WHITE SOX V RED SOX
THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 2017, 7 PM AT FENWAY PARK
TV: NESN, CSN-C
CHICAGO, (41-64)....................................................................................BOSTON, (59-49)
CHICAGO:
MIGUEL GONZALEZ, RHP, 5-9, 4.59 ERA, 57K
Gonzalez will be drawing against August trade buzz, as he's posted three
consecutive quality starts since coming off the DL after the AS break with A/C
joint inflammation in his throwing shoulder.
BOSTON:
RICK PORCELLO, RHP, 4-14, 4.55 ERA, 136K
The AL CY Young Award winner's up-and-down continued in his last start.
Porcello gave up four runs, including two homers in seven innings against the
Royals in his MLB-leading 14th loss. The right-hander has given up 25 homers.
Gonzalez, Porcello tabbed as Sox battle in opener
Fabian Ardaya
A lot has changed since Dec. 6, 2016 -- the day the White Sox shipped Chris Sale to the Red Sox in exchange for a package highlighted by top prospect Yoan Moncada and Michael Kopech, the game's No 12 prospect, according to MLBPipeline.com.
The two teams will square off for the second series since the deal when they start a four-game set at Fenway Park on Thursday, when Chicago right-hander Miguel Gonzalez takes on Boston's Rick Porcello. Porcello was to have started Wednesday's game against the Indians but the game was postponed due to rain.
Sale's day against his former club -- the second time he's faced them -- is slated for Sunday, but Moncada has never played against his former club. The second baseman appeared in eight games with Boston in 2016, making his Major League debut and going 4-for-19. He's appeared in 12 games since making his White Sox debut on July 19, going 4-for-38 with a homer and six RBIs.
Moncada's status for Thursday's opener is uncertain, as he is listed as day to day with a right knee contusion after colliding with teammate Willy Garcia in the sixth inning of Monday's 7-6 win over Toronto. He wasn't in the lineup on Tuesday and Wednesday, though he could become available when the club travels to Boston.
"I just thought it was something more serious," Moncada said of his injury. "I didn't think anything specific, but I thought it was more serious. But once the doctor gave me the X-ray and they told me it was nothing serious, I was really relieved."
White Sox manager Rick Renteria expressed caution in how Moncada will be used as he returns from injury, saying he will see how the 22-year-old feels Thursday morning before making a decision to put him in the lineup.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS GAME
• In addition to Moncada, the White Sox also have injury concerns over third baseman/designated hitter Matt Davidson. Davidson, who has a team-best 22 homers this season and put together back-to-back walk-off hits on Sunday and Monday, was hit by a pitch in Tuesday's 8-4 loss to Toronto and was held out of the lineup on Wednesday with a right wrist contusion.
"Matty is day to day," Renteria said. "He was a little sore this morning."
• Gonzalez, who is in the midst of three consecutive quality starts, has gone 6-1 with a 3.09 ERA in 13 appearances (11 starts) against Boston in his career. This will be Rodriguez's second career start against the White Sox; he went six innings and allowed four runs (three earned) while taking a no-decision in his first start against them last season.
• Among nearly 100 pitchers who have ended at least 75 at-bats on pitches in the upper third of the strike zone or up and out of the zone, Gonzalez's .333 batting average allowed (28-for-84) is tied for third highest. Opponents are slugging .571 against Gonzalez on those pitches.
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170802245996974/gonzalez-porcello-tabbed-as-sox-battle-in-opener/?game_pk=491712
Red Sox vs. CHW:
Betts RF,
Benintendi LF,
Nuñez 2B,
Ramirez DH,
Devers 3B,
Bogaerts SS,
Moreland 1B,
Vazquez C,
Bradley Jr. CF,
Porcello RHP
Soory that we got rained out, just maybe the night off was beneficial ?? Oh yes, the YANK$ got beat !! thumb_u rofl
Gotta take advantage of the lousy CWS. Mustn't play down to their level. These should be Ws.
Interesting seeing that Sale won`t pitch until Tuesday against the Rays.
Giving him 2 days extra rest.
Quote from: Rob from Mass on August 03, 2017, 11:49:14 AM
Interesting seeing that Sale won`t pitch until Tuesday against the Rays.
Giving him 2 days extra rest.
Not really that interesting since they are just following the rotation. They got rained out on Wednesday so that pushed everyone back 1 day and they don't play on Monday so that pushes everyone back another day.
Quote from: Schloicka on August 03, 2017, 01:31:42 PM
Quote from: Rob from Mass on August 03, 2017, 11:49:14 AM
Interesting seeing that Sale won`t pitch until Tuesday against the Rays.
Giving him 2 days extra rest.
Not really that interesting since they are just following the rotation. They got rained out on Wednesday so that pushed everyone back 1 day and they don't play on Monday so that pushes everyone back another day.
B I N G O dat !!! As DAD would say, "SON, do the math" !!! iono rofl
GO SOX, make us proud !!! thumb_u rofl
Wow, great start. 4-0 already and only 1 out.
Devers is a pure beast with the bat.Some wanted a block buster trade at the deadline for a bat.We now know why DD stayed his course.
Porcello can't stand to have an early lead. Doing his best to keep the game close.
Wild pitch cost them a run as well as the walk. Could of been only a 1 run inning without the passed ball.
One of my biggest peeves is leadoff walks. Walking the leadoff man after your team has given you a 4 run lead is inexcusable.
Nunez had a chance to walk and swung at a ball 4 way out of the zone. Ended up popping out. Oh well got 3 out of it anyway. 7-2 Red Sox after 2 innings.
Better get the shower turned on. Porcello will soon need it.
How do you walk a 105 hitter twice in the game? Just throw it down the middle. Moncada could of been the 3rd out.
Beni loves running into outs. I wonder sometimes about his baseball IQ.
Porcello never saw a lead he couldn't at least try to blow. What a poor performance by him after getting spotted 4 runs. Just not good. Looks like in the bottom of the 5th we may rally again. Let's hope Farrell doesn't run Porcello out there any further after he got his 5 innings.
Excellent 2 out hustle by Xman on the infield hit and then scoring on the Moreland double. 9-5 Red Sox after 6 innings.
Reed with a 123 inning in the 7th. All infield ground balls. Barnes will pitch the 8th.
Quote from: Schloicka on August 03, 2017, 07:55:46 PM
Beni loves running into outs. I wonder sometimes about his baseball IQ.
Oops, he did it again. ::) :P sigh iono
Quote from: markj on August 03, 2017, 09:08:29 PM
Quote from: Schloicka on August 03, 2017, 07:55:46 PM
Beni loves running into outs. I wonder sometimes about his baseball IQ.
Oops, he did it again. ::) :P sigh iono
Not even close at 3rd. Need to put a shock collar on Beni. You run into an out you get zapped.
Quote from: Schloicka on August 03, 2017, 09:12:23 PM
Quote from: markj on August 03, 2017, 09:08:29 PM
Quote from: Schloicka on August 03, 2017, 07:55:46 PM
Beni loves running into outs. I wonder sometimes about his baseball IQ.
Oops, he did it again. ::) :P sigh iono
Not even close at 3rd. Need to put a shock collar on Beni. You run into an out you get zapped.
rofl rofl rofl
Nice 123 inning by Barnes in the 8th. Still 9-5 Red Sox after 8 innings. Looks like Workman will pitch the 9th.
Good game despite the base running gaffes.
Another 123 inning in the 9th. Sox win 9-5. On to Friday.
Quote from: markj on August 03, 2017, 06:40:23 PM
Porcello can't stand to have an early lead. Doing his best to keep the game close.
Well I'd better hunker down and confess right now. I left the room in the top of the third when that damn Porcello was tagged for three more runs and stayed away until the sixth when our buillpen ended a potential uprising and then we scored our final run. I mean, what the hell is wrong with Porcello; why does always get the crap knocked out of him. Can't our pitching coach spot whatever the hell he is doing badly and correct him. My God, it is August and he still can't get himself squared around. Now our hitting, that right now may be a different story because we were smoking again tonight. Are we getting to where we need to be on the hitting front guys and gals? We may be, and we now have Nunez and Devers as our "trade deadline" pickups and they are doing just fine. And we picked up a game on the Yankees tonight, and good for us that we didn't have to face Cluber on Tuesday instead of the guys we faced. We can use all the breaks we can get and then make a few of our own. All in all, a good evening, but still, I am pretty chapped at Porcello for another piss poor job.
Quote from: Schloicka on August 03, 2017, 09:19:27 PM
Nice 123 inning by Barnes in the 8th. Still 9-5 Red Sox after 8 innings. Looks like Workman will pitch the 9th.
Schloik---let's give some kudos to our bullpen tonight; they were superb and to Farrell (don't be shocked) for utilizing them well this time around. It is possible, though I'm afraid to jinx them if I do, but maybe our pen is really ready for the big push this month. Well, after all, we had a rotten July---why not counter that with a superb August. Sounds good to be if we can pull it off.
Fred,
I heard during the telecast that the Sox have the third best bullpen
.era in the major leagues.
Interesting!
AND tonight our bullpen allowed NO runs.
Yes, Porcello is frustrating AND tonight, our bats gave him run support.
Now that the bats have woken up for a spell, we have a starting pitching problem.
To Porcello's credit he hasn't been getting the better end of run support for a lot of his starts, but it's games like this that make me bite nails every time he starts this season. The long balls and the WHIP are like treading a third rail every time with him this year.
What a start Raffy Devers is up to. Nunez, too. These 2 have really gotten the bats working.
Quote from: Schloicka on August 03, 2017, 07:55:46 PM
Beni loves running into outs. I wonder sometimes about his baseball IQ.
Reminds me of Rusney at times.
This to be expected from someone who did not spend much time in the minors.
What a game !!! Another "W".... As Jimmy Dolittle said in the movie PEARL HARBOR, "VICTORY GOES TO THOSE WHO WANT IT THE MOST, WANT IT THE LONGEST" !!! thumb_u rofl