Series Thread: Red Sox @ Blue Jays (4/17, 4/18, 4/19)

The Rondo Show · Post #1 » by **The Rondo Show** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 4:29 am

Game One: Tuesday, April 17th @ 7 PM EST on NESN.

Daisuke Matsuzaka vs. Gustavo Chacin

Red Sox: Matsuzaka was solid though not spectacular in his last start, giving up eight hits and three runs over seven innings in a 3-0 loss to the Mariners. Matsuzaka has allowed 14 hits over 14 innings over his first two starts. His control has been as advertised, with Matsuzaka striking out 14 batters while walking just two. Opponents are hitting .240 against him. Thanks to a rainout against the Mariners, Matsuzaka will have five days of rest in this start, which is what he became accustomed to in Japan.

Blue Jays: In his last outing, Chacin recorded his first win of the season and continued his strong start to 2007. The 26-year-old lefty surrendered three runs on five hits over five innings against the Royals. Chacin has experienced a lot of success versus Boston during his three-year career. He is 5-0 with an ERA of 4.29 in seven starts.

Game Two: Wednesday, April 18th @ 7 PM EST on NESN.

Tim Wakefield vs. Tomo Ohka

Red Sox: Wakefield's signature knuckleball had extra bite on a brisk Friday at Fenway, where the 40-year-old starter shut down Vladimir Guerrero and the Angels' bats. Wakefield gave up just five hits and one run in seven innings, lowering his season ERA to a sparkling 1.38. Wakefield yielded just one earned run in his first start of the year against Texas. Wakefield has thrown more Major League innings (217 2/3) against the Blue Jays than any other team. He has a 3.93 ERA against the Jays, but that number rises to 4.75 at Toronto's Rogers Centre.

Blue Jays: Ohka has gotten off to a rough start this season. In his previous outing, the 31-year-old took the loss after allowing four earned runs on eight hits over six innings against the Tigers. That start followed a disappointing performance in Tampa, in which he allowed five runs on six hits over 4 1/3 innings. This will be Ohka's first appearance vs. Boston in his career.

Game Three: Thursday, April 19th @ 12:30 PM EST on NESN.

Julian Tavarez vs. Roy Halladay

Red Sox: Tavarez will be making his first start in 12 days when he finally gets the ball in the series finale against the Blue Jays. Tavarez lost his only start this season on April 7, when he allowed six hits and four runs in four innings. Command was an issue as he walked five while striking out three in his 2007 debut as Boston?s fifth starter. Tavarez has twice had his second start pushed back, with Red Sox rainouts on April 12 and again on Sunday the reason.

Blue Jays: Halladay has been his usual dominant self to start the 2007 season. On Friday, he outdueled Tigers ace Jeremy Bonderman to earn his second win of the season. The former Cy Young Award winner allowed only one run on six hits over 10 innings of work against the Tigers. Halladay is 8-7 with a 4.60 ERA in 27 appearances versus the Red Sox.

Post #2 » by **Flaming Mo** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 2:33 pm

I'm really looking forward to the Matzusaka game, will only be able to watch it the next day.

Rainmaker · Post #3 » by **Rainmaker** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:47 pm

Let's go Red Sox!

Clip the Jays' wings!!

Post #4 » by **sunshinekids99** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 1:21 am

Bats need to get going. Would like to see Francona pinch hit for Pedroia here.

-MetA4- · Post #5 » by **-MetA4-** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 2:10 am

Gustavo Chacin owns your soul.

Post #6 » by **Bleeding Green** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 3:43 am

The Devil owns Gustavo's.

Daisuke has been truly brilliant in all three starts and people are going to be talking about his 1-2 record as a sleight against him. It's gonna be awesome.

50 bucks John Kruk or someone says, "wow, this isn't what the Red Sox bargained for."

Post #7 » by **Flaming Mo** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:46 am

Even when the Red Sox lost tonight, they always have very very good starting pitching and tonight Dice K also went 6 good innings. This will pay off in the long run as the bullpen will stay fresh and our offense has enough power to win games.

The Yankees won easily tonight but again their starter only went 5 innings, this isn't the recipe for success.

Rondo_Fan · Post #8 » by **Rondo_Fan** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 5:18 pm

-MetA4- wrote:Gustavo Chacin owns your soul.

Too true. I'm getting kind of sick of watching it.

Post #9 » by **wetsthebed** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 12:55 am

Wakefield's been great this season so far.

Post #10 » by **sunshinekids99** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 1:15 am

Yeah Wake really has come out of the gates very well. At some point he'll hit a rough spot, right now he's got it going.

DrewDaGreat12 · Post #11 » by **DrewDaGreat12** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 5:48 am

Another good start by Wake!

Post #12 » by **sunshinekids99** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 10:21 am

Nice to see Belli actually providing something at the plate so far this year too. I don't expect him to be a .300 hitter or get on base at a good clip. But a homerun from time to time would be nice.

Post #13 » by **Flaming Mo** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 10:54 am

And another starter goes 7 strong innings... :clap:

Rainmaker · Post #14 » by **Rainmaker** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 11:47 am

Paps for Cy Young!!!

Post #15 » by **Basketball Jesus** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 12:31 pm

Rainmaker wrote:Tim Wakefield for Cy Young!!!

Rainmaker · Post #16 » by **Rainmaker** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 4:32 pm

Basketball Jesus wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Paps is my favorite player, gotta stick with my boy :p

Post #17 » by **Flaming Mo** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 4:52 pm

Great leadoff at bat by Coco Crisp... one swing, one out! :noway:

Post #18 » by **Flaming Mo** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 5:01 pm

Hinske is really playing well so far...

Dirty Water · Post #19 » by **Dirty Water** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 5:23 pm

I can't wait until Lester comes back. Our rotation is gonna be sick.

Post #20 » by **Basketball Jesus** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 5:35 pm

Rainmaker wrote:Paps is my favorite player, gotta stick with my boy :p

Heh, speaking of: When the Sox won the World Series, my fianc