GAME #11, TAMPA BAY RAYS AT BOSTON RED SOX

[Bear]

RAYS V RED SOX

SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 2017 AT FENWAY PARK

4:05PM ET

TV:  NESN, FOX SPORTS SUN

TAMPA, 6-5...........................................................................BOSTON, 5-5

TAMPA:

JAKE ODORIZZI, RHP, 1-1, 4.50ERA, 8K

Odorizzi picked up his first win of the season Sunday against the Blue Jays, allowing
two runs on two hits and a walk while striking out six in six innings.  He is 1-3
with a 6.08ERA in eight career starts at Fenway Park.[/left]

BOSTON:

CHRIS SALE, LHP, 0-1, 1.23ERA, 17K

The lefty ace has lived up to expectations in is first two starts for the Red Sox,
giving up two runs and striking out 17 over 14 2/3 innings.  Sale has held
opponents to a .157 average for far.

Sale, Odorizzi set to face off, honor No. 42

Quinn Roberts

When the Red Sox acquired Chris Sale this past offseason, expectations were through the roof. In two starts so far this season, he's done nothing but live up to them.

The lanky left-hander has combined to allow two runs and strike out 17 over 14 2/3 innings against the Pirates and Tigers. He's also held hitters to a .157 average.

Sale will face the Rays on Saturday at Fenway Park as he looks for his first win with the Red Sox. This comes as the clubs celebrate Jackie Robinson Day on the 70th anniversary of him breaking the color barrier with the Dodgers. Each player will wear No. 42, and four Jackie Robinson scholars will announce, "Play ball," before the game.

"[Sale] is dominant," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "It probably isn't going to be much fun. We saw him in Spring Training. I mean when we saw David Price here, we did well. Hopefully we can parlay that."

Jake Odorizzi is ready for the challenge. The Rays right-hander retired 16 of the final 17 batters faced on Sunday against the Blue Jays, allowing two runs in six innings for his first win of the season.

Odorizzi faced the Red Sox five times last season, and went 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA.

TWO THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS GAME

• Sale was 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA and 16 strikeouts in two games against the Rays in 2016, including a two-hit shutout.

• Evan Longoria is 1-for-21 with eight strikeouts in his career against Sale, while Derek Norris is 1-for-11 with four strikeouts.

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170414224313622/sale-odorizzi-set-to-face-off-honor-no-42/?game_pk=490268

[Bear]

Game 11: Rays at Red Sox

Peter Abraham

Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (5-5)   

PEDROIA, 2B
BENINTENDI, CF
RAMIREZ, DH
MORELAND, 1B
BOGAERTS, SS
SANDOVAL, 3B
YOUNG, LF
LEON, C
C. SALE, LHP

Pitching: LHP Chris Sale (0-1, 1.23).

RAYS:  (6-5)

SOUSA, LF
LONGORIA, 3B
WEEKS, DH
NORRIS, C
MORRISON, 1B
ROBERTSON, 1B
KIERMAIER, 2B
BEAKHAM, SS

Pitching: RHP Jake Odorizzi (1-1, 4.50).

.Game time: 4:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI.

Notes: The Sox have lost two of three. …

Sale allowed two runs over 14 2/3 innings in his first two starts. He is 4-4 with a 3.76 ERA in 10 career appearances against the Rays. Sale had two starts against Tampa Bay last season and allowed three runs over 16 innings.

The players on Tampa Bay’s roster have hit a collective .167 against Sale with a .325 OPS. …

Odorizzi is 3-3 with a 4.13 ERA in 13 starts against the Sox, 1-3 with a 6.08 ERA in eight starts at Fenway Park. …

Xander Bogaerts is 8 of his last 13. …

The Sox have one home run in their last seven games. They are tied for last in the majors with four. … The Sox bullpen has worked 16 innings the last three games.

Song of the Day: “I’m The Man” by Joe Jackson.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2017/04/15/game-rays-red-sox-lineups-and-pregame-notes/jwELh44l0EwXMONfmbOqFI/story.html

[Bill-806]

  J F needs to field a lineup that can score some runs....... I can't stand the "keep the line moving" thought process.....Hit/run/ score and don't waste Sale anymore !!!

[ipot]

They'll score runs.  We just have to wait for the 6th inning on..... ::)

[Rob from Mass]

  J F needs to field a lineup that can score some runs....... I can't stand the "keep the line moving" thought process.....Hit/run/ score and don't waste Sale anymore !!!

Any suggestions ?

[Bill-806]

  J F needs to field a lineup that can score some runs....... I can't stand the "keep the line moving" thought process.....Hit/run/ score and don't waste Sale anymore !!!

Any suggestions ?

  Yes, SMALL ball till you get into the bullpen....  Avoid the D P's, keep the defense guessing and off balance.........  Live by the long ball, die by the long ball !!

[longgame]

  J F needs to field a lineup that can score some runs....... I can't stand the "keep the line moving" thought process.....Hit/run/ score and don't waste Sale anymore !!!

The only switch you can make in that lineup is someone other than Sandoval.  I'd probably flip Bogey to hit 3rd and Ramirez to hit 5th. Not sure Moreland is a cleanup hitter. 

[markj]

They pulled this crap last year with Porcello and somewhat with Price. The better they pitched, the less run support they got. Sale has been stellar for all three of his games and they're going to screw him out of a win again if they keep this up.

[markj]

Bases loaded, one out. You know what's coming next.

[markj]

Wow, lucky break there. Infield hit, but softly. So Sox get a run and give Sale a chance for a win.

[markj]

So they had bases loaded twice in the 7th and only managed the one run. Let's hope it holds up and Sale gets the win.

[markj]

Meatball Matt having trouble keeping his pitches down or even below the batter's head. One BB already.

[markj]

Dufus Barnes walks another on 4 straight. WTF is with these guys?

[markj]

Barnes has thrown 7 or 8 straight balls. Useless.

[Rob from Mass]

Not pretty but Barnes  got the big DP
ball.