GAME #160, HOUSTON ASTROS AT BOSTON RED SOX

Started by Bear, September 29, 2017, 01:14:55 AM

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Bear

ASTROS V RED SOX

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017, 7 PM AT FENWAY PARK

TV:  NESN, ATT SPORTSNET-SW

HOUSTON, (99-60).........................................................................................BOSTON, (92-67)

HOUSTON:

CHARLIE MORTON, RHP, 13-7, 3.63 ERA, 159K

Set to make his final regular start, Morton set a career high in wins (13).  In his
past 11 starts, he's 6-3 with a 3.00 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 66 innings.  He has a
1.09 WHIP in that span with 10.36 strikeout per nine.

BOSTON:

DOUG FISTER, RHP, 5-8, 4.87 ERA, 78K

The veteran right-hander had been on a roll until struggling mightily in his last
3 starts, giving up 14 runs over 11 1/3 innings.  Fister is 3-6 with a 4.93 ERA in nine
appearances at Fenway this season.

Fister faces Astros with Sox on cusp of clinch

Brian McTaggart

The Red Sox will try to lock up the American League East by sending Doug Fister to the mound Friday night against the Astros at Fenway Park. He'll face right-hander Charlie Morton, who's 13-7 with a 3.63 ERA this year after replacing Fister in the Astros' rotation.

Even though they lost to the Astros in Thursday's series opener, the Red Sox's AL East magic number was cut to one when the Yankees fell to the Rays. The Red Sox could actually clinch the division title before their game Friday night if the Yankees lose to the Blue Jays on Friday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.

The AL West champion Astros are one game behind the AL Central champion Indians for the best record in the AL, but the Indians own the tiebreaker. Houston would have to finish a game ahead of Cleveland to get the AL's top seed for the postseason. The Astros recorded their 99th win Thursday and are looking to notch 100 wins for only the second time in franchise history.

If the standings hold, the Astros and Red Sox would open the AL Division Series presented by Doosan on Thursday in Houston after ending the season with four games against each other.

"It is just kind of how the chips fell," Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts said. "It would be kind of weird seeing them that many times in a row. You gotta do what you gotta do."

It would be just the fourth time in history that two teams that met in the final series of the regular season also squared off for the start of the postseason. The last time it happened was in 2013, when the Pirates swept the Reds on the final weekend of the season and then defeated Cincinnati in the National League Wild Card Game.

"I know there's a lot at stake, there's a lot of familiarity that's going to happen over the next four days," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "We don't know what's going to happen at the end of the weekend. We need to get our guys ready for the playoffs. We may play these guys, we might not. If the weekend presents itself as it's a little clearer picture for us or for them, maybe things change."

After going through a dominant stretch in which many thought he'd make the postseason roster as a starter, Fister has fallen off over his last three starts, combining to allow 14 runs on 19 hits in 11 1/3 innings. In his last start against Cincinnati, he allowed three runs on nine hits and struck out nine in 5 1/3 innings for a no-decision.

Morton, making his final regular-season start, has already set a career high in wins. In his last 11 starts, he's 6-3 with a 3.00 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 66 innings. He has a 1.09 WHIP in that span with 10.36 strikeouts per nine innings.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS GAME

• Morton has allowed only a .175 expected batting average in September, according to Statcast, based on the quality of contact made against him and his 29 strikeouts in 23 innings. That xBA ranks fifth among all starters this month (minimum 50 at-bats).

• The Astros have scored 11 or more runs in four straight games, which is a club record.

• Jose Altuve recorded three hits Thursday, including a double, giving him 203 knocks this season. He needs one double to become the first player in Major League history with four separate seasons of at least 200 hits, 40 doubles and 30 stolen bases.

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170928256627850/fister-faces-astros-with-sox-on-cusp-of-clinch/?game_pk=492490

Bear


Bear

#2
Red Sox v. Morton:

Bogaerts SS,
Pedroia 2B,
Benintendi LF,
Betts RF,
Moreland 1B,
Ramirez DH,
Devers 3B,
Vazquez C,
Davis CF,

Fister RH

Bear

Not proud of how we got to Magic No. 1, but I'll take it.
Yankees play at 1 pm, yankee stadium.
Toronto's Biagini (3-12) v Tanaka (12-12)
Tanaka has struggled in his last 2 or 3 starts...
If the yankees lose this afternoon, our Magic No. would be O
iono   slap   sigh

Bill-806

Heck, the SOX just might do what CUSTER & the 7th CAV couldn't do, WIN the battle to FIGHT AGAIN !!! iono rofl

BoSoxFanNY

Quote from: Bear on September 29, 2017, 01:32:53 AM
Not proud of how we got to Magic No. 1, but I'll take it.
Yankees play at 1 pm, yankee stadium.
Toronto's Biagini (3-12) v Tanaka (12-12)
Tanaka has struggled in his last 2 or 3 starts...
If the yankees lose this afternoon, our Magic No. would be O
iono   slap   sigh

At the moment, Tanaka is pitching one of his best games. 
11 strikeouts in 5 innings.
DANG IT.
Yankees 3 - Jays 0.

Don't think the Jays are going to help us today.

ipot

Wow.  Tanaka K-ed 15.   Our pitchers and their pitchers going in opposite directions.

Can we win 1 out of 3?  Don't expect any gifts from the Bronx.
"Baseball is simple. All you do is sit on your butt, spit tobacco and nod at the stupid things your manager says."
--Bill 'Spaceman' Lee

SeaBeachFred

Quote from: ipot on September 29, 2017, 04:06:21 PM
Wow.  Tanaka K-ed 15.   Our pitchers and their pitchers going in opposite directions.

Can we win 1 out of 3?  Don't expect any gifts from the Bronx.

I wonder if Farrell will finally start thinking outside of the box for a change tonight.  We all know Fister has early inning troubles, especially in the first inning.  We have a deep bullpen and Farrell has to finally be able to rise to the occasion if Doug doesn't have it again as he hasn't his last three performances.  And did anyone notice Hanley  having trouble galore getting around on a decent fastball?  Anyone still think the guy's shoulder isn't chopped meat right now?  And who is to say that he might be at the end of the line with his injuries accumulating over the years finally taking its toll.  Good to see that Bradley is on the pine because he hasn't done anything for over a week.  We need a win tonight guys....the Yankees won this afternoon, a surprise to no one save for the pollyannas-----and they aren't on this board.

markj

Safely through two innings. It'd be nice if the Sox could get a run or two.

Schloicka

#9
Bad throw by Betts lets the guy score. Threw it to far up the line.


Schloicka

Bad execution on that hr pitch. If your going to throw it in then make sure it's in.

markj


markj

Fister gets a nice hand on his way out after 5-1/3 and 3 runs in. I guess in today's Red Sox Nation, that's considered a quality start. 

markj

Hanley blows a bases loaded chance. He's useless.