The Boston Red Sox were one game better than the Texas Rangers before the All-Star break, but they don’t feel nearly as good about their situation as the teams begin the second half at Fenway Park.
The Rangers are still comfortably atop the AL West despite losing their last four games, while the Red Sox occupy third place in the AL East and remain without several key players as they open a four-game set with Texas on Thursday night.
Boston (51-37) trails New York by five games and Tampa Bay by three. The Red Sox, though, may be grateful they’re even in the race following their first losing April since 1996 and a series of injuries to important players.
All-Stars Dustin Pedroia, Victor Martinez and Clay Buchholz are on the disabled list, joining right-hander Josh Beckett, catcher Jason Varitek and outfielders Jeremy Hermida and Jacoby Ellsbury.
Boston leads the majors with 481 runs - 28 more than the Rangers, who rank third on the strength of productive seasons by All-Stars Josh Hamilton and Vladimir Guerrero. Hamilton is challenging for a batting title with a .346 average, while Guerrero is second in the majors with 75 RBIs.
Tommy Hunter (5-0, 2.34) takes the ball for Texas looking to post a seventh quality start in eight outings, but he has bad memories from his only previous visit to Fenway.
Wakefield (3-7, 5.22 ERA) has a 6.09 ERA in 34 outings versus Texas, putting together a 10-15 record. At home this season, Wakefield is 1-4, with his only win coming two starts ago against... wait for it, Baltimore! Guerrero has gone 10 for 23 with five homers, eight RBIs, and 10 walks against Wakefield. Benji Molina is 7-20, while Michael Young is 11-47 with 8 strikeouts, but also has 8 RBIs.
Forecast: It is interesting how the Rangers really pound the snot out of Wakefield. And what is REALLY interesting is how other teams are figuring it out. Another thing that is interesting is how they are not figuring out Hunter of late. I didn't mention it above, but Josh Hamilton is 2-9 against Wakefield and Hunter's success appears directly involved with Hambino's success.
As Wakefield is a knuckler, he's going to more than likely grab six or seven innings, irregardless of how many pitches he has... the question of how long he stays out there is really based on how many runs he gives up. He gave up six runs in six innings against Texas earlier this season, but no HRs in that one. He didn't see the Rangers in 2009, but in 2008, he went 1-1 in three starts, giving up only six runs on 15 hits and seven walks. He did hand out two long balls, which were to Kinsler and Bradley. Wakefield is due to give up some HRs to the Rangers, as he hasn't done so since that start on April 20th, 2008 (he's had three starts against TX since then, including starting a thumping on September 6th, 2008, where he tossed 1.2 innings and yeilded up 7 runs on four hits and four walks. That first inning in that game was a 1-2-3 inning, too. The second inning was bad for Wakefield, good for the Rangers. That inning also included a passed ball, a wild pitch, a hit batter and two basses loaded walks. It concluded by a pick off from Wakefield's reliever.
So, my prediction is this, the Rangers win the game. The Rangers see three homeruns tonight off of Wakefield, one by Vlad, one by Hambino, one by another Ranger, maybe Molina. Wakefield, I think, will still pull down six plus innings, however, will also grab his eighth loss of the season, Hunter grabs win #6, and a final score to be 7-3, Rangers.
1 Random Thoughts:
Wow! that was a very accurate prediction, dude.
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