A minor knee injury isn’t likely to keep Josh Hamilton from raising his batting average even higher Friday night.
After moving into the top spot in that category, Hamilton will likely remain in the lineup following a scare as the Texas Rangers continue their four-game series with the injury-riddled Boston Red Sox.
After going 1 for 3 in the All-Star game, Hamilton had three hits versus the Red Sox (51-38) to take over the league lead with a .351 batting average. But the slugger left in the seventh with a sore right knee after leading off the inning with his third double of the game.
Hamilton is hitting .350 with two homers, seven doubles and 11 RBIs in 10 games at Fenway Park. His latest performance against the Red Sox helped the Rangers come out of the break strong after they were swept at home in a four-game series by major league-worst Baltimore.
The Red Sox, who have been held to five runs over their last two games, now have to contend with Rangers right-hander Colby Lewis (8-5, 3.33 ERA).
Lewis has a 1.59 ERA in winning his last two road starts, striking out 19 in 17 innings. He was at home for his last outing, surrendering three runs while striking out eight in six innings to earn a win in Texas’ 4-3 victory over Cleveland on July 8.
Lewis has not received a decision in two career starts versus the Red Sox, posting a 4.09 ERA.
Boston will counter with Felix Doubront (1-1, 4.22), who has been called up from Triple-A Pawtucket to help make up for the absence of Clay Buchholz (hamstring) and Josh Beckett (back). The 22-year-old left-hander lost his last outing, giving up two runs and four walks in 5 2-3 innings as Boston lost 3-2 to Tampa Bay on July 6.
Doubront has never faced the Rangers.
Forecast: I had said this earlier this season about the Rangers and facing fresh blood. Felix is fresh blood. The Rangers do not do well against the Freshness of others. Combine that with Colby Lewis' history against the Red Sox, and the picture doesn't look well for the Rangers. There is a wildcard in this game. Colby Lewis isn't the same pitcher he was, even earlier this season. He did pitch on April 20th this season against the BoSox, chucking up three runs in five innings (five hits, two walks, 5 Ks, 1 HR). Lewis also has won his last two road games and is 3-4 on the road. We also have to point out the obvious, as mentioned slightly above, that Boston isn't as good now as they were on April 20th. They are limping. The question that really needs to be asked, can Lewis take advantage of their limping? Also, can the hitters step up with some run support against no-name pitcher? To answer, I think Colby can and will step up. I am doubtful (at-best) on the hitters, though. If anything is going to happen with the sticks tonight, the best opportunity would come in one of two ways. Bullpen (which didn't feast yesterday, but might tonight) or Felix's third time through the rotation, which could be too late for the Rangers, as they may not get a great chance, as Felix may already be done by that point (pitch count, mind you). Either way, we are talking late in the game scoring for the Rangers, which would also mean a possible come from behind victory, should the Rangers win. So, my end thoughts are this: Boston takes this game with a score of 4-2. Oh, and those are stinky socks behind Felix in the picture above (I forget whose socks those are, but it adds 'flavor' to the picture just knowing that...)
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