Game 27: Red Sox at White Sox

Ben Whitehead
Contributing writer

Hanley Ramirez provided the only run with a solo shot to the opposite field Tuesday night as the Chicago White Sox took a 4-1 victory over Boston to open a three-game series. The loss ended a brief three-game winning streak for the Red Sox (15-11), who fell a half-game out of first place to the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East.

Tonight, Clay Buchholz looks to get on track and pick up his first win. Buchholz has been one of the few blemishes this season. He's been wild, ineffective and simply pitiful. Boston is 0-5 in games he's pitched (nearly half the loss total) and his 6.51 ERA is proof that things haven't gone his way so far. Manager John Farrell called out the right-hander recently, so we'll see how he responds tonight.

The White Sox (19-8) counter with lefty Carlos Rodon, who is 1-3 with a 4.33 ERA. Rodon began the year with two quality outings, but suffered a setback by allowing five runs on six hits while lasting just one out in his third start of the season. In his last three starts, Rodon has allowed 11 earned runs and 16 hits over 14 innings, meaning the Red Sox offense has a chance to put up some crooked numbers.

Here is the Red Sox lineup (first pitch 8:10 pm EDT):

1. Mookie Betts, RF
2. Xander Bogaerts, SS
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
5. Chris Young, LF
6. Travis Shaw, 3B
7. Josh Rutledge, 3B
8. Christian Vazquez, C
9. Jackie Bradley Jr., CF

P Clay Buchholz (0-3, 6.51 ERA)

*Lineup updated at 7:20 PM EDT

RSL Notes

All the way with JBJ
Jackie Bradley Jr. recorded one of the Red Sox four hits in Tuesday's game, upping his hitting streak to nine games. Bradley Jr. has raised his average 54 points from .222 to .276 during the streak and has nine RBI in that span. Production like that at the bottom of the lineup is what makes the Red Sox dangerous.

Smith perfect in first appearance
Carson Smith pitched a perfect seventh inning Tuesday, picking up his first strikeout of the year. Smith was activated earlier Tuesday after recovering from a flexor strain.