GAME #22, CHICAGO CUBS AT BOSTON RED SOX

[Bear]

CUBS V RED SOX

FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2017, 7:10 PM AT FENWAY PARK

TV:  NESN, CSN-C, MLBN

CHICAGO, 12-9......................................................................................BOSTON, 11-10

CHICAGO:

JAKE AARRIETA, RHP, 3-0, 3.65ERA, 29K

Arrieta is coming off a win over the Reds in which he gave up four runs over six
innings.  He's 1-3 with a 4.66ERA against Boston, when he flirted with a no-hitter
and gave up one hit over 7 2/3 innings.

BOSTON:

DREW POMERANZ, LHP, 1-1, 4.60ERA, 20K

The lefty kicks off a much-anticipated three-game series at Fenway against the
World Series Champions.  Pomeranz has a srong track record against Chicago, going
2-0 with a 1.13ERA in three starts.

Cubs, Sox open Interleague set at Fenway

Carrie Muskat and Ian Browne

Kris Bryant's dad marked this weekend on his calendar as soon as he saw the Cubs' schedule. So did Jon Lester's wife and his parents and Anthony Rizzo's family.

On Friday, the defending World Series champion Cubs will open a three-game Interleague series with the Red Sox at Fenway Park, the first meeting between the two historic franchises since 2014.

The series serves as marquee early-season matchup, one which will have an electric and sold-out crowd for all three games. The Cubs come in leading the National League Central with a 12-9 mark. The Red Sox enter at 11-10, in third place in the American League East.

"It's going to be a lot of fun," said Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. "They are a big, competitive team, and I think coming in there's going to be a lot of fan hype, and that's going to bring a lot of excitement."

The meeting three years ago was also at Fenway Park, and the Cubs swept that three-game set, which included a stellar game by Jake Arrieta, who flirted with a no-hitter.

The right-hander didn't give up a hit until Stephen Drew singled with two outs in the eighth, and he received a standing ovation as he walked off the field.

Arrieta will be back on the mound again, opening the series on Friday.

"It's really special," Arrieta said of Fenway Park. "I got to pitch there several times early in my career [while with Baltimore], and the first time you're there, it's kind of like your first experience at Wrigley [Field]. It's an environment like nothing else.

"Wrigley and Fenway are the last two really ultra-old-school stadiums and venues. It's really cool to get to visit those places. It's a unique place, and there's a lot of character there and a lot of history. You have to pitch a little different there to certain guys because of the wall [in left]."

The Red Sox counter with lefty Drew Pomeranz, who has a healthy amount of respect for Chicago's lineup after facing them last season at Wrigley Field while with the Padres.

"Obviously they're the defending champions, they're an elite team," Pomeranz said. "Their lineup can hurt you, any one of them can. It's a lot like the teams in this division. They fit in with those AL East teams, from a lineup standpoint."

For the Red Sox, the matchup with the Cubs is sandwiched between two of the AL East foes Pomeranz was referring to. Boston completed a two-game series with the Yankees on Thursday. Once the Cubs leave town, the Orioles will be in for a four-game series.

"One thing I can say is we do a very good job of not creating added emphasis on any opponent," said Red Sox manager John Farrell. "Every opponent we play is critically important on that night. But we recognize where these teams are coming in ahead of us or in other divisions that are playing very well."

Lester, who came up in the Red Sox's organization and helped them to World Series championships in 2007 and '13, will not pitch in the series. John Lackey, who won clinching Game 6 of the '13 World Series for Boston, starts on Saturday for the Cubs.
Meanwhile, this will be the first time for Fenway fans to see one of the premier hitters in the game in Bryant, last season's National League MVP Award winner.

Bryant's father, Mike, was selected by the Red Sox in the ninth round of the 1980 Draft out of the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. He played two seasons in the Minor Leagues, finishing with a .204 batting average. Mike even proposed to his wife, Susie, on Yawkey Way behind the Green Monster at Fenway Park. His son, Kris, knows the area after playing in the Cape Cod League, having taken batting practice at Fenway. Kris Bryant and his teammates signed their names on the left-field wall at the time, and he was curious if they had been painted over.
As far as dealing with the Green Monster as a hitter, Bryant wasn't sure what to do.

"I watch the games all the time, but once you get in the park, it's right on top of you," Bryant said. "It feels you have to hit it really high. It's definitely a little intimidating."

Lester was looking forward to seeing the few teammates who remain from his days there. He has been texting Dustin Pedroia about the weekend reunion.

"We did everything together," Lester said of his time with the second baseman. "We did the Minor Leagues, the [Major League] debuts, the World Series, the ups and downs, everything. He was probably -- if not the first -- the second person I called when I signed with the Cubs. His friendship and him as a teammate mean a lot to me."

Lester's arrival in Chicago in 2015 has helped turn the Cubs around, culminating with their first World Series championship since 1908 after a seven-game Series against the Indians last year. The Cubs are bringing their trophy this weekend, and it will be featured at an event to benefit Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein's Foundation To Be Named Later, which was hosting a concert on Saturday featuring Cubs fan Eddie Vedder. The concert is sold out.

Epstein grew up two miles from Fenway Park and led Boston's front office from 2003-11, winning two World Series championships, including ending an 86-year drought with the 2004 title.

"The biggest thing is they're both storied franchises with a lot of great history and a lot of great players who played for both of them," Lester said of the Cubs and Red Sox.

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS GAME

• On one hand, Arrieta surrendered five runs (four earned) on eight hits over six innings in his last outing at Cincinnati. On the other hand, the righty racked up a season-high 16 swinging strikes -- more than the 15 he had over his previous two starts combined. Arrieta's 15.8-percent swinging-strike rate was his fourth highest in a game since the start of last season.

• Pomeranz has faced the Cubs three times in his career, including last May 11 at Wrigley Field while with the Padres, throwing six shutout innings. The left-hander is holding opponents to a .230 average in his three starts this season.

• The Red Sox will be without setup reliever Matt Barnes until the series finale because he is serving a four-game suspension for throwing a pitch near the head of the Orioles' Manny Machado on Sunday.

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170426226686356/cubs-sox-open-interleague-set-at-fenway/?game_pk=490432

[Bear]

Game 22: Cubs at Red Sox

Peter Abraham

Here are the lineups:
RED SOX (11-10).............   CUBS (12-9)
Bogaerts SS....................   Schwarber DH
Benintendi LF..................   Bryant 3B
Betts RF.........................   Rizzo 1B
Ramirez DH....................   Zobrist LF
Moreland 1B...................   Russell SS
Pedroia 2B.....................   Contreras C
Bradley CF......................   Heyward RF
Vazquez C......................   Baez 2B
Hernandez 3B.................   Almora CF
Pitching: LHP Drew Pomeranz (1-1, 4.60).

Pitching: RHP Jake Arrieta (3-0, 3.65).

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV, radio: NESN, MLB Network / WEEI-FM (93.7).


Red Sox vs. Arrieta:

Pedroia 4-16,
Moreland 2-6,
Bogaerts 0-3,
Ramirez 0-3,
Rutledge 0-2,
Young 0-3,
Betts 0-2,
Bradley 0-1.

Cubs vs. Pomeranz:

Montero 1-7,
Rizzo 0-8,
Heyward 2-4,
Jay 1-3,
Bryant 1-2,
Baez 0-1.

Stat of the Day: The Sox have won 17 of their last 19 interleague games at Fenway Park including the last eight in a row.

Cubs vs. Sox: The Sox are 5-7 against the Cubs, 2-4 at Fenway. The teams are meeting for the first time since the Cubs swept three games at Fenway from June 30-July 2, 2014.

On one hand: Red Sox pitchers have a 1.92 ERA in the last seven games and have held opponents to a .207 batting average.

On the other hand: Red Sox hitters are 46 of 228 (.202) in the last seven games with 13 runs. They are 5 of 44 (.114) with runners in scoring position and have struck out 45 times. The Sox have scored one run in their last 18 innings and gone 7 of 59 (.119) with one extra-base hit.

No bull: The Red Sox bullpen is third in the American League with a 2.10 ERA, second in batting average (.185) and second in OPS (.558).

Sandy’s struggles: Sandy Leon is hitting .179/.224/.239 in his last 35 major league games going back to last season. He is 2 of 34 in his last 10 games with no extra-base hits and this season is 3 of 32 (.094) against righthanders.

Other notes:
The Sox have lost two straight, four of five and five of seven . . .
Drew Pomeranz is 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA in three career games against the Cubs. He faced them last May 11 and worked six shutout innings . . .
Jake Arrieta is 1-3 with a 4.66 ERA in seven career games against the Sox. He last faced them on June 30, 2014, and allowed one hit over 7⅔ shutout innings . . .

Mitch Moreland is 2 of his last 17, Dustin Pedroia 2 of his last 15, and Jackie Bradley Jr. 3 of his last 17.

Song of the Day: “Immortality” by Pearl Jam.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2017/04/28/game-cubs-red-sox/H24RvbQcA0zdkT3vU8whqJ/story.html

[longgame]

Arrietta up.  I'd expect us to lose to him, with him hitting a couple out.

[Bill-806]

  The SOX cannot continue trying to play "keep the line moving"..... Time for "small ball" and scratch the defense till they make mistakes......  Can't stand the SOX against the "shift", they still try and go through it !!!

[Rob from Mass]

Sox have made a roster move bringing up Ben Taylor and shipping Ross to AAA along with Selsky.

[Bill-806]

Sox have made a roster move bringing up Ben Taylor and shipping Ross to AAA along with Selsky.

B I N G O  !!!  They must have labored ovaaa that move !!!!  Taylor will probably leave town on Sunday with Theo & the Cubs !!

[Rob from Mass]

Sox have made a roster move bringing up Ben Taylor and shipping Ross to AAA along with Selsky.

B I N G O  !!!  They must have labored ovaaa that move !!!!  Taylor will probably leave town on Sunday with Theo & the Cubs !!

The Sox will never get rid of the next great RP says BILL.

[SeaBeachFred]

  The SOX cannot continue trying to play "keep the line moving"..... Time for "small ball" and scratch the defense till they make mistakes......  Can't stand the SOX against the "shift", they still try and go through it !!!

That might be of some help Bill but not that much to make that much of a difference.  The diseases would still be here---Farrell in the manager's chair, Fatso at third, Leon catching, Swihart still in the minors, and a bunch ofo thers with no guts, no balls and no heart.  Sooner or later Prune Face is going to have to realize or be shown that Farrell is a very bad fit to run this team.   They need someone tough but fair, one that demands accountability, and then we go from there.  However, the rot has seeped in so deeply that very little can be done to salvage this season unless the team decides to take charge and stop feeling sorry for their sorry asses---and that won't happen as long as Farrell is around.  You can make book on that.

[Bill-806]

  I see some movement in the lineup !!!

[Rob from Mass]

  The SOX cannot continue trying to play "keep the line moving"..... Time for "small ball" and scratch the defense till they make mistakes......  Can't stand the SOX against the "shift", they still try and go through it !!!

Bill with a measly 11 HRs I would SMALL BALL  is exactly what they are doing.
As far as the shift is concerned you see very little from any team trying to go the other way unless a pitcher misses outside.

[longgame]

Now this is more like it.  Of course it may be the only runs they score for the series!

[ipot]

And here comes Pomeranz to say "not so fast.  I'll make you guys pay for scoring runs today." 
Sale must be livid.

[ipot]

Phew...Pom Pom gets out of it.

[markj]

Wow, 5 runs already against Arrietta. I didn't think they'd score at all. My co-worker, who's a die-hard Cubs fan, is not a happy camper.

[ipot]

Arrieta imploding in the 1st was a major gift.  He's settled in now.  It's PomPom who's the problem now....