Red Sox 2008 Game 39 Preview

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D. Matsuzaka		5-0, 2.43		G. Perkins		0-0, --- (first career start)
Red Sox		23 - 15		Twins		18 - 16

Saturday, May 10  Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome  ✠ 7:10 PM ET

American League

East	W	L	GB	L 10	1 R W	1 R L	X W	X L
Boston	23	15	-	7-3	7	4	22	16
Tampa Bay	19	16	2.5	5-5	3	4	19	16
Baltimore	18	18	4.0	3-7	8	5	17	19
New York	18	19	4.5	4-6	4	4	19	18
Toronto	17	20	5.5	6-4	4	9	19	18

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ESPN.Com after the game Recap.
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From MLB.Com Scouting Report

Red Sox: Matsuzaka did not have his best control in his last start. He allowed just two hits and one earned run in five innings, but he set a new career high with eight walks. He worked out of four two-on jams, disallowing Detroit to put a runner on third base. Matsuzaka has only faced Minnesota once in his short MLB career, but he gave up two runs on six hits in eight innings.

Twins: Following the move to put Scott Baker on the disabled list with a strained right groin muscle, the Twins called up Perkins to fill Baker'’s rotation spot. The left-hander struggled early this season with Triple-A Rochester but has settled in recently, going 2-1 with a 2.97 ERA in seven appearances (six starts). Perkins pitched only 28 2/3 innings in the Majors last season after being sidelined with a muscle strain near his left shoulder. The time he’ has spent with the Twins has also been in a relief role; this will be his first career start for Minnesota.

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

Sox Batting vs Pettitte

Player	AB	H	2b	3b	HR's	RBI	BB's	K's	BA
J. Ellsbury	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
D. Pedroia	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
D. Ortiz	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.500
M. Ramirez	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	---
J. D. Drew	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
M. Lowell	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000
J. Varitek	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.500
K. Youkilis	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	---
J. Lugo	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Totals	8	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	.250

Not a lot of history here vs Perkins. In fact overall the team has only had 13 plate appearances vs Perkins. Not sure what to think about their chances, but at least the players have seen him before. Still it is the first time he has started at the major league level.

Pitching Comparisions Career

Pitcher	GS	W	L	Sho	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP	IP/GS
Matsuzaka	1	1	0	0	8	6	2	1	2	8	2.25	1.00	8.0
Perkins	0	0	0	0	4 2/3	2	0	0	1	2	0.00	.64	0.0

Daisuke has one start, last year on 9/28/2008 vs the Twins. It was a very good outing and the Twins didn't score until the 7th inning. Can he repeat that today? I say, Daisuke makes the Twins look silly today!!!


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