GAME #46, TEXAS RANGERS AT BOSTON RED SOX

[Bear]

RANGERS V RED SOX

THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017, 7PM AT FENWAY PARK

TV:  NESN, FSSW, MLBN (OUT-OF-MARKET ONLY)

TEXAS, ( 24-23).............................................................................BOSTON, (24-21)

TEXAS:

NICK MARTINEZ, RHP, 1-2, 4.33 ERA, 10K

Martinez earned his first win of the season by holding the Tigers to one
unearned run over five innings in a 5-3 victory on Friday.  It was his first
win as a starter since August 5, 2015.  He is 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA in three
starts against the Red Sox.

BOSTON:

DREW POMERANZ, LHP, 3-3, 4.97ERA, 45K

The southpaw aims to go deeper into the game for the Red Sox, as he
has failed to reach the fifth inning in his past three starts.  Pomeranz is 3-1,
with a 4.38ERA at home compared to 0-2 with a 6.08ERA onthe road.

Martinez, Pomeranz set to square off in finale

Evan Chronis

BOSTON -- The Red Sox and Rangers wrap up their first series of the 2017 season at Fenway Park on Thursday night. On the mound for the Red Sox will be left-hander Drew Pomeranz (3-3, 4.97 ERA), who will be looking to pitch past the fourth inning for the first time in four starts.

Nick Martinez (1-2, 4.33 ERA) will start for the Rangers after winning his first start since August 2015 last weekend in Detroit. The righty has the opportunity to collect his first career win against the Red Sox; Martinez is 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA in three career starts against Boston.

Martinez is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA in his last two starts, and is easing into his role after a rocky 2016 campaign in which he posted a 5.59 ERA. He says he has gained confidence this season in his curveball and changeup.

"I'm more comfortable throwing those pitches in any count," Martinez said.

For Pomeranz to avoid a repeat of his performance against Oakland on Saturday -- he was relieved after throwing 95 pitches in just four innings -- manager John Farrell says he needs to rely more on his cutter.

"I think that was a pitch that allowed him to put a ball on the ground and potentially get a couple of outs with one pitch," Farrell said Wednesday. "As a four-seam/curveball guy, there's going to be fly balls, foul balls and strikeouts. That's going to lend to higher pitch counts. To get a little more efficient, command is one thing, but trying to get a ground ball mixed in there somewhere will be key."

First baseman Mitch Moreland will return to the Red Sox's lineup for the series finale after not starting Wednesday.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS GAME

• Only 28.1 percent of Drew Pomeranz's pitches this season in a two-strike count have resulted in either a strikeout or batted ball. That is the second-lowest rate among pitchers who have at least 200 two-strike pitches this season. That difficulty putting hitters away could help explain the left-hander's career-high rate of 4.3 pitches per plate appearance.

• Red Sox designated hitter Hanley Ramirez has homered twice in six career plate appearances against Martinez.

• Platooning may prove to be the wrong game plan for managers who face Pomeranz. Left-handed batters are hitting .406 this season off Pomeranz, including two home runs, in eight starts. The lefty has never given up more than two home runs in a season to left-handed batters in his career.

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170524232208130/martinez-pomeranz-set-to-square-off-in-finale/?game_pk=490813

[Bear]

Red Sox vs. TEX:

Betts RF,
Pedroia 2B,
Bogaerts SS,
Benintendi LF,
Ramirez DH,
Moreland 1B,
Bradley CF,
Vázquez C,
Marrero 3B,

Pomeranz LHP

[ipot]

So:

1. Pomeranz, the 5th inning folding chair, on the mound
2. Sox offense: #26th in the MLB in runs scored in innings 1 - 6.
3. Sox offense #1 in the MLB in runs scored in innings 7-9.
4. Sox bullpen #4 in least runs allowed in innings 7-9.

I think we have our script for this one.  The usual expectations.   ;)

[Rob from Mass]

If memory serves me right a W tonight would be their 1st 3 game sweep of the season.

[ipot]

That wax XB's 1st HR of the year.  Hard to believe.  4-0.

[markj]

Pom-pom doing pretty well tonight.

[Schloicka]

Pomeranz slow throw to 1st on the steal cost him a run.

[markj]

Wouldn't be a Sox game without a GIDP or two.

[ipot]

Wouldn't be a Sox game without a GIDP or two.

Worst possible time.  They could've put the game away there....

[ipot]

Hembree didn't screw up.   thumb_u

[markj]

Pom-pom goes 6 full. Better, but still not deep enough. He was doing well pitch-count wise earlier. Ended up with 96 over 6 innings.

[markj]

Marrero puts the game on ice. Nice 2-run dinger. Sweet.

[markj]

Kimbrel time. Close it out.

[markj]

What kind of bullshit call is this? He should have already been out the pitch before and then he swings and misses and still isn't called out. 4 strikes and he's standing on 1st base.   thumb_d :losers iono

[Schloicka]

What kind of bullshit call is this? He should have already been out the pitch before and then he swings and misses and still isn't called out. 4 strikes and he's standing on 1st base.   thumb_d :losers iono

Not sure what they were looking at on replay. They can't use replay to determine if he swung. Obviously he swung but should be able to use replay to determine if it actually hit him. No way was it not conclusive unless Stevie Wonder was looking at the replay.