Game 114: Red Sox at Astros - Sox open road trip in Houston
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| Photo courtesy of the Houston Astros |
Contributing Writer
The Boston Red Sox hit the road for a 10-game, 11-day trip to Houston, Kansas City and Toronto. They begin with a three-game set against the Astros (36-74), the worst team in Major League Baseball. Boston (68-45) swept Seattle and took two of three against Arizona over the weekend. Now, they try to up their American League best road record – 29-24 – and gain a half game on the Tampa Bay Rays in the East, as they are off today.
John Lackey gets the nod in the series opener at Houston. Lackey is 7-8 with a 3.23 ERA and has not won since before the All-Star Game, going 0-2 in three starts.
Here is the Red Sox lineup tonight for the first game at Minute Maid Park (first pitch – 8:05 pm EDT):
1. Ellsbury, CF
2. Victorino, RF
3. Pedroia, 2B
4. Ortiz, DH
5. Napoli, 1B
6. Gomes, LF
7. Saltalamacchia, C
8. Drew, SS
9. Snyder, 3B
Lackey, P
Astros rookie Brett Oberholtzer makes just his fifth appearance of the season. In his first Major League start in his last outing, he picked up his first career win at Baltimore, going seven innings and allowing three hits and no earned runs. He is 1-0 with a 3.77 ERA.
Nava out to become a father
The Red Sox announced today that Daniel Nava was placed on MLB’s Paternity Leave list, as his wife is due to deliver their first child. It is expected that Nava will rejoin the team Thursday in Kansas City. It is also expected that the Red Sox will bring up Brandon Workman and place him in the bullpen to replace Nava’s roster spot.
Red Sox not star-gazing
Boston swept a four-game series with the Astros earlier this season at Fenway Park. During the series, the Red Sox outscored Houston 28-10. The Sox are 11-2 lifetime against Houston, but both losses happened at Minute Maid Park in 2008.
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