Game Info
Date: Monday, September 21th, 2005
First Pitch: 7:15 pm ET
TV: NESN
Starting Pitchers:
#49 Tim Wakefield (15-11, 4.07)
#26 Scott Kazmir (9-9, 3.77)
Boston (88-63) at Tampa Bay (63-89), 7:15 pm EDT
ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- Prior to heading to Baltimore for a weekend series, the Boston Red Sox will try to keep the bats going in support of Tim Wakefield in the finale of a three-game series with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays .
Boston broke out for 21 hits in a 15-2 win over Tampa Bay on Tuesday. The major league's top offense had been held to an average of 3.7 runs over its previous 15 games, during which it was 7-8.
David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez each homered twice and were two of four Red Sox batters to record four hits in Tuesday's rout. The outburst enabled the club to maintain a one-half game lead over the New York Yankees in the American League East.
Wakefield (15-11, 4.07 ERA) has received just six runs of support over his last three starts, going 1-1 with a 1.73 ERA. He did not factor in the decision in Boston's 3-2, 10-inning win over Oakland last Friday, allowing two runs in nine innings.
The veteran knuckleballer is 13-1 lifetime against the Devil Rays , including 3-0 with a 2.63 ERA this year.
Wakefield will be opposed by dynamic lefthander Scott Kazmir (9-9, 3.77), who is 2-0 with a 0.45 ERA in three starts this month, striking out 24 and yielding 12 hits in 20 innings.
In six career starts against the Red Sox , Kazmir is 2-1 with a 2.18 ERA.
Boston
B. Mueller 3B
E. Renteria SS
D. Ortiz DH
M. Ramirez LF
K. Millar 1B
D. Mirabelli C
T. Nixon RF
A. Hyzdu CF
A. Cora 2B
Tampa Bay
J. Lugo SS
C. Crawford LF
J. Cantu 2B
T. Lee 1B
J. Gomes RF
E. Munson DH
A. Gonzalez 3B
T. Hall C
J. Gathright CF
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Let's make it two in a row! Wake likes the Tampa dome, but Johnny is out tonight. Kazmir is a great young pitcher, but it seems the Sox have rattled him a few time this year. Rent could have a decent night - I hear he's better against lefties.
Let's go Sox!
