GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: BOSTON (86-56) at BALTIMORE (60-80)

AL: BOSTON (86-56) at BALTIMORE (60-80)

<h3>Matsuzaka looks to get back on track when Red Sox face Orioles</h3>

<div class="pre">Boston (86-56) at Baltimore (60-80) 7:05 pm EDT</div>

BALTIMORE (Ticker) - When the Boston Red Sox acquired DaisukeMatsuzaka from the Japanese Seibu Lions over the winter, theyfigured his historic stamina would carry over to the UnitedStates. Apparently, everyone needs a rest every once in awhile.


Matsuzaka (14-11, 4.11 ERA) will look to get back on track afterfour straight rough outings when the Red Sox visit theBaltimore Orioles on Saturday.


The Japanese righthander gained national acclaim in his homecountry as a 17-year-old, when he tossed 254 pitches in a17-inning complete-game effort at a national high schooltournament. He followed that with a save the next day andtossed a no-hitter in the final the following day.

But unlike in the Japanese professional leagues, which featuresa 135-game regular season and six-man rotations, the AmericanLeague has been a struggle as Matsuzaka nears 200 inningspitched for the first time in his career. Over his past fourstarts, the 26-year-old is 1-3 with a 7.61 ERA.


The Orioles will counter with converted reliever Jon Leicester(0-1, 12.60). The 28-year-old righthander will be making hisfirst start of the season after five appearances out of thebullpen. He has faced the Red Sox three times this season,allowing seven runs in 3 1/3 innings.


The Red Sox have taken the first two games of this series andhave won six of seven to move 30 games over .500 for the firsttime since the end of the 2004 regular season when they went onto win the World Series.


Baltimore has lost 15 of its last 17, and tied a franchiserecord by dropping its 11th straight at home on Friday.

 

AL: BOSTON at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">BOSTON AT BALTIMORE -- LINEUPS

BOSTON BALTIMORE
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Jacoby Ellsbury LF .415 2 7 Brian Roberts 2B .295 10 49
Dustin Pedroia 2B .324 6 45 Tike Redman CF .333 0 6
David Ortiz DH .316 27 96 Nick Markakis RF .294 16 91
Mike Lowell 3B .326 18 101 Miguel Tejada SS .308 17 72
Kevin Youkilis 1B .291 16 77 Kevin Millar 1B .259 15 59
J.D. Drew RF .253 7 49 Aubrey Huff DH .272 15 65
Jason Varitek C .264 13 62 Jay Payton LF .256 5 47
Coco Crisp CF .271 6 55 Scott Moore 3B .000 0 0
Julio Lugo SS .237 6 65 Gustavo Molina C .053 0 1

Daisuke Matsuzaka RHP (14-11, 4.11) Jon Leicester RHP (0-1, 12.60)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE
WARMUPS: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA (14-11, 4.11)
BAL - JON LEICESTER (0-1, 12.60)

UMPIRES: HP - BILL WELKE
1B - LAZ DIAZ
2B - WALLY BELL
3B - MIKE DIMURO

WEATHER: 90 Degrees, clear
WIND: 14 mph, out to right</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE
STARTING BATS: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA AND JASON VARITEK
BAL - JON LEICESTER AND GUSTAVO MOLINA

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J ELLSBURY (.415, 2 HR, 7 RBI)
D PEDROIA (.324, 6 HR, 45 RBI)
D ORTIZ (.316, 27 HR, 96 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY DAVID ORTIZ (28) TO CENTER WITH 1 OUT
IN THE 1ST OFF JON LEICESTER SCORED DUSTIN PEDROIA.
CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 2, BALTIMORE 0

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: M LOWELL (.326, 18 HR, 101 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
BOSTON 2 2 2 0
BALTIMORE 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA
BAL - JON LEICESTER

DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: B ROBERTS (.295, 10 HR, 49 RBI)
T REDMAN (.333, 0 HR, 6 RBI)
N MARKAKIS (.294, 16 HR, 91 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">BOSTON (2) VS BALTIMORE (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Ellsbury lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .405
D Pedroia 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .325
D Ortiz dh 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .317
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .325
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
J Drew rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
C Crisp cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237

Totals 5 2 2 2 0 0 0

BATTING: HR - D Ortiz (28, 1st inning off J Leicester 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - D
Ortiz 2 (98). Team LOB - 0.


BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Roberts 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
T Redman cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
N Markakis rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
M Tejada ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
K Millar 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
A Huff dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
J Payton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
S Moore 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
G Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .053

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 2 -- 2
BALTIMORE - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.11

BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era
J Leicester 1 2 2 2 0 0 1 13.50

Pitches-strikes: J Leicester 15-8. Ground balls-fly balls: J Leicester 2-1.
Batters faced: J Leicester 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Bill Welke. 1B--Laz Diaz. 2B--Wally Bell. 3B--Mike Dimuro.

Weather: 90 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE
CONFIRMED STARTERS: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA
BAL - JON LEICESTER</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY TIKE REDMAN (1) TO RIGHT WITH 1 OUT IN THE
1ST OFF DAISUKE MATSUZAKA.
CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 2, BALTIMORE 1

DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: N MARKAKIS (.294, 16 HR, 91 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
BOSTON 2 2 2 0
BALTIMORE 1 1 2 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA
BAL - JON LEICESTER

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J DREW (.253, 7 HR, 49 RBI)
J VARITEK (.264, 13 HR, 62 RBI)
C CRISP (.271, 6 HR, 55 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">BOSTON (2) VS BALTIMORE (1) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Ellsbury lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .405
D Pedroia 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .325
D Ortiz dh 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .317
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .325
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
J Drew rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
C Crisp cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237

Totals 5 2 2 2 0 0 0

BATTING: HR - D Ortiz (28, 1st inning off J Leicester 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - D
Ortiz 2 (98). Team LOB - 0.


BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Roberts 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
T Redman cf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .348
N Markakis rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
M Tejada ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .310
K Millar 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .259
A Huff dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
J Payton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
S Moore 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
G Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .053

Totals 5 1 2 1 0 0 1

BATTING: HR - T Redman (1, 1st inning off D Matsuzaka 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - T
Redman (7). Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 2 -- 2
BALTIMORE - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 1 2 1 1 0 0 1 4.14

BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era
J Leicester 1 2 2 2 0 0 1 13.50

Pitches-strikes: D Matsuzaka 15-11; J Leicester 15-8. Ground balls-fly balls:
D Matsuzaka 1-2; J Leicester 2-1. Batters faced: D Matsuzaka 5; J Leicester 5.


UMPIRES: HP--Bill Welke. 1B--Laz Diaz. 2B--Wally Bell. 3B--Mike Dimuro.

Weather: 90 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY JULIO LUGO SCORED J.D. DREW.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J LUGO ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 3
BALTIMORE 1 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J ELLSBURY (.405, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JACOBY ELLSBURY SCORED JULIO LUGO.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J ELLSBURY ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 4
BALTIMORE 1 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: D PEDROIA (.325, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">BOSTON (4) VS BALTIMORE (1) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Ellsbury lf 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .419
D Pedroia 2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .324
D Ortiz dh 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .317
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .325
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
J Drew rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .255
J Varitek c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .263
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
J Lugo ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .239

Totals 11 4 5 4 0 1 2

BATTING: 2B - J Drew (26, J Leicester); J Lugo (33, J Leicester). HR - D Ortiz
(28, 1st inning off J Leicester 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - D Ortiz 2 (98), J Lugo
(66), J Ellsbury (8). 2-out RBI - J Lugo, J Ellsbury. Team LOB - 1.


BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Roberts 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
T Redman cf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .348
N Markakis rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
M Tejada ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .310
K Millar 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .259
A Huff dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
J Payton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
S Moore 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
G Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .053

Totals 5 1 2 1 0 0 1

BATTING: HR - T Redman (1, 1st inning off D Matsuzaka 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - T
Redman (7). Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 22 -- 4
BALTIMORE - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 1 2 1 1 0 0 1 4.14

BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era
J Leicester 2 5 4 4 0 1 1 14.14

Pitches-strikes: D Matsuzaka 15-11; J Leicester 36-21. Ground balls-fly
balls: D Matsuzaka 1-2; J Leicester 3-2. Batters faced: D Matsuzaka 5; J
Leicester 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Bill Welke. 1B--Laz Diaz. 2B--Wally Bell. 3B--Mike Dimuro.

Weather: 90 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, swirling.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
BOSTON 2 2 4 5 0
BALTIMORE 1 1 2 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA
BAL - JON LEICESTER

DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: A HUFF (.272, 15 HR, 65 RBI)
J PAYTON (.256, 5 HR, 47 RBI)
S MOORE (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">BOSTON (4) VS BALTIMORE (1) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Ellsbury lf 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .419
D Pedroia 2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .324
D Ortiz dh 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .317
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .325
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
J Drew rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .255
J Varitek c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .263
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
J Lugo ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .239

Totals 11 4 5 4 0 1 2

BATTING: 2B - J Drew (26, J Leicester); J Lugo (33, J Leicester). HR - D Ortiz
(28, 1st inning off J Leicester 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - D Ortiz 2 (98), J Lugo
(66), J Ellsbury (8). 2-out RBI - J Lugo, J Ellsbury. Team LOB - 1.


BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Roberts 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
T Redman cf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .348
N Markakis rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
M Tejada ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .310
K Millar 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .259
A Huff dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .272
J Payton lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
S Moore 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
G Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .053

Totals 8 1 2 1 0 1 1

BATTING: HR - T Redman (1, 1st inning off D Matsuzaka 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - T
Redman (7). Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 22 -- 4
BALTIMORE - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 2 2 1 1 0 1 1 4.12

BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era
J Leicester 2 5 4 4 0 1 1 14.14

Pitches-strikes: D Matsuzaka 30-21; J Leicester 36-21. Ground balls-fly
balls: D Matsuzaka 2-3; J Leicester 3-2. Batters faced: D Matsuzaka 8; J
Leicester 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Bill Welke. 1B--Laz Diaz. 2B--Wally Bell. 3B--Mike Dimuro.

Weather: 90 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, swirling.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
BOSTON 2 2 4 5 0
BALTIMORE 1 0 1 2 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA
BAL - JON LEICESTER

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: D ORTIZ (.317, 1-FOR-1, HR, 2 RBI)
M LOWELL (.325, 0-FOR-1)
K YOUKILIS (.290, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">BOSTON (4) VS BALTIMORE (1) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Ellsbury lf 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .419
D Pedroia 2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .324
D Ortiz dh 2 1 2 2 0 0 0 .319
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .325
K Youkilis 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .290
J Drew rf 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .254
J Varitek c 2 0 0 0 0 2 3 .262
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
J Lugo ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .239

Totals 15 4 6 4 1 2 7

BATTING: 2B - J Drew (26, J Leicester); J Lugo (33, J Leicester); D Ortiz (42,
J Leicester). HR - D Ortiz (28, 1st inning off J Leicester 1 on, 1 Out). RBI -
D Ortiz 2 (98), J Lugo (66), J Ellsbury (8). 2-out RBI - J Lugo, J Ellsbury.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Varitek 1. Team LOB - 3.


BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Roberts 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
T Redman cf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .348
N Markakis rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
M Tejada ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .310
K Millar 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .259
A Huff dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .272
J Payton lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
S Moore 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
G Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .053

Totals 8 1 2 1 0 1 1

BATTING: HR - T Redman (1, 1st inning off D Matsuzaka 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - T
Redman (7). Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 220 -- 4
BALTIMORE - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 2 2 1 1 0 1 1 4.12

BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era
J Leicester 3 6 4 4 1 2 1 12.37

Pitches-strikes: D Matsuzaka 30-21; J Leicester 54-31. Ground balls-fly
balls: D Matsuzaka 2-3; J Leicester 3-4. Batters faced: D Matsuzaka 8; J
Leicester 16.

UMPIRES: HP--Bill Welke. 1B--Laz Diaz. 2B--Wally Bell. 3B--Mike Dimuro.

Weather: 90 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, swirling.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
BOSTON 2 2 0 4 6 0
BALTIMORE 1 0 1 2 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA
BAL - JON LEICESTER

DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: G MOLINA (.053, 0 HR, 1 RBI)
B ROBERTS (.295, 0-FOR-1)
T REDMAN (.348, 1-FOR-1, HR, RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
BASES LOADED WALK TO NICK MARKAKIS SCORED GUSTAVO MOLINA.

SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, N MARKAKIS ON FIRST, T REDMAN ON SECOND, B
ROBERTS ON THIRD, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 4
BALTIMORE 2 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: M TEJADA (.310, 1-FOR-1)</div>