Red Sox 07 Game 145 Preview

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S. Kazmir		11-8, 3.79		C. Schilling		8-6, 4.04
Devil Rays		60-83		Red Sox		87-57

Monday, September, 10      Fenway Park  ✠ 7:05 PM ET

American League

East	W	L	GB	L 10	1 R W	1 R L	X W	X L
Boston	87	57	-	7-3	21	21	90	54
New York	81	62	5.5	7-3	13	17	85	58
Toronto	72	70	14.0	5-5	25	23	76	66
Baltimore	61	81	25.0	3-7	11	28	64	78
Tampa	60	83	26.5	7-3	19	15	59	84

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Devil Rays: Kazmir overcame a tough beginning Tuesday against the Orioles to give the team seven innings. The Rays left-hander allowed four runs on nine hits en route to a no-decision. After a first half in which he struggled to find his mechanics, Kazmir has been a different pitcher in the second half, limiting his pitch count and lasting longer while still showing electric stuff. He is 5-4 with a 2.82 in 15 career starts against the Red Sox.

Red Sox: Schilling was solid but unspectacular during a Wednesday night start against the Blue Jays, the victim of a fifth-inning singles binge that put the Red Sox in a 3-1 hole. Otherwise, Schilling threw six efficient innings. He gave up three earned runs on eight hits and was in line for the win when the bullpen blew the lead. Schilling took responsibility for the loss. "I fell into a rut," he said. "It ended up being the game."

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

Hitting History vs Kazmir

Player	AB	H	2b	3b	HR's	RBI	BB's	K's	BA
J. Lugo	11	2	0	0	0	2	0	4	.182
C. Crisp	20	5	2	0	0	0	1	7	.250
D. Pedroia	12	7	1	0	0	1	1	1	.583
M. Lowell	19	6	1	0	2	5	3	3	.316
B. Kielty	16	7	1	0	2	4	1	2	.438
K. Youkilis	23	5	1	0	0	0	5	11	.217
J. Varitek	18	4	1	0	0	2	5	6	.222
J. Ellsbury	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	---
A. Cora	4	2	0	0	0	1	0	1	.500
Totals	123	38	7	0	4	15	16	35	.309

Want to know why the Sox struggle vs Kazmir? Just look at the two big guns of Ortiz and Ramirez, they are a combined 11 for 73. That is a minuscule .151 BA and they strike out almost once every three at bats. Not good numbers for the home team. Lowell, Pedroia and Kielty are the only players with 10 or more at bats who are hitting over .300.

Historical Pitching Lines

Pitcher	GS	W	L	Sho	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP	IP/GS
Kazmir	15	5	4	1	89 1/3	71	28	6	42	99	2.82	1.26	5.96
Schilling	16	10	5	0	112 1/3	119	48	15	19	101	3.85	1.23	7.02

An intriguing match up tonight. You have the old gun going against the young gun. If familiarity breeds success then the Sox have the edge. Especially since this is the 5th time this year that Kazmir has faced the Sox. In those four games he is 0-2 with a 3.42 ERA and averaged 5.92 innings per start.

In his career Kaz is 3 and 3 at fenway in 8 starts. He has a very respectable 3.15 ERA and does average 5.71 IP/GS. His WHIP is an unimpressive 1.42 though.

Schilling is 5 and 1 at Fenway vs the Rays with a 4.11 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. He averages 6.57 IP/GS though. The problem with Schilling has been that he is either very good (3 games with 1 earned run or less) or very bad since the other four games he has allowed at least four runs. I think tonight we will see the good Schilling!.

♊ - When all else fails, get a bigger hammer!