game 55 - Yankees game 8

As usual all stats are from the day by day database at baseball musings.

The start of a 4 game series with the Yankees. So far the sox are ahead in the season series 4 games to 3. The next time the boys will face the rivals will be a 5 game series in Boston in August. Tonight its Beckett vs Mussina. Mussina has been the ace of the Yankee staff. Beckett has been the number two man for the Sox after Schilling. Last time the teams faced each other in the Bronx Beckett won game 1 over Johnson, Mussina won game 2 beating Schilling and Wakefield took the rubber game. Papelbon has only saved one of the 4 wins so far against the Yankees.

Beckett's stats in the Yankee game in the Bronx (only time he has faced them this year) was 7 innings, 6 hits, 3 earned runs which is a 3.86 ERA. A quality start that gave him the win.

Mussina was almost as good with 6 1/3 innings, 7 hits, 3 earned runs which is a 4.26 ERA. One of the 17 quality starts thrown against the sox this year.

I expect two gritty teams to battle two quality starters. This game will probably come down to the clutch hit.

ESPN.com preview can be found here.
MLB.com press pass found here.