Red Sox 07 Game 30

Sunday, May 6 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 2:10 PM ET
BOS Curt Schilling, RHP (3-1, 3.15) Red Sox (19-10) @ MIN Sidney Ponson, RHP (2-3, 6.67) Twins (16-14)

AL East Standings

Team	W	L	GB	L 10	Exp W	Exp L
Boston	19	10	-	7 - 3	19	10
Baltimore	14	16	5.5	3 - 7	15	15
Tampa Bay	14	16	5.5	5 - 5	11	19
New York	13	15	5.5	5 - 5	16	12
Toronto	13	17	6.5	3 - 7	15	15

ESPN.Com preview should be here.
Yahoo's preview should be here.

The recap after the game will be here.

From MLB.Com Scouting Report

Red Sox: Seemingly unaffected in his first start after the tiff over his 2004 World Series bloody sock, Curt Schilling turned in another workmanlike gem against Oakland. He allowed two runs on eight hits over seven innings, walking none and striking out seven, but did not get the win because of Jonathan Papelbon's first blown save. Since his subpar Opening Day outing in Kansas City, Schilling is 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA over five starts.

Twins: On Tuesday, Minnesota finally got what it had sought from Ponson since his solid Spring Training. The right-hander gave up a single run over seven innings of work, his longest outing of the year. He was aggressive early and often against Tampa Bay, something he'd lacked in his four prior starts. As a result, Ponson fanned five and walked just two, using 90 pitches in his second win, and lowering his ERA nearly two full runs, down from 8.44. He's 3-10 in 19 career starts against Boston, and totes a hefty 6.69 ERA.

As usual all statistics were found at the day by day database at Baseball Musings and this year at Baseball Reference.

Expected Batters vs opposing starter

Player	AB	Hits	2b	3b	HR's	RBI	BB's	K's	BA
J. Lugo	12	2	0	0	0	0	2	1	.167
K. Youkilis	6	3	1	0	0	1	0	0	.500
D. Ortiz	36	16	4	0	2	8	7	4	.444
M. Ramirez	47	19	2	0	1	11	7	7	.404
J.D. Drew	4	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	.500
M. Lowell	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	.000
J. Varitek	39	12	4	0	2	4	2	4	.308
C. Crisp	4	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	.750
D. Pedroia	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Totals	152	57	11	0	5	25	19	17	.375

Those are pretty good numbers against Ponson. I also think you will see Hinske playing today (either at 3rd or 1st) with Lowell sitting out a game. Eric has 7 hits with 3 doubles in 23 at bats against this pitcher. With Pedroia goin 2 for 2 with a walk last night, I do not expect Cora in the field since he is only 1 for 4. Still, with Tito, you never know.

Historical Pitching line

Pitcher	GS	W	L	Sho	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA
Ponson	19	3	10	0	109	150	81	17	38	72	6.69
Schilling	3	1	0	0	26 1/3	20	3	1	3	19	1.03

All of Ponson's games have been starts, and the Sox own this guy. Schilling has appeared in 9 games against the Twins. I decided to put Schillings numbers in a separate box showing how well he has done against the Twins as a starter and a reliever.

Schilling starts and relief appearances

Situation	GS	W	L	Sho	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA
Relief	0	0	0	0	6 1/3	3	0	0	2	6	0.00
Start	3	1	0	0	20	17	3	1	1	13	1.35

Schilling owns these guys but has little to show for it. In three starts he has two quality starts and has given up one run in all three starts. His last start against the Twins was in Boston on 9/20/2006. That was the Game in which Big Papi hit his 50th home run and was blown open by the Twins in the eighth when they crushed "phenom" Hansen by scoring 4 runs against him.

Still, with their record against Ponson, you would expect Schilling to hold these guys in check while the offense goes nuts. Looking at possibly win number four for #38.

Other idle thoughts on why the Sox will win:

1. Schilling is 2 and 0 this year after a Sox loss.
2. Red Sox record on Sunday is 3 and 0.

Chow!