GAME #119, ST LOUIS CARDINALS AT BOSTON RED SOX

[Bear]

CARDINALS V RED SOX

TUESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2017, 7 PM AT FENWAY PARK

TV:  NESN, FS-M

ST LOUIS, (61-57).................................................................................BOSTON, (67-51)

ST LOUIS:

MIKE LEAKE, RHP, 7-10, 3.48 ERA, 95K

Leake gave up a season-high 11 hits in a no-decision vs the Royals, but
only five runs (four earned).  He lost his two starts prior to that, despite allowing
three runs in each.  In three career starts against the Red Sox, he is 0-1 with a
4.26 ERA.

BOSTON:

RICK PORCELLO, RHP, 6-14, 4.63 ERA, 139K

The sinkerballer won his past two starts after going more than a month without
a win.  This is the second time Porcello has faced the Cardinals this year.  On May 17
at Busch Stadium, he took a no-decision and gave up nine hits and four runs over six.

Cards-Red Sox story begins another chapter

Ian Browne

The Cardinals and Red Sox may not meet often, but they certainly share quite a storied history. They are also both in the heart of their respective pennant races.

When the Redbirds visit Boston for a two-game series that begins Tuesday, they will be entering Fenway Park for the first time since they lost the clinching Game 6 of the 2013 World Series. The two teams have met in four World Series, including Boston's win in 2004.

The Cardinals won the 1946 and '67 Fall Classics against Boston in seven games.
But what makes this series one of the most compelling in MLB this week is that it's not just about history, but also about the good fortune both teams are having in the present.

"Offensive is what's been the biggest shift," Red Sox manager John Farrell said of the Cards. "We went in there earlier in the year and they were coming off a hot streak. We end up taking two. They're coming in here in similar fashion where they're swinging the bat well, they're scoring a high number of runs. We'll be able to see that [Tuesday]."

St. Louis comes to Boston on a surge, having won eight of 10 to close within 1 1/2 games of the Cubs in the National League Central. The Red Sox have won 10 of 12 and hold a 4 1/2-game lead over the Yankees in the AL East.

"I played a lot of games there as a player. I always enjoy going to Fenway," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "Unfortunately, I have some bad memories from the postseason as a player and as a manager, but no better time to change that than now."

For the majority of the Cardinals, however, the series will be their first trip to Boston.

"I'm really excited. There's been a few stadiums that I have really wanted to play at, and [Fenway's] one of them," outfielder Randal Grichuk said. "We're coming down to the stretch, and we've got less than two months, a month and a half. ... It's going to be fun."

The teams played in St. Louis on May 16-17, with The Red Sox winning both.

Right-hander Mike Leake will get the start Tuesday for the Cardinals in just his second career appearance at Fenway Park. His first came in a no-decision as a member of the Reds in 2014, when he allowed two runs through seven innings in a 4-3 Cincinnati loss.

The Red Sox counter with Rick Porcello, who gave up nine hits and four runs over six innings in a no-decision at Busch Stadium on May 17. The Red Sox came back from a 4-0 deficit to win that one.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS GAME

• Leake has not registered a decision vs. an AL club in two starts this season and has a 4.50 ERA in those games. He is 6-10 with a 4.04 ERA in 28 career starts vs. AL opponents.

• Of the current Cardinals roster, Porcello has faced Yadier Molina and Dexter Fowler the most. In nine at-bats, Molina has hit .333, while Fowler averaged .429, with a home run, in seven at-bats.

• Cardinals rookie Paul DeJong has hit 18 home runs since making his Major League debut May 28. He is tied for fifth all-time among Cards rookies with Ken Boyer and Ducky Medwick and needs one more to tie for fourth. The Red Sox counter with 20-year-old prospect Rafael Devers, who belted two more homers on Monday to give him six in his first 16 MLB games.

"They've been very hot," Farrell said of the Cards. "They've had quite a bit of change to their roster. You look at what DeJong is doing at shortstop, a guy that wasn't there in May, and all of a sudden, here he is approaching 20 home runs already."

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170813248184744/cards-red-sox-story-begins-another-chapter/?game_pk=491886

[Bear]

Red Sox vs. STL:

Núñez 2B,
Betts RF,
Benintendi LF,
Ramirez DH,
Devers 3B,
Bogaerts SS,
Moreland 1B,
Leon C,
Bradley Jr. CF,

Porcello RHP

[Bill-806]

As  DAD would say, "SON, it goes without saying, can't give away anymore games" !!! thumb_u rofl

[markj]

Good opening frame for Porcello.

[markj]

Devers with another RBI to get the Sox on the board. Pretty incredible.

[Schloicka]

Moreland comes through agai.............................never mind.

[Schloicka]

Triple play. 5-4-3. Hit in the right spot with a slow hitter. Fantastic.

[BoSoxFanNY]

Sox are having fun in the bottom of the 5th inning.
8 runs scored on singles and doubles and STILL only one out.
Sox 9 - Cardinals 0.

[MongoLikeSox]

It is so nice to see these guys swinging within themselves and not trying to go yard on every stupid out of reach breakng pitch thrown their way. This is their game.

[Bear]

Looks like this team is enjoying this game.  Is there anything Devers CAN't do?
Top 9th,10-4 Boston.

[Bear]

Great game and another W.
10-4

[Schloicka]

On to Wednesday. Go Sox.

[Bill-806]

As DAD would say.... "SON, that's OUR TEAM, ya think DEVERS needs a REST" ??? thumb_u

[Bill-806]

Triple play. 5-4-3. Hit in the right spot with a slow hitter. Fantastic.

Just as it was drawn up......  One hell of a play all the way around the horn !! thumb_u rofl

[longgame]

Funny, an easy win and nobody posts!  It moved along at a good clip too for a game where one team scored 10!