Game 82: Blue Jays at Red Sox - Start of a new (half) season
Ben Whitehead
Contributing Writer
A seven-run second inning propelled the Boston Red Sox (48-33) past the Toronto Blue Jays (39-39) Thursday night, putting the Sox in first place and 3.5 games ahead in the AL East at the halfway mark of the season.
Tonight, the Red Sox look to extend a three-game winning streak and their lead in the East. They turn to young Allen Webster, who is 0-2 with an 11.25 ERA in a few spot starts this season. He’s taking the place of Clay Buchholz who remains out with an injury to his neck. The MRI done a couple of days ago showed inflammation in his bursa sac, but no structural damage. Webster aims for his first Major League win against a Jays’ team that is still playing very well despite last night’s hiccup.
Here is the lineup for the Red Sox (first pitch – 7:10 pm EDT):
1. Ellsbury, CF
2. Victorino, RF
3. Pedroia, 2B
4. Ortiz, DH
5. Napoli, 1B
6. Nava, LF
7. Saltalamacchia, C
8. Drew, SS
9. Iglesias, 3B
Webster, P
Josh Johnson, who is 1-2 with a 4.60 ERA this season in eight starts, starts for the Blue Jays. He allowed four runs in six innings against the Orioles his last start, the final win during Toronto’s 11-game winning streak.
Good starters, but can they finish?
The Red Sox 48-33 record at the halfway point marks the 16th straight season Boston has had a winning record through 81 games. Their 3.5-game lead is the biggest they’ve had since 2007, when that team was 10.5 games up. The key is now to finish the season the way they’ve started, make a good playoff run and who knows what could happen.
Let us know what you think about tonight’s game by commenting below.
Like what you read? See more from Ben here.
As always, give me a shout on Twitter: @thebenwhitehead
Contributing Writer
A seven-run second inning propelled the Boston Red Sox (48-33) past the Toronto Blue Jays (39-39) Thursday night, putting the Sox in first place and 3.5 games ahead in the AL East at the halfway mark of the season.
Tonight, the Red Sox look to extend a three-game winning streak and their lead in the East. They turn to young Allen Webster, who is 0-2 with an 11.25 ERA in a few spot starts this season. He’s taking the place of Clay Buchholz who remains out with an injury to his neck. The MRI done a couple of days ago showed inflammation in his bursa sac, but no structural damage. Webster aims for his first Major League win against a Jays’ team that is still playing very well despite last night’s hiccup.
Here is the lineup for the Red Sox (first pitch – 7:10 pm EDT):
1. Ellsbury, CF
2. Victorino, RF
3. Pedroia, 2B
4. Ortiz, DH
5. Napoli, 1B
6. Nava, LF
7. Saltalamacchia, C
8. Drew, SS
9. Iglesias, 3B
Webster, P
Josh Johnson, who is 1-2 with a 4.60 ERA this season in eight starts, starts for the Blue Jays. He allowed four runs in six innings against the Orioles his last start, the final win during Toronto’s 11-game winning streak.
Good starters, but can they finish?
The Red Sox 48-33 record at the halfway point marks the 16th straight season Boston has had a winning record through 81 games. Their 3.5-game lead is the biggest they’ve had since 2007, when that team was 10.5 games up. The key is now to finish the season the way they’ve started, make a good playoff run and who knows what could happen.
Let us know what you think about tonight’s game by commenting below.
Like what you read? See more from Ben here.
As always, give me a shout on Twitter: @thebenwhitehead