Game 160: Red Sox at Orioles - Sox look for home field

Photo courtesy of ESPN
Conor Frederick (@ConorJF1016)
Contributing Writer

The Red Sox open their final series of the season tonight against the Baltimore Orioles with a chance to clinch the best record in the AL and home field advantage. Ironically, they were the team that finished off the Red Sox epic collapse of 2011. No chance of them ruining our playoff hopes this years since we've already clinched the AL East, but the Orioles will still look to slow the Sox down a little heading into the ALDS. That's about all they can do since they are eliminated from postseason contention, but they will still want to finish the season strong in front of their home crowd.

Clay Bucholz takes the ball for the Red Sox, looking to improve to 12 - 1 this year. He is currently sitting on a 1.60 ERA, according the the Red Sox official website, and he will be looking to keep that going and solidify his spot on the postseason rotation.

Red Sox Lineup:
1. Ellsbury, CF
2. Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Napoli, 1B
5. Nava, RF
6. Gomes, LF
7. Saltalamacchia, C
8. Drew, SS
9. Middlebrooks, 3B

Pitching - Bucholz (11-1, 1.60) vs. Feldman (5-5, 3.57)
100 K Club

Koji Uehara is 1 strikeout short of reaching 100 strikeouts, according to ESPN Boston, which would put him among the elite for Red Sox relievers. The last person to do it was Greg Harris in 1993, according to ESPN Boston. He is also striking out 12.32 per 9 innings, which is second among relievers behind Jonathan Papelbon, according to ESPN Boston.

Will the Sox clinch home field tonight? Let me know on Twitter or leave a comment.