What a difference a week makes. The Sox now seem depleted, and are falling out of 1st place. Injuries have been taking their toll, as the Red Sox offense can't seem to get it going while Mike Lowell is on the shelf. The Red Sox have scored two or fewer runs four times in their last nine contests, and have dropped 5 of their last 8 games. The good news is that Boston has its ace on the hill tonight.
Josh Beckett has been having a great season already collecting 9 wins, but he was roughed up last time out letting up 5 runs over 7 innings to Baltimore. Beckett has struggled in his career vs. the A's (2-3 4.88 ERA), but has 4 straight quality starts against them.
Going against Beckett will be Dana Eveland who joined the rotation to take the place of Branden who is out on bereavement. Eveland is nothing special (1-2 7.40 ERA), but with the Sox hitting the way they are you just never know. One thing me do know is that the Sox really should be taking more advantage of this "easy" are of their schedule, because later in the year they are going to have a lot of battles with the Rays and Yanks.
Game Starts at 7:10pm on NESN.
***UPDATE***
Pedroia is back in the lineup tonight (if it stops raining). He was out yesterday, because his wife had some problems with thier unborn baby. She is stable now, and should be fine. Here is the rest of the lineup...
1. J.D. Drew, RF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
4. Jason Bay, LF
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. Jason Varitek, C
7. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
8. Nick Green, SS
9. Aaron Bates, 1B
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