« This Day in Baseball History: October 5th | Home | Has Anyone On SNL Ever Done A Better Impression Than Tina Fey Imitating Sarah Palin? »
Tonight’s Pitching Matchup: Beckett v Saunders
By Administrator | October 5, 2008
After an outstanding campaign during the Red Sox world championship season in 2007, Josh Beckett had a rough year in 2008. The native of Spring, TX, had a decent first half, but he broke down after the all-star break… ultimately being placed on the disabled list after allowing eight runs in just 2 1/3 innings to the Toronto Blue Jays on August 17th.
Overall, Beckett went 12-10, 4.03, in 27 starts… he was only 5-5, 5.65, at Fenway Park. Against the Angels, he was 0-2, 7.43.
During his career, the Sox ace has come to be known for his dominance in the postseason play. Last October, he went 4-0, with a miniscule 1.20 ERA, in four starts. In his career, he is 6-2, 1.73, in ten playoff appearances (nine starts).
Beckett’s health will be something to watch closely in tonight’s game… he will face Los Angeles in Game Three after suffering a strained oblique in a side session last Friday.
A couple of the Angels have had a great deal of success against him over their careers. OF Garrett Anderson has hit .471 (8-for-17) with one home run and five rbi, while OF Torii Hunter has hit .455 (5-for-11). Beckett has owned Mark Teixeira (.111, 1-for-9) and Gary Matthews Jr (.133, 2-for-15).
Angels southpaw Joe Saunders went 17-7, 3.41, and earned his first selection to the AL All-Star team… he was 10-3, 2.55, in road games. He is 4-0, with a 2.89 ERA, in six career outings against the Red Sox… he was 3-0, 2.75, against them this season. In his career at Fenway Park he has gone 2-0, 3.38, in three starts.
Saunders has been hit hard by Dustin Pedroia (.389, 7-for-18) and Coco Crisp (.294, 5-for-17, 1 HR, 4 RBI). Otherwise, the Red Sox haven’t fared very well against him. Jason Varitek has failed to get a hit off him (4 AB), while neither David Ortiz (.200, 3-for-15) and Mike Lowell (.214, 3-for-14) have a home run or an rbi against him.
——————————–
Get the brooms out, Red Sox Nation. It’s over.
I expect tonight’s game will be a pitcher’s duel, but Beckett will get the better of Saunders in a 3-2 Red Sox win that will send the team to its second consecutive ALCS. Jason Bay will make it 3-for-3 with his third home run in three games — a two-run shot into the Green monster seats that will make the difference.
Topics: MLB Playoffs, Sox Games, Sox Players |
