RED SOX V BLUE JAYS
SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2017, 1 PM AT ROGERS CENTRE
TV: NESN, MLBN (OUT-OF-MARKET ONLY) SNET
BOSTON, (45-35)....................................................................................TORONTO, (37-42)
BOSTON:
CHRIS SALE, LHP, 10-3, 2.77 ERA, 155K
The ace lefty continues to mow through just about every opponent. With
nine K's in his last start, Sale increased his AL-leading total to 155. Opponents
are hitting .200 against him this season.
TORONTO:
FRANCISCO LIRIANO, LHP, 4-3, 5.46 ERA, 54K
Liriano has been inconsistent all year, but there have been some positive
signs of late. He has allowed three earned runs or fewer in four of is past
five starts. Problem is, only two of those outings were six innings or more.
Sale aims to rack up more K's vs. Jays
Ian Browne
The Red Sox will send ace Chris Sale to the mound on Saturday to face fellow left-hander Francisco Liriano in a Canada Day matinee at Rogers Centre.
Sale has been the workhorse ace that Boston envisioned and is on pace to challenge his career highs in innings pitched and strikeouts. He's gone six innings or more in all but one start this season, and manager John Farrell has noticed his impact on the rotation between outings, too.
"I think the one thing that is on display every fifth or sixth day is the pace at which he pitches -- and we're seeing that start to flow through into other guys," said Farrell. "I think you're seeing it in Drew [Pomeranz] right now, who's maybe picked up his pace a little bit more. And I'm sure when they watch it and in the conversations that follow in between starts when Chris isn't pitching, it's tangible benefits."
Liriano also brings some electric movement from the left side, but the veteran has been inconsistent with his control. His walk rate of five batters per nine innings has cut some starts short, but he did look stronger in his last outing against Kansas City where he limited the Royals to two runs over six innings of work.
Toronto's offense has been battling some inconsistencies of its own. Between some unexpected slumps and injuries -- Troy Tulowitzki fits into both of those categories -- the Blue Jays entered this weekend's series ranked 26th in runs scored despite their wealth of power bats.
THREE THINGS TO WATCH IN THIS GAME
• Liriano's slider continues to be his best offering, but his fastball has been a completely different story. His two-seamer, which he's thrown almost as much as the slider, has given up a .304 average and .580 OPS. His four-seam fastball has an opponent's average of .346 with a .962 OPS, and all eight of his home runs allowed have come off those two pitches.
• Shortstop Xander Bogaerts had started every Red Sox game since April 22, a stretch of 62 straight games, before getting Friday night's series opener off. He will be right back in the lineup on Saturday.
• Though the Blue Jays are in last place in the American League East, Farrell is very mindful of the type of threat they are.
"This is always a dangerous lineup. We know that their offense is built around the home run," Farrell said. "They score a high number of runs based on home runs. You can never count them out. Once they get their pitching back to full strength, it's a good rotation."
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170630239708994/sale-aims-to-rack-up-more-ks-vs-jays/?game_pk=491309
Today in Toronto:
Betts RF,
Pedroia 2B,
Bogaerts SS,
Ramirez DH,
Bradley Jr. CF,
Young LF,
Travis 1B,
Leon C,
Marrero 3B,
Sale LHP.
So, J F has the day off to watch his son in his MLB debut.... OK, but how does that effect our team ??
Kudos to Pedey in breaking his club record last night with 99 straight games without a E.
Quote from: Rob from Mass on July 01, 2017, 11:01:36 AM
Kudos to Pedey in breaking his club record last night with 99 straight games without a E.
As DAD would say, "SON, lets not jinx him now" !!!! rofl
Good start to this game. Not leaving runners on so far today. Marrero gets another hit. 4 two out runs. Even a double steal like last night.
Early 4 run lead? Sweet 8)
6Ks thru 3. Sale just doing his thing.
This does not seem right. 4-0 lead only in the 4th and Sale on the hill.Just doesn't seem like a normal Sale outing.
Great job by Sale today. Can't ask for much more out of him.
Not to be greedy, and I love small ball, but someone needs to go deep with all these base runners.
Sox need to find another old man like Boyer.The guy has pitched very good since being a Sox.
Quote from: Rob from Mass on July 01, 2017, 03:14:31 PM
Sox need to find another old man like Boyer.The guy has pitched very good since being a Sox.
He has done a very good job and you can use him on consecutive days if needed.
Every game should be that easy. Score early and have Sale pitching. Good game recipe.
Quote from: Sea Dog 23 on July 01, 2017, 03:03:01 PM
Not to be greedy, and I love small ball, but someone needs to go deep with all these base runners.
When you don't hav e nippers this is how you play.And this team does not have a LEGITpower guy.
Quote from: Rob from Mass on July 01, 2017, 03:14:31 PM
Sox need to find another old man like Boyer.The guy has pitched very good since being a Sox.
ROB, you have a good EYE, young man !! thumb_u
As DAD would say, SON, how do you like OUR RED SOX now" !!! thumb_u rofl
This is supposed to be how it goes for a team banking on winning. Score some runs early behind your ace and just keep moving the lineup along. It was disheartening earlier in the season when we couldn't get any runs for Chris. He could have had three or four more wins, but he seems to be on his way now that he is getting some decent support. Good way to start a long road trip with two games in the bank. If we can get three tomorrow it would be a helluva start, but we need s couple of guys to start hitting them n the seats regularly.
Quote from: SeaBeachFred on July 01, 2017, 05:38:28 PM
This is supposed to be how it goes for a team banking on winning. Score some runs early behind your ace and just keep moving the lineup along. It was disheartening earlier in the season when we couldn't get any runs for Chris. He could have had three or four more wins, but he seems to be on his way now that he is getting some decent support. Good way to start a long road trip with two games in the bank. If we can get three tomorrow it would be a helluva start, but we need s couple of guys to start hitting them n the seats regularly.
Yes sir, Fred. These are those nice cathartic wins when the pitching is A+ and the offense puts up 6+ runs and double-digit hits. Like me some more. thumb_u
'Stros beat the Yankmees, so the Sox are 2 games up and tied in the loss column.
Quote from: markj on July 01, 2017, 09:51:22 PM
'Stros beat the Yankmees, so the Sox are 2 games up and tied in the loss column.
Break out the DUCK BOATS !! thumb_u rofl
So, DM hit two dingers for Sale up in Chicago. He gets a couple hits in this game and started the run scoring two out rally. Could Chris Sale be the first pitcher ever with his own personal third baseman? rofl
Quote from: MongoLikeSox on July 02, 2017, 09:00:07 AM
So, DM hit two dingers for Sale up in Chicago. He gets a couple hits in this game and started the run scoring two out rally. Could Chris Sale be the first pitcher ever with his own personal third baseman? rofl
B I N G O dat !!!!
Quote from: SeaBeachFred on July 01, 2017, 05:38:28 PM
This is supposed to be how it goes for a team banking on winning. Score some runs early behind your ace and just keep moving the lineup along. It was disheartening earlier in the season when we couldn't get any runs for Chris. He could have had three or four more wins, but he seems to be on his way now that he is getting some decent support. Good way to start a long road trip with two games in the bank. If we can get three tomorrow it would be a helluva start, but we need s couple of guys to start hitting them n the seats regularly.
Exactly Fred, spot a guy like Sale a couple of runs and he can just go after guys (he always does anyhow). Two down out of three, let's hope we can keep Toronto where they belong.