GDT: 7/30/10 - DET (51-50) AT BOS (58-44) - 7:10 p.m. ET

Red Sox, Tigers look to get hot at Fenway

By Tim Britton / MLB.com
The Red Sox will host the Tigers in a key three-game series over the weekend. Both Boston and Detroit have stumbled a bit since the All-Star break, but both have aspirations of reaching the postseason.

The Red Sox finally won their first series since the Midsummer Classic with a sweep in Anaheim after dropping two series and splitting another with the last-place Mariners. Boston was within a half-game of the first-place Yankees in the first week of July; now, the Red Sox have dropped just about as far back as they've been all season. To make matters worse, the Rays are starting to create some separation for second place and the American League Wild Card.

Boston has the right man on the mound, though, for Friday's opener in Jon Lester. The southpaw, who was elected to his first All-Star Game and is arguably Boston's ace this season, has pitched into the eighth inning in his past two starts, but has allowed nine runs (seven earned) and saddled with losses.

In his past start in Seattle, Lester was perfect for 5 1/3 frames before Eric Patterson dropped a fly ball in center field. Lester then served up a two-run homer, and he lost his perfect game, shutout and the game in rapid succession.

"That's as good as stuff as we've seen all year," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona of Lester's start. "The outcome is a shame. He pitched better than the linescore will show, for sure. He had a perfect game going for half the game. Then we drop a fly ball and then he hung a breaking ball -- probably the first bad pitch he threw all night."

The last time Lester lost two in a row was in April, and he responded with eight consecutive wins over his next 11 starts.

The Tigers lineup he'll face might look a little bit different. Most importantly, the recently acquired Jhonny Peralta will be in the starting lineup and playing third base. He joined the team in St. Petersburg right at the start of Thursday afternoon's 4-2 loss to the Rays.

Lester may not see impressive rookie Brennan Boesch. The lefty-swinging outfielder has slumped recently, going 4-for-46 since the break before taking hacks against David Price on Thursday. Manager Jim Leyland could move Ryan Raburn to right, put Johnny Damon in left and have Jeff Larish DH against Lester as he's been trying to find a spot to get Boesch a day off.

The Tigers, meanwhile, lost their first six after the All-Star break and have also slipped into third place in the AL Central in the last week. Trying to snap a four-game losing streak, Detroit turns to Armando Galarraga to help right the ship on Friday at Fenway.

Galarraga has a 4.29 ERA in his three July starts. He has, however, only one win since June 2 -- the night he infamously shut out the Indians on one hit.

Tigers: Another AL East foe on tap
The three games in Fenway will cap an 11-game stretch against the AL East for Detroit. Heading into Thursday's game against the Rays, the Tigers were 2-5 in that stretch and 10-7 against the AL East this season. Detroit is the only team outside the AL East to have a winning record against that division. The Yankees, Rays and Blue Jays are the only other teams over .500 against the AL East. For comparison's sake, the Tigers are 16-21 against the AL Central and 14-14 versus the AL West.

Red Sox: A break from the West
While Detroit is locked in against the East, Boston spent its first two weeks after the All-Star break playing the AL West. The Red Sox went 7-7 against the division during that fortnight. They are 10-9 against the AL Central in 2010.

Worth noting
With his save on Tuesday night, Jonathan Papelbon became the fastest pitcher in Major League history to reach 175 saves in terms of appearances. Papelbon earned No. 175 in his 309th appearance, five ahead of Bryan Harvey.

... Nine of Boston's past 12 games have been decided by two runs or fewer. The Sox have played more such games than any other team in the AL.

... Boston improved 10-17 in day games with Wednesday's win.

... The Tigers took two of three from the Red Sox in May at Comerica Park. Detroit has won the season series from Boston just twice since 1998.




Pitching matchup

TIGERS: RHP Armando Galarraga (3-3, 4.43 ERA)
The Tigers' decision to push back Jeremy Bonderman to make two starts next week left Friday's series opener at Fenway all to Galarraga, who beat the Red Sox in his return to the Majors in May. He's winless in two starts since the All-Star break.

RED SOX: LHP Jon Lester (11-5, 2.92 ERA)
Lester was perfect through 5 1/3 innings in his last start, but wound up with a loss to the Mariners, giving up four hits and four earned runs over 7 2/3 innings while striking out a career-high 13. He is 6-2 with a 2.84 ERA at Fenway this season.


From MLB Tigers Game Notes


INJURY UPDATE:
• 2B Carlos Guillen (right calf strain, 15-day DL on July 25),
• 3B Brandon Inge (non-displaced fracture of fifth metacarpal in left hand, 15-day DL on July 20), (OUT FOR 4-6 WEEKS)
• RHP Zach Miner (right elbow tendinitis, 60-day DL on March 26),
• OF Magglio Ordonez (right ankle fracture, 15-day DL on July 25), (OUT FOR 6-8 WEEKS)
• LHP Bobby Seay (left shoulder strain, 60-day DL on March 26),
• RHP Joel Zumaya (non-displaced fracture of the olecranon, 60-day DL on June 29).


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Up next (Probable Pitchers)


• Saturday, July 31,
TIGERS (RHP Max Scherzer (7-8, 4.45 ERA)) AT Red Sox (RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (7-3, 4.09 ERA)), 4:10 p.m. ET (FOX / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Sunday, August 1,
TIGERS (RHP Justin Verlander (12-6, 3.74 ERA)) AT Red Sox (RHP Clay Buchholz (11-5, 2.71 ERA)), 1:35 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

STARTING LINEUPS:

Jeff Frazier at DH and Johnny Damon playing left field, batting third. Not surprisingly, Damon's experience with balls off the Green Monster played a role in that .Will Rhymes is in the second spot.

J.D. Drew was a late scratch from the Red Sox lineup. That leads to something you don't see very often: A team's starting outfielders all in the bottom third of its lineup.

TIGERS

1. Jackson, CF
2. Rhymes, 2B
3. Damon, LF
4. Cabrera, 1B
5. Raburn, RF
6. Peralta, 3B
7. Frazier, DH
8. Laird, C
9. Worth, SS

P: Armando Galarraga

RED SOX

1. Marco Scutaro, SS
2. Jed Lowrie, 2B
3. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Victor Martinez, C
6. Adrian Beltre, 3B
7. Jeremy Hermida, RF
8. Mike Cameron, CF
9. Eric Patterson, LF

P: Jon Lester

Inning 1
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Austin Jackson singles on a line drive to left fielder Eric Patterson.


B:2 S:1 O:0 -
Will Rhymes doubles (2) on a fly ball to center fielder Mike Cameron. Austin Jackson scores.

DET 1, BOS 0




B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Brennan Boesch out swinging.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Marco Scutaro to first baseman Kevin Youkilis. Will Rhymes to 3rd.


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn out swinging, pitcher Jon Lester to first baseman Kevin Youkilis.

DET 1, BOS 0 after .5 inning

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Marco Scutaro lines out to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Jed Lowrie walks.


B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Kevin Youkilis hit by pitch. Jed Lowrie to 2nd.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
David Ortiz out swinging.


B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Victor Martinez walks. Jed Lowrie to 3rd. Kevin Youkilis to 2nd.


B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Adrian Beltre grounds out, pitcher Armando Galarraga to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 1, BOS 0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Jhonny Peralta homers (8) on a fly ball to left field.

DET 2, BOS 0




B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Jeff Frazier out swinging.


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Gerald Laird singles on a soft ground ball to pitcher Jon Lester.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Danny Worth singles on a line drive to left fielder Eric Patterson. Gerald Laird to 2nd.


B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Austin Jackson called out on .


B:3 S:1 O:3 -
Will Rhymes flies out to left fielder Eric Patterson.




DET 2, BOS 0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Jeremy Hermida grounds out, second baseman Will Rhymes to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Mike Cameron singles on a soft line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Eric Patterson pops out to second baseman Will Rhymes.


B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Marco Scutaro grounds into a force out, shortstop Danny Worth to second baseman Will Rhymes. Mike Cameron out at 2nd.

DET 2, BOS 0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Brennan Boesch out on foul tip.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to center fielder Mike Cameron.


B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn singles on a ground ball to left fielder Eric Patterson. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.


B:3 S:2 O:1 -
With Jhonny Peralta batting, wild pitch by Jon Lester, Miguel Cabrera to 3rd. Ryan Raburn to 2nd.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Jhonny Peralta walks.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Jeff Frazier out swinging.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Gerald Laird grounds into a force out, shortstop Marco Scutaro to second baseman Jed Lowrie. Jhonny Peralta out at 2nd.

DET 2, BOS 0 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Jed Lowrie pops out to second baseman Will Rhymes.


B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Kevin Youkilis out swinging.


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
David Ortiz out swinging.

DET 2, BOS 0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Danny Worth grounds out, shortstop Marco Scutaro to first baseman Kevin Youkilis.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Austin Jackson grounds out, second baseman Jed Lowrie to first baseman Kevin Youkilis.


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Will Rhymes grounds out, pitcher Jon Lester to first baseman Kevin Youkilis.

DET 2, BOS 0 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Victor Martinez doubles (21) on a fly ball to right fielder Brennan Boesch.


B:1 S:1 O:0 - Adrian Beltre singles on a ground ball
to shortstop Danny Worth, deflected by first baseman Miguel Cabrera.
Victor Martinez to 3rd.


B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Jeremy Hermida flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.


B:0 S:1 O:3 - Mike Cameron grounds into double play,
third baseman Jhonny Peralta to second baseman Will Rhymes to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. Adrian Beltre out at 2nd.

DET 2, BOS 0 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Brennan Boesch lines out to left fielder Eric Patterson.


B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to center fielder Mike Cameron.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn out swinging.


B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Jhonny Peralta homers (9) on a fly ball to left field. Miguel Cabrera scores.

DET 4, BOS 0

B:2 S:0 O:3 -
Jeff Frazier grounds out, third baseman Adrian Beltre to first baseman Kevin Youkilis.

DET 4, BOS 0 after 4.5 innings

2 for Peralta!

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Eric Patterson grounds out, second baseman Will Rhymes to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Marco Scutaro homers (7) on a fly ball to left field.

DET 4, BOS 1

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Jed Lowrie lines out to shortstop Danny Worth.


B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Kevin Youkilis singles on a sharp ground ball to third baseman Jhonny Peralta, deflected by pitcher Armando Galarraga.


B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Injury Delay. (Galarraga hit on ankle)



B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Enrique Gonzalez replaces Armando Galarraga.


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
David Ortiz walks. Kevin Youkilis to 2nd.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
With Victor Martinez batting, wild pitch by Enrique Gonzalez, Kevin Youkilis to 3rd. David Ortiz to 2nd.


B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Victor Martinez flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.




DET 4, BOS 1 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Gerald Laird grounds out, shortstop Marco Scutaro to first baseman Kevin Youkilis.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Danny Worth walks.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga left the game due to an injured ankle.


B:1 S:2 O:2 - With Austin Jackson batting, Danny Worth
caught stealing 2nd base, pitcher Jon Lester to first baseman Kevin
Youkilis to shortstop Marco Scutaro.


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Austin Jackson grounds out, third baseman Adrian Beltre to first baseman Kevin Youkilis.

DET 4, BOS 1 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Robbie Weinhardt replaces Enrique Gonzalez.


B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Adrian Beltre out swinging.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Jeremy Hermida grounds out, second baseman Will Rhymes to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Mike Cameron out swinging.

DET 4, BOS 1 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Will Rhymes singles on a ground ball to left fielder Eric Patterson, deflected by shortstop Marco Scutaro.


B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Brennan Boesch singles on a line drive to center fielder Mike Cameron. Will Rhymes to 2nd.


B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Ramon Ramirez replaces Jon Lester.


B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera out swinging.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
With Ryan Raburn batting, Will Rhymes caught stealing 3rd base, catcher Victor Martinez to third baseman Adrian Beltre. (replay shows Rhymes WAS SAFE!!!!!, AGAIN POOR UMPING!)




B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn walks. Brennan Boesch to 2nd.

B:3 S:1 O:3 - Jhonny Peralta singles on a ground ball
to left fielder Eric Patterson. Brennan Boesch out at home on the
throw, left fielder Eric Patterson to catcher Victor Martinez.

DET 4, BOS 1 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Eric Patterson walks.


B:2 S:2 O:1 -
With Marco Scutaro batting, Eric Patterson caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Gerald Laird to second baseman Will Rhymes.


B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Marco Scutaro singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Jed Lowrie called out on .


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Kevin Youkilis lines out to second baseman Will Rhymes.

DET 4, BOS 1 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Tim Wakefield replaces Ramon Ramirez.

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Jeff Frazier walks.

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Gerald Laird singles on a bunt ground ball to first baseman Kevin Youkilis. Jeff Frazier to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Danny Worth out on a sacrifice bunt,
pitcher Tim Wakefield to second baseman Jed Lowrie. Jeff Frazier to
3rd. Gerald Laird to 2nd.


B:3 S:2 O:1 -
With Austin Jackson batting, wild pitch by Tim Wakefield, Jeff Frazier scores. Gerald Laird to 3rd.

DET 5, BOS 1



B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Austin Jackson grounds out softly, third baseman Adrian Beltre to first baseman Kevin Youkilis. Gerald Laird scores.

DET 6, BOS 1


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Will Rhymes grounds out, second baseman Jed Lowrie to first baseman Kevin Youkilis.

DET 6, BOS 1 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Phil Coke replaces Robbie Weinhardt.


B:2 S:3 O:1 -
David Ortiz out swinging.


B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Victor Martinez doubles (22) on a line drive to left fielder Ryan Raburn.


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Adrian Beltre out swinging.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Darnell McDonald replaces Jeremy Hermida.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Jose Valverde replaces Phil Coke.


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Darnell McDonald walks. Wild pitch by pitcher Jose Valverde. Victor Martinez to 3rd.


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Mike Cameron out swinging.

DET 6, BOS 1 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Darnell McDonald remains in the game as the right fielder.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Brennan Boesch pops out to third baseman Adrian Beltre.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera hit by pitch.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn flies out to left fielder Eric Patterson.


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Jhonny Peralta out swinging.

DET 6, BOS 1 after 8.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Don Kelly replaces left fielder Ryan Raburn, batting 5th, playing left field.


B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Eric Patterson out swinging.


B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Marco Scutaro walks.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Jed Lowrie walks. Marco Scutaro to 2nd.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Kevin Youkilis walks. Marco Scutaro to 3rd. Jed Lowrie to 2nd.



B:1 S:1 O:1 -
David Ortiz hits a grand slam (22) to right field. Marco Scutaro scores. Jed Lowrie scores. Kevin Youkilis scores.

DET 6, BOS 5



B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Victor Martinez out swinging.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Adrian Beltre doubles (30) on a line drive to left fielder Don Kelly.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter J. D. Drew replaces Darnell McDonald.


B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Jose Valverde intentionally walks J. D. Drew.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Bill Hall replaces J. D. Drew.

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Mike Cameron called out on .

DET 6, BOS 5 FINAL BOX SCORE > CLICK HERE <