Game 34: Reds at Red Sox - Can Peavy help Sox to Cincy sweep?
Contributing Writer
An extra-inning walk-off by Grady Sizemore moved the Boston Red Sox to within one game of .500 for the ninth time this season. They haven't had an even record since April 4 when the Sox were 2-2.
That feat can be accomplished tonight as Jake Peavy tries to pick up a sweep for Boston against the Cincinnati Reds. Peavy is unblemished against Cincinnati in his career, boasting a 6-0 record with a 2.14 ERA in 10 career starts. Peavy's ERA against the Reds is his best against any team he's faced at least three times and it's the second-best among active pitchers vs. Cincinnati.
For the season, Peavy is 1-1 with a 2.87 ERA and coming off consecutive quality starts. He took the loss against the Rays in his last start, however, giving up two runs on three hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Here is the Red Sox (16-17) lineup for tonight's game (first pitch - 7:10 pm ET):
1) Pedroia, 2B
2) Victorino, RF
3) Ortiz, DH
4) Napoli, 1B
5) Sizemore, LF
6) Pierzynski, C
7) Bradley Jr., CF
8) Middlebrooks, 3B
9) Herrera, SS
Peavy P
Mike Leake will start for the Reds (15-17). Leake has a 3.53 ERA this year and dropped to 2-3 with a loss in his most recent outing. He went seven innings against Atlanta, but allowed four runs on eight hits in the loss.
This and that
Xander Bogaerts gets the night off and the Sox have the day off tomorrow to travel to Texas. Bogaerts ranks last on the team with RISP with a .125 average (4-for-32) ... David Ortiz played his 2,000th career game in the extra-inning win Tuesday. Fittingly, he stayed in the entire game and scored the winning run ... Boston gets a day off before facing the Rangers in Texas for a three-game series. The Sox get another off day to head north to Minnesota for a three-game series against the Twins after that.
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