the surging Yankees.

To Chicago for a four game stop with the White Sox.

Friday 8:11 PM NESN Byrd (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Garcia (0-2, 5.97 ERA)

Saturday 4:10 PM FOX Wakefield (11-3, 4.12 ERA) vs. Floyd (10-9, 3.97 ERA)

Sunday 2:05 NESN Lester (11-7, 3.58 ERA) vs. Danks (12-8, 3.82 ERA)

Monday 2:05 NESN Beckett (14-5, 3.87 ERA) vs. Buehrle (11-7, 3.86 ERA)

GAME 1

Byrd's win was his last and only start this season, so don't get too exited. His line against Toronto in that game: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 K, 3 BB. He's not striking people out, so hopefully his ball batted in play keep finding people. Garcia, in three starts this year, has given up 12 ER in 16 2/3 innings but he did limit the Red Sox to three earned runs in 6 1/3 innings and struck out five.

GAME 2

Wakefield seems to be feeling better after his cortisone shot, and hopefully it holds up for this start. We could use the Wake we saw in his last start when he came off the DL. Floyd has been solid this year and held the Red Sox to two runs in six innings two starts ago.

GAME 3

Jon Lester also faced the White Sox two rotations ago and threw 6 2/3 innings allowing three earned runs. He's only allowed more than three runs once in his last six starts and is really striking people out of late. Floyd held Boston to two runs in six innings two times ago and is pitching very well lately (2.36 ERA last five starts).

GAME 4

Allowing 24 runs in his last 24 starts, Beckett has reached a wall in the latter part of the season. The home-run ball has bit him as of late, but he has struck out 18 batters over his last two starts; he needs to miss more bats though. Buerhle has allowed eight or more hits in five of his last seven starts since his perfect game and has only struck out 13 batters in that span.

NOTES:

-Varitek catches tonight with Lowell sitting.

-Wagner will not pitch tonight. Papelbon may not either.

-The White Sox are 3-7 in their last 10 starts.

-Texas takes on Baltimore and Tampa takes on Detroit.