GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: BOSTON (68-44) at LA ANGELS (65-46)

AL: BOSTON (68-44) at LA ANGELS (65-46)

<h3>Red Sox hope to recapture early-season form</h3>



<div class="pre">Boston (68-44) at LA Angels (65-46) 10:05 pm EDT</div>

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Even Curt Schilling'slong-anticipated return could not stop the Boston Red Sox'sgradual loss of their once large division lead. They look tostop the slow decline as they continue their three-game serieswith the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Tuesday.

Schilling fared well in his first start since being sidelinedwith right shoulder tendinitis since June 18, but took the lossas Maicer Izturis hit a solo homer off the righthander in theseventh to break up a 2-2 tie and provide the Angels with allthe offense they would need in their eventual 4-2 win.

After holding a 11 1/2-game lead in the American League Eastover the second-place New York Yankees (62-50) just over a monthago, the Red Sox have gone just 15-13 while the Yankees closedits gap by going 21-8.


However, Boston will send one of its hotter pitchers of late tothe mound in Tim Wakefield (13-9, 4.55 ERA). A winner of threestraight starts, he will look to match teammate Josh Beckett andthree other pitchers for the major league lead in wins.

The knuckleballer, who incidentally has not been involved in ano-decision this season, tossed seven solid innings in a 7-4 winover the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday. Pitching on his 41stbirthday, he allowed three runs in seven innings to give him hissixth wins in seven starts.


Wakefield is 9-10 with a 4.54 ERA in 26 lifetime appearances -21 starts - against the Angels, including a one-run,seven-inning outing on April 13 in a 10-1 win.


Anaheim will answer with Joe Saunders (5-0, 3.10), who has facedBoston just one other time in his career, drawing a no-decisiondespite yielding only two unearned runs over 5 2/3 innings in a4-3 win over the Red Sox last August 22. He has won sevenstraight decisions and has not lost a start since last September13 - a span of 16 starts.


In Thursday's 6-4 win over Oakland, the lefthander permitted tworuns over 6 2/3 innings. Anaheim has won each of his lastseven starts with its only loss coming in his season debut.

 

AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">BOSTON AT LA ANGELS -- LINEUPS

BOSTON LA ANGELS
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Dustin Pedroia 2B .320 4 34 Chone Figgins 3B .339 1 38
Kevin Youkilis 1B .304 12 60 Orlando Cabrera SS .308 7 63
David Ortiz DH .323 19 68 Vladimir Guerrero RF .328 18 90
Manny Ramirez LF .298 19 72 Garret Anderson LF .290 6 35
Mike Lowell 3B .305 15 75 Gary Matthews Jr CF .270 13 60
Coco Crisp CF .277 5 43 Casey Kotchman 1B .304 9 51
Wily Mo Pena RF .218 5 16 Maicer Izturis 2B .261 3 25
Doug Mirabelli C .208 4 13 Jeff Mathis C .196 0 3
Julio Lugo SS .227 6 49 Reggie Willits DH .300 0 30

Tim Wakefield RHP (13-9, 4.55) Joe Saunders LHP (5-0, 3.10)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS
WARMUPS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD (13-9, 4.55)
LAA - JOE SAUNDERS (5-0, 3.10)

UMPIRES: HP - PHIL CUZZI
1B - TOM HALLION
2B - JERRY CRAWFORD
3B - JAMES HOYE

WEATHER: 74 Degrees, clear
WIND: 8 mph, out to right</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS
STARTING BATS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD AND DOUG MIRABELLI
LAA - JOE SAUNDERS AND JEFF MATHIS

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: D PEDROIA (.320, 4 HR, 34 RBI)
K YOUKILIS (.304, 12 HR, 60 RBI)
D ORTIZ (.323, 19 HR, 68 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
FIELDER'S CHOICE BY MANNY RAMIREZ SCORED DUSTIN PEDROIA.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M RAMIREZ ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 1
LA ANGELS 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: M LOWELL (.305, 15 HR, 75 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD
LAA - JOE SAUNDERS

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: C FIGGINS (.339, 1 HR, 38 RBI)
O CABRERA (.308, 7 HR, 63 RBI)
V GUERRERO (.328, 18 HR, 90 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS

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

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Pedroia 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .322
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .306
D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .322
M Ramirez lf 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .297
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .304
C Crisp cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
W Pena rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .218
D Mirabelli c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227

Totals 5 1 2 1 0 1 3

BATTING: RBI - M Ramirez (73). Team LOB - 1.


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .339
O Cabrera ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
V Guerrero rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .328
G Anderson lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
G Matthews Jr cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304
M Izturis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
J Mathis c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .196
R Willits dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 1 -- 1
LA ANGELS - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Wakefield 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.55

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Saunders 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 3.22

Pitches-strikes: J Saunders 22-13. Ground balls-fly balls: J Saunders 2-0.
Batters faced: J Saunders 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Phil Cuzzi. 1B--Tom Hallion. 2B--Jerry Crawford. 3B--James Hoye.

Weather: 74 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS
CONFIRMED STARTERS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD
LAA - JOE SAUNDERS</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD
LAA - JOE SAUNDERS

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: C CRISP (.277, 5 HR, 43 RBI)
W PENA (.218, 5 HR, 16 RBI)
D MIRABELLI (.208, 4 HR, 13 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">BOSTON (1) VS LA ANGELS (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Pedroia 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .322
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .306
D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .322
M Ramirez lf 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .297
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .304
C Crisp cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
W Pena rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .218
D Mirabelli c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227

Totals 5 1 2 1 0 1 3

BATTING: RBI - M Ramirez (73). Team LOB - 1.


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .341
O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .307
V Guerrero rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .328
G Anderson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .289
G Matthews Jr cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .270
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304
M Izturis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
J Mathis c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .196
R Willits dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300

Totals 4 0 1 0 1 1 5

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G Matthews Jr 1. Team LOB -
2.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Figgins (30, 2nd base off T Wakefield/D Mirabelli).


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 1 -- 1
LA ANGELS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Wakefield 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 4.52

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Saunders 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 3.22

IBB - V Guerrero (by T Wakefield). Pitches-strikes: T Wakefield 19-10; J
Saunders 22-13. Ground balls-fly balls: T Wakefield 0-2; J Saunders 2-0.
Batters faced: T Wakefield 5; J Saunders 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Phil Cuzzi. 1B--Tom Hallion. 2B--Jerry Crawford. 3B--James Hoye.

Weather: 74 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD
LAA - JOE SAUNDERS

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: C KOTCHMAN (.304, 9 HR, 51 RBI)
M IZTURIS (.261, 3 HR, 25 RBI)
J MATHIS (.196, 0 HR, 3 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">BOSTON (1) VS LA ANGELS (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Pedroia 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .322
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .306
D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .322
M Ramirez lf 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .297
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .304
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .277
W Pena rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .218
D Mirabelli c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .206
J Lugo ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .227

Totals 8 1 2 1 1 2 4

BATTING: RBI - M Ramirez (73). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Lugo
1. Team LOB - 2.


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .341
O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .307
V Guerrero rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .328
G Anderson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .289
G Matthews Jr cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .270
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304
M Izturis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
J Mathis c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .196
R Willits dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300

Totals 4 0 1 0 1 1 5

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G Matthews Jr 1. Team LOB -
2.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Figgins (30, 2nd base off T Wakefield/D Mirabelli).


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 10 -- 1
LA ANGELS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Wakefield 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 4.52

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Saunders 2 2 1 1 1 2 0 3.16

IBB - V Guerrero (by T Wakefield). Pitches-strikes: T Wakefield 19-10; J
Saunders 37-22. Ground balls-fly balls: T Wakefield 0-2; J Saunders 4-0.
Batters faced: T Wakefield 5; J Saunders 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Phil Cuzzi. 1B--Tom Hallion. 2B--Jerry Crawford. 3B--James Hoye.

Weather: 74 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MAICER IZTURIS SCORED CASEY KOTCHMAN.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M IZTURIS ON SECOND, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 1
LA ANGELS 1 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: J MATHIS (.196, 0 HR, 3 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD
LAA - JOE SAUNDERS

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: D PEDROIA (.322, 1-FOR-1)
K YOUKILIS (.306, 1-FOR-1)
D ORTIZ (.322, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS

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

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Pedroia 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .322
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .306
D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .322
M Ramirez lf 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .297
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .304
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .277
W Pena rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .218
D Mirabelli c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .206
J Lugo ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .227

Totals 8 1 2 1 1 2 4

BATTING: RBI - M Ramirez (73). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Lugo
1. Team LOB - 2.


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins 3b 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .340
O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .307
V Guerrero rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .328
G Anderson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .289
G Matthews Jr cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .270
C Kotchman 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .306
M Izturis 2b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .265
J Mathis c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .192
R Willits dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299

Totals 9 1 3 1 1 1 7

BATTING: 2B - C Kotchman (25, T Wakefield). RBI - M Izturis (26). Runners left
in scoring position, 2 out - C Figgins 1, G Matthews Jr 1. Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Figgins (30, 2nd base off T Wakefield/D Mirabelli).


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 10 -- 1
LA ANGELS - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Wakefield 2 3 1 1 1 1 0 4.55

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Saunders 2 2 1 1 1 2 0 3.16

IBB - V Guerrero (by T Wakefield). Pitches-strikes: T Wakefield 32-19; J
Saunders 37-22. Ground balls-fly balls: T Wakefield 1-4; J Saunders 4-0.
Batters faced: T Wakefield 10; J Saunders 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Phil Cuzzi. 1B--Tom Hallion. 2B--Jerry Crawford. 3B--James Hoye.

Weather: 74 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD
LAA - JOE SAUNDERS

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: O CABRERA (.307, 0-FOR-1)
V GUERRERO (.328, 0-FOR-0, BB)
G ANDERSON (.289, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS

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

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Pedroia 2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .321
K Youkilis 1b 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .305
D Ortiz dh 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .321
M Ramirez lf 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .297
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .304
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .277
W Pena rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .218
D Mirabelli c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .206
J Lugo ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .227

Totals 11 1 2 1 1 2 4

BATTING: RBI - M Ramirez (73). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Lugo
1. Team LOB - 2.


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins 3b 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .340
O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .307
V Guerrero rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .328
G Anderson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .289
G Matthews Jr cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .270
C Kotchman 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .306
M Izturis 2b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .265
J Mathis c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .192
R Willits dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299

Totals 9 1 3 1 1 1 7

BATTING: 2B - C Kotchman (25, T Wakefield). RBI - M Izturis (26). Runners left
in scoring position, 2 out - C Figgins 1, G Matthews Jr 1. Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Figgins (30, 2nd base off T Wakefield/D Mirabelli).


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 100 -- 1
LA ANGELS - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Wakefield 2 3 1 1 1 1 0 4.55

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Saunders 3 2 1 1 1 2 0 3.10

IBB - V Guerrero (by T Wakefield). Pitches-strikes: T Wakefield 32-19; J
Saunders 46-28. Ground balls-fly balls: T Wakefield 1-4; J Saunders 5-2.
Batters faced: T Wakefield 10; J Saunders 12.

UMPIRES: HP--Phil Cuzzi. 1B--Tom Hallion. 2B--Jerry Crawford. 3B--James Hoye.

Weather: 74 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD
LAA - JOE SAUNDERS

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: M RAMIREZ (.297, 0-FOR-1, RBI)
M LOWELL (.304, 0-FOR-1)
C CRISP (.277, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS

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

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Pedroia 2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .321
K Youkilis 1b 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .305
D Ortiz dh 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .321
M Ramirez lf 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .297
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .304
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .277
W Pena rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .218
D Mirabelli c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .206
J Lugo ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .227

Totals 11 1 2 1 1 2 4

BATTING: RBI - M Ramirez (73). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Lugo
1. Team LOB - 2.


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins 3b 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .340
O Cabrera ss 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .306
V Guerrero rf 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .328
G Anderson lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .288
G Matthews Jr cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .270
C Kotchman 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .306
M Izturis 2b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .265
J Mathis c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .192
R Willits dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299

Totals 12 1 3 1 1 1 7

BATTING: 2B - C Kotchman (25, T Wakefield). RBI - M Izturis (26). Runners left
in scoring position, 2 out - C Figgins 1, G Matthews Jr 1. Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Figgins (30, 2nd base off T Wakefield/D Mirabelli).


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 100 -- 1
LA ANGELS - 010 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Wakefield 3 3 1 1 1 1 0 4.52

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Saunders 3 2 1 1 1 2 0 3.10

IBB - V Guerrero (by T Wakefield). Pitches-strikes: T Wakefield 41-26; J
Saunders 46-28. Ground balls-fly balls: T Wakefield 2-6; J Saunders 5-2.
Batters faced: T Wakefield 13; J Saunders 12.

UMPIRES: HP--Phil Cuzzi. 1B--Tom Hallion. 2B--Jerry Crawford. 3B--James Hoye.

Weather: 74 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at LA ANGELS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD
LAA - JOE SAUNDERS

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: G MATTHEWS JR (.270, 0-FOR-1)
C KOTCHMAN (.306, 1-FOR-1)
M IZTURIS (.265, 1-FOR-1, RBI)</div>