GAME #31, BOSTON RED SOX AT MINNESOTA TWINS

[Bear]

RED SOX V TWINS

SUNDAY, MAY 7, 2017, 2PM AT TARGET FIELD

TV:  NESN, FSNO

BOSTON, (16-14)...................................................................................(15-13)

BOSTON:

CHRIS SALE, LHP, 2-2, 1.38ERA, 63K

The lefty has been magnificient in his first six starts with the Red Sox,
striking out 10 or more the last five times out.  Sale is 8-6 with a 4.58ERA
in 16 career starts against the Twins.

MINNESOTA:

ERVIN SANTANA, RHP, 5-0, .066ERA, 33K

Santana has the lowest ERA among starters and kept it rolling
against the A's on Tuesday.  The right hander didn't have his best
command but still tossed six scoreless innings.

Red-hot Sale, Santana to battle in finale

Patrick Donnelly

Two of the hottest pitchers in the Major Leagues will square of in Sunday afternoon's series finale between the Red Sox and the Twins at Target Field.

Boston left-hander Chris Sale (2-2, 1.38 ERA) has pitched at least seven innings in each of his six starts this season, and he has struck out at least 10 batters in his past five. Meanwhile, Minnesota right-hander Ervin Santana (5-0, 0.66 ERA) leads the Majors in ERA. Sale allowed seven earned runs in 12 innings against the Twins last season when he pitched for the White Sox.

"We've seen Sale a ton with the White Sox," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "We've done OK off him. He can be tough. He's pitching high-caliber baseball right now. Ervin has been as good as anybody in the game. So it'll be fun.'"

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS GAME
• According to the Elias Sports Bureau, this will be the third game since 1982 in which both starting pitchers have an ERA below 1.40.

• Twins second baseman Brian Dozier is expected to miss Sunday's game with a left ankle injury. He has three home runs and a .973 OPS in his career against Sale.

• Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi batted cleanup on Saturday for the first time in 63 career games.

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170506228674642/red-hot-sale-santana-to-battle-in-finale/?game_pk=490560

[Bill-806]

  As  DAD would say, "SON, today is must see baseball" !!!   All roads lead to the parrrk today !! Go SOX & Chris Sale .   thumb_u

[Bear]

It could be another non-support run day for Sale.
Sale would almost have to pitch a perfect game to take the "W"

[Rob from Mass]

Looks like we have another day of JBJ riding the bench.Young playing again.

[ipot]

It could be another non-support run day for Sale.
Sale would almost have to pitch a perfect game to take the "W"

Sale would have to pitch a perfect game just to get us into extra innings. And then we'll lose.

[ipot]

Well, Pedroia puts us on the board.

[ipot]

And Benintendi goes yard.   3-0.  Santana giving gifts.

[Bill-806]

  NICE start.... Sale must think that these guys can hit !! thumb_u

[elktonnick]

Benintendi hit that ball 438 ft.  Benintendi has the quickest bat that I've seen in years.

[Bill-806]

Nintendo hit that ball 438 ft.  Benintendi has the quickest bat that I've seen in years.

CIRCA  Fred Lynn  thumb_u

[markj]

Now Mookie goes deep. The power seems to be coming around. 3 dingers yesterday and 3 so far today.

[markj]

Sale has himself in a very deep hole. Bases juiced, no outs.

[markj]

This ain't pretty. 4-3 now and still only one out.

Sale looks mighty pissed off.

[markj]

Tied up. Sox have 3 home runs in this game and just 4 runs total. Twins have tied it up with a bunch of singles and sac flys.

[markj]

Finally out of the inning.