GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: OAKLAND (75-82) at BOSTON (92-64)

AL: OAKLAND (75-82) at BOSTON (92-64)

<h3>Red Sox maintain push for division title</h3>

Oakland (75-82) at Boston (92-64) 7:05 pm EDT


BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Boston Red Sox already know that theyhave clinched a playoff spot. However, they don't know if theywill enter the postseason as the American League East Divisionchampions or as a wild card.


The Red Sox look to move closer to their first division title inover a decade Tuesday when they host the Oakland Athletics.

Boston owns a two-game lead over the New York Yankees (90-66) inthe AL East. But the Red Sox, who have not won the divisionsince 1995, have limped to the finish line a bit this season,going 12-13 since August 27.


One of the primary reasons for Boston's struggles has been theabsence of Kevin Youkilis and Manny Ramirez, both of whom havebeen sidelined with injuries.


Youkilis has missed the last eight games after being plunked onthe right wrist by Chien-Ming Wang of the Yankees on September15. Meanwhile, Ramirez is recovering from a strained obliquewhich has kept him out since August 28.


Curt Schilling (8-8, 3.97 ERA) will try to give the Red Sox somebreathing room atop the AL East when he takes the mound onTuesday.


Schilling allowed four runs and six hits in 7 2/3 innings in hislast start against the Yankees. The 40-year-old righthandersuffered his third consecutive loss, as New York edged Boston,4-3, on September 16.


Oakland counters with Chad Gaudin (11-12, 4.52), who surrenderedeight runs - three earned - and eight hits in just four inningsduring his start last Tuesday. The 24-year-old righthandertook his third loss in his last four starts as the A's droppedan 8-7 decision to the Seattle Mariners.


Gaudin went 8-3 with a 2.88 ERA in the first half of the seasonbut has fallen apart since the All-Star break, posting a 3-9record with an 6.91 ERA in 14 starts.

 

AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON

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

OAKLAND BOSTON
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Shannon Stewart LF .291 12 48 Dustin Pedroia 2B .315 7 49
Daric Barton 1B .333 2 6 Manny Ramirez LF .292 20 86
Nick Swisher CF .265 22 75 David Ortiz DH .321 32 112
Jack Cust RF .261 26 82 Mike Lowell 3B .324 20 110
Mark Ellis 2B .273 19 76 J.D. Drew RF .261 10 57
Dan Johnson DH .232 18 61 Jason Varitek C .257 15 66
Marco Scutaro SS .262 7 41 Coco Crisp CF .268 6 60
Jack Hannahan 3B .286 3 22 Eric Hinske 1B .207 6 21
Kurt Suzuki C .254 7 37 Julio Lugo SS .239 8 73

Chad Gaudin RHP (11-12, 4.52) Curt Schilling RHP (8-8, 3.97)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON
WARMUPS: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN (11-12, 4.52)
BOS - CURT SCHILLING (8-8, 3.97)

UMPIRES: HP - JERRY MEALS
1B - ROB DRAKE
2B - LARRY PONCINO
3B - GARY DARLING

WEATHER: 86 Degrees, clear
WIND: 13 mph, out to center</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">OAKLAND AT BOSTON -- REVISED LINEUPS

OAKLAND BOSTON
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Shannon Stewart LF .291 12 48 Dustin Pedroia 2B .315 7 49
Daric Barton 1B .333 2 6 Manny Ramirez LF .292 20 86
Nick Swisher CF .265 22 75 David Ortiz DH .321 32 112
Jack Cust RF .261 26 82 Mike Lowell 3B .324 20 110
Mark Ellis 2B .273 19 76 J.D. Drew RF .261 10 57
Dan Johnson DH .232 18 61 Jason Varitek C .257 15 66
Marco Scutaro SS .262 7 41 Jacoby Ellsbury CF .372 3 15
Jack Hannahan 3B .286 3 22 Eric Hinske 1B .207 6 21
Kurt Suzuki C .254 7 37 Julio Lugo SS .239 8 73

Chad Gaudin RHP (11-12, 4.52) Curt Schilling RHP (8-8, 3.97)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON
STARTING BATS: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN AND KURT SUZUKI
BOS - CURT SCHILLING AND JASON VARITEK

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: S STEWART (.291, 12 HR, 48 RBI)
D BARTON (.333, 2 HR, 6 RBI)
N SWISHER (.265, 22 HR, 75 RBI)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY DARIC BARTON (3) TO RIGHT WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 1ST OFF CURT SCHILLING.
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1, BOSTON 0

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: N SWISHER (.265, 22 HR, 75 RBI)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN
BOS - CURT SCHILLING

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: D PEDROIA (.315, 7 HR, 49 RBI)
M RAMIREZ (.292, 20 HR, 86 RBI)
D ORTIZ (.321, 32 HR, 112 RBI)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON

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

OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
D Barton 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .345
N Swisher cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
J Cust rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261
M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
D Johnson dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
M Scutaro ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262
J Hannahan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254

Totals 4 1 1 1 0 1 0

BATTING: HR - D Barton (3, 1st inning off C Schilling 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - D
Barton (7). Team LOB - 0.


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Pedroia 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
M Ramirez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
D Ortiz dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321
M Lowell 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324
J Drew rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
J Ellsbury cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .372
E Hinske 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .207
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
OAKLAND - 1 -- 1
BOSTON - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Gaudin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.52

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
C Schilling 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 4.01

Pitches-strikes: C Schilling 23-17. Ground balls-fly balls: C Schilling 2-0.
Batters faced: C Schilling 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Jerry Meals. 1B--Rob Drake. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Gary Darling.

Weather: 82 degrees, clear. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON
CONFIRMED STARTERS: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN
BOS - CURT SCHILLING</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY MIKE LOWELL SCORED MANNY RAMIREZ.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M LOWELL ON SECOND, D ORTIZ ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1
BOSTON 1 BOTTOM, 1ST

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J DREW (.261, 10 HR, 57 RBI)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN
BOS - CURT SCHILLING

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: M ELLIS (.273, 19 HR, 76 RBI)
D JOHNSON (.232, 18 HR, 61 RBI)
M SCUTARO (.262, 7 HR, 41 RBI)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON

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

OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
D Barton 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .345
N Swisher cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
J Cust rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261
M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
D Johnson dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
M Scutaro ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262
J Hannahan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254

Totals 4 1 1 1 0 1 0

BATTING: HR - D Barton (3, 1st inning off C Schilling 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - D
Barton (7). Team LOB - 0.


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
M Ramirez lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .294
D Ortiz dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .321
M Lowell 3b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .326
J Drew rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .261
J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .257
J Ellsbury cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .368
E Hinske 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .207
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239

Totals 5 1 2 1 2 1 5

BATTING: 2B - M Lowell (36, C Gaudin). RBI - M Lowell (111). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - J Ellsbury 2. Team LOB - 3.


----------------------------------------------------
OAKLAND - 1 -- 1
BOSTON - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Gaudin 1 2 1 1 2 1 0 4.54

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
C Schilling 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 4.01

Pitches-strikes: C Gaudin 31-16; C Schilling 23-17. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Gaudin 1-1; C Schilling 2-0. Batters faced: C Gaudin 7; C Schilling 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Jerry Meals. 1B--Rob Drake. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Gary Darling.

Weather: 82 degrees, clear. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN
BOS - CURT SCHILLING

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: E HINSKE (.207, 6 HR, 21 RBI)
J LUGO (.239, 8 HR, 73 RBI)
D PEDROIA (.315, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON

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

OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
D Barton 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .345
N Swisher cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
J Cust rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261
M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
D Johnson dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .234
M Scutaro ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .262
J Hannahan 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .283
K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254

Totals 8 1 2 1 0 3 2

BATTING: HR - D Barton (3, 1st inning off C Schilling 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - D
Barton (7). Team LOB - 1.


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
M Ramirez lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .294
D Ortiz dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .321
M Lowell 3b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .326
J Drew rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .261
J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .257
J Ellsbury cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .368
E Hinske 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .207
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239

Totals 5 1 2 1 2 1 5

BATTING: 2B - M Lowell (36, C Gaudin). RBI - M Lowell (111). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - J Ellsbury 2. Team LOB - 3.


----------------------------------------------------
OAKLAND - 10 -- 1
BOSTON - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Gaudin 1 2 1 1 2 1 0 4.54

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
C Schilling 2 2 1 1 0 3 1 3.98

Pitches-strikes: C Gaudin 31-16; C Schilling 37-28. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Gaudin 1-1; C Schilling 2-1. Batters faced: C Gaudin 7; C Schilling 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Jerry Meals. 1B--Rob Drake. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Gary Darling.

Weather: 82 degrees, clear. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN
BOS - CURT SCHILLING

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: K SUZUKI (.254, 7 HR, 37 RBI)
S STEWART (.290, 0-FOR-1)
D BARTON (.345, 1-FOR-1, HR, RBI)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON

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

OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
D Barton 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .345
N Swisher cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
J Cust rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261
M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
D Johnson dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .234
M Scutaro ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .262
J Hannahan 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .283
K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254

Totals 8 1 2 1 0 3 2

BATTING: HR - D Barton (3, 1st inning off C Schilling 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - D
Barton (7). Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - M Scutaro (14, pop up).


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Pedroia 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .314
M Ramirez lf 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .293
D Ortiz dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .321
M Lowell 3b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .326
J Drew rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .261
J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .257
J Ellsbury cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .368
E Hinske 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .206
J Lugo ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .239

Totals 9 1 2 1 2 2 8

BATTING: 2B - M Lowell (36, C Gaudin). RBI - M Lowell (111). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - J Ellsbury 2. Team LOB - 4.


----------------------------------------------------
OAKLAND - 10 -- 1
BOSTON - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Gaudin 2 2 1 1 2 2 0 4.52

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
C Schilling 2 2 1 1 0 3 1 3.98

Pitches-strikes: C Gaudin 45-26; C Schilling 37-28. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Gaudin 1-3; C Schilling 2-1. Batters faced: C Gaudin 11; C Schilling 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Jerry Meals. 1B--Rob Drake. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Gary Darling.

Weather: 82 degrees, clear. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN
BOS - CURT SCHILLING

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: D ORTIZ (.321, 0-FOR-0, BB)
M LOWELL (.326, 1-FOR-1, RBI)
J DREW (.261, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON

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

OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
D Barton 1b 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 .357
N Swisher cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .264
J Cust rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261
M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
D Johnson dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .234
M Scutaro ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .262
J Hannahan 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .283
K Suzuki c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253

Totals 12 1 3 1 0 3 3

BATTING: HR - D Barton (3, 1st inning off C Schilling 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - D
Barton (7). Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: E - M Scutaro (14, pop up).


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Pedroia 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .314
M Ramirez lf 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .293
D Ortiz dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .321
M Lowell 3b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .326
J Drew rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .261
J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .257
J Ellsbury cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .368
E Hinske 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .206
J Lugo ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .239

Totals 9 1 2 1 2 2 8

BATTING: 2B - M Lowell (36, C Gaudin). RBI - M Lowell (111). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - J Ellsbury 2. Team LOB - 4.


----------------------------------------------------
OAKLAND - 100 -- 1
BOSTON - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Gaudin 2 2 1 1 2 2 0 4.52

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
C Schilling 3 3 1 1 0 3 1 3.95

Pitches-strikes: C Gaudin 45-26; C Schilling 48-36. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Gaudin 1-3; C Schilling 4-2. Batters faced: C Gaudin 11; C Schilling 12.

UMPIRES: HP--Jerry Meals. 1B--Rob Drake. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Gary Darling.

Weather: 82 degrees, clear. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN
BOS - CURT SCHILLING

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J CUST (.261, 0-FOR-1)
M ELLIS (.272, 0-FOR-1)
D JOHNSON (.234, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON

<div class="pre">OAKLAND (1) VS BOSTON (1) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
D Barton 1b 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 .357
N Swisher cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .264
J Cust rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261
M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
D Johnson dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .234
M Scutaro ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .262
J Hannahan 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .283
K Suzuki c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253

Totals 12 1 3 1 0 3 3

BATTING: HR - D Barton (3, 1st inning off C Schilling 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - D
Barton (7). Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: E - M Scutaro (14, pop up).


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Pedroia 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .314
M Ramirez lf 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .293
D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .321
M Lowell 3b 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .325
J Drew rf 2 0 1 0 0 1 2 .262
J Varitek c 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 .256
J Ellsbury cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .368
E Hinske 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .206
J Lugo ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .239

Totals 13 1 3 1 2 2 9

BATTING: 2B - M Lowell (36, C Gaudin); J Drew (29, C Gaudin). RBI - M Lowell
(111). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Varitek 1, J Ellsbury 2.
Team LOB - 5.


----------------------------------------------------
OAKLAND - 100 -- 1
BOSTON - 100 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Gaudin 3 3 1 1 2 2 0 4.49

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
C Schilling 3 3 1 1 0 3 1 3.95

Pitches-strikes: C Gaudin 56-33; C Schilling 48-36. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Gaudin 3-4; C Schilling 4-2. Batters faced: C Gaudin 15; C Schilling 12.

UMPIRES: HP--Jerry Meals. 1B--Rob Drake. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Gary Darling.

Weather: 82 degrees, clear. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>