News
Boston gets first look at Chicago in '09
Chicago (63-61) at Boston (70-53), 7:10 p.m. ET
By John Barone / MLB.com
08/24/09 1:38 AM ET
BOSTON -- The Red Sox don't particularly care who they play this time of year.Every game is of vital importance during the heat of a playoff race, but when the Red Sox arrive at Fenway Park on Monday, they might be in for a surprise.
Staring back at them from the opposing dugout will be a White Sox team that Boston last saw on Aug. 31, 2008 -- nearly a full calendar year ago.
A scheduling quirk makes Chicago the lone American League team the Red Sox have not yet faced in 2009, with the first meeting between the clubs coming 123 games into Boston's season. Monday's series opener kicks off a four-game set between the AL's Wild Card leaders -- who hold a one-game lead over Texas -- and one of their distant pursuers.
Strange as it is, the oddity of renewing acquaintances with the White Sox so late in the year -- two weeks before Labor Day, to be exact -- isn't nearly enough of a distraction to derail a Red Sox squad intent on tasting the fruit of postseason baseball this fall.
"Whether you play them early on or you play them now, it's the same scouting reports and the same idea," left fielder Jason Bay said. "It'll be interesting to see a new team come in, but for the most part, it doesn't really matter."
"You can't worry about who you play," said catcher/first baseman Victor Martinez, who saw his fair share of Chicago while spending seven-plus seasons in Cleveland. "This is the big leagues. The schedule is the schedule. We just have to go out and play it."
Their opponent aside, the Red Sox's objective over the next four nights is the same as always: win. In doing so, they could finish off a Wild Card challenger, as Chicago trails Boston by 7 1/2 games for the AL's fourth and final playoff spot.
After dropping two of three to the AL East-leading Yankees over the weekend, manager Terry Francona's team has no interest in dwelling on its every loss. The Red Sox would rather focus on the task at hand.
"We're OK," Francona said late Sunday night. "We just need to play. Our guys do a good job of that.
"The White Sox are waiting."
Pitching matchupBOS: RHP Clay Buchholz (2-3, 3.99 ERA)
The third time proved to be the charm for Buchholz on Wednesday in Toronto, as the right-hander bested Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay after being outdueled by the Yankees' CC Sabathia and the Tigers' Justin Verlander in his previous two outings. Buchholz fired six innings of one-run ball at Rogers Centre, striking out four to record his third consecutive quality start after being unable to log six frames in his first four appearances of 2009. The 25-year-old did not fare well against the White Sox on Aug. 10, 2008, at U.S. Cellular Field, yielding five runs on seven hits over three innings. CWS: RHP Jose Contreras (5-11, 5.13 ERA)
In his start on Wednesday afternoon, Contreras outdueled Royals ace Zack Greinke to pick up a victory. Contreras lasted seven innings, allowing one run on just three hits, while striking out eight and walking one. Contreras threw 97 pitches, 64 for strikes, in posting his first quality start since July 8 against the Indians. The right-hander also won his first start since that Indians game, a span of seven outings. Conteras' seven innings in his most recent start were his most since July 1, also against the Indians. Contreras, who has struggled against the Red Sox in his career, is 3-5 lifetime with an 8.82 ERA in 11 games (10 starts) against Boston. Tidbits
Shortstop Jed Lowrie, on the disabled list with ulnar neuritis in his left wrist, will begin a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket on Monday. ... Francona said Sunday that Martinez will catch veteran Tim Wakefield in the knuckleballer's return from the DL on Wednesday. ... Rehabbing right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka (mild right shoulder strain) is expected to throw three innings "if everything goes to plan" in Monday's Gulf Coast League appearance, Francona said. ... Third baseman Mike Lowell has hit safely in each of his past seven games, batting .357 (10-for-28) over that span. He is 34-for-93 (.366) since coming off the DL on July 17. Tickets
Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.
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• WRKO 680, SBN 1150 (Español) Up next
• Tuesday: Red Sox (Jon Lester, 10-7, 3.58) vs. White Sox (Freddy Garcia,0-1, 10.38 ERA), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Red Sox (Tim Wakefield, 11-3, 4.31) vs. White Sox (Gavin Floyd, 10-8, 3.98), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Red Sox (Junichi Tazawa, 2-2, 3.57) vs. White Sox (John Danks, 11-8, 3.85), 7:10 p.m. ET
John Barone is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
