GAME #67, BOSTON RED SOX AT HOUSTON ASTROS

[Bear]

RED SOX V ASTROS

FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2017, 8 PM AT MINUTE MAID PARK

TV:  NESN, ROOTSW

BOSTON, (37-29)...............................................................................HOUSTON, (45-22)

BOSTON:

DREW POMERANZ, LHP, 6-4, 4.48 ERA 73K

The lefty lasted just 4 1/3 innings against the Tigers on Sunday.  He
gave up eight hits and five earned runs to earn the loss.  Pomeranz is
averaging five innings pitched per start this season.

HOUSTON:

MIKE FIERS, RHP, 4-2, 4.29 ERA, 58K

Fiers made his longest, most efficient start of 2017 on Saturday:  7 1/3
innings, two hits, eiht strikeouts with no earned runs allowed.  Fiers is 4-2
with a 4.29 ERA and has allowed 18 homeruns, tied for the second-most in
the AL.

Fiers looks to stay hot in opener vs. Red Sox

Christian Boutwell

Mike Fiers appears to be finding his rhythm for Houston, which opens a series against the Red Sox on Friday night at Minute Maid Park. With four Houston starters on the disabled list, the Astros are one June loss away from tying their total in May at seven.

Houston (45-22) leads the American League West by 11 games and has yet to face Boston this season. Opposing Fiers will be lefty Drew Pomeranz. Pomeranz (6-4, 4.48 ERA) last pitched 4 1/3 innings on Sunday, allowing eight hits and five earned runs in the loss.

For the Red Sox, the three-game series in Houston is amid a stretch of 16 games in as many days. Eleven of the games in that stretch are away from Fenway Park.

Fiers is the only Astros pitcher to have begun the season in the starting rotation and not need a trip to the disabled list. He's 4-2 with a 4.29 ERA and has allowed 68 hits in 65 innings. Fiers has picked up a win in three straight starts and is coming off an outing of eight strikeouts and two hits allowed over 7 1/3 innings.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS GAME

• George Springer's 429-foot home run on Tuesday against the Rangers was the Astros slugger's eighth big fly this season to travel at least a projected 425 feet, according to Statcast. Only the Yankees' Aaron Judge has more such homers this season.

• The Astros ended their three-game losing streak Wednesday night with a 13-2 win over the Rangers. Houston piled on 19 hits and a nine-run sixth inning, improving to an MLB-best 45 wins.

• The Red Sox took five of the seven games they played against Houston last season, including two of three during an April series at Minute Maid Park.

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170615236605954/fiers-looks-to-stay-hot-in-opener-vs-red-sox/?game_pk=491101

[ipot]

Is this the "things get ugly" weekend series?  The Astros are simply off the charts.  I'd be happy if we could squeeze just 1 W out of this... :P

[longgame]

Is this the "things get ugly" weekend series?  The Astros are simply off the charts.  I'd be happy if we could squeeze just 1 W out of this... :P

We're hitting them about as good a time as any as they are on a minor skid.  Let's hope our guys show up after the 6th shutout of the season. 

[Rob from Mass]

Is this the "things get ugly" weekend series?  The Astros are simply off the charts.  I'd be happy if we could squeeze just 1 W out of this... :P

We're hitting them about as good a time as any as they are on a minor skid.  Let's hope our guys show up after the 6th shutout of the season.

With Keuchel and McCullers on the shelf, their SP leaves a lot to be desired. With that in mind, it would appear that this series will be left to which BP stands out more.

[Bear]

RED SOX LINEUP:

BETTS, RF
PEDROIA, 2B
BOGAERTS, SS
MORELAND, 1B
BENINTENDI, LF
YOUNG, DH
BRADLEY, CF
RUTLEDGE, 3B
VAZQUEZ, C

DREW POMERANZ, PITCHER

[Bill-806]

RED SOX LINEUP:

BETTS, RF
PEDROIA, 2B
BOGAERTS, SS
MORELAND, 1B
BENINTENDI, LF
YOUNG, DH
BRADLEY, CF
RUTLEDGE, 3B
VAZQUEZ, C

DREW POMERANZ, PITCHER

  Hanley, M I A  ?????   Why ???  After scoring just one run last night !!!

[markj]

First good scoring chance blown.

[dgalehouse]

RED SOX LINEUP:

BETTS, RF
PEDROIA, 2B
BOGAERTS, SS
MORELAND, 1B
BENINTENDI, LF
YOUNG, DH
BRADLEY, CF
RUTLEDGE, 3B
VAZQUEZ, C

DREW POMERANZ, PITCHER

  Hanley, M I A  ?????   Why ???  After scoring just one run last night !!!

.       Bill , Farrell said that Hanley had a " pinching sensation " in his neck.  Now , we all know just how hard it is to DH when you have a pinching sensation.

[markj]

Bad base running by 'Stros gets Pom-pom out of a jam.

[markj]

Had to figure a 1-run lead wasn't going to hold.

[markj]

Pomeranz is done. 97 pitches through 6. Just the 1 ER. Not bad. Just hope the Sox don't waste yet another solid pitching performance.

[markj]

Mookie puts the Sox back on top with a blast. 2-1

[ipot]

Betts with the REALLY BIG HIT 8)  Let's hold the lead :-X

[ipot]

Meatball puts the tying winning run on 2nd

[markj]

Meatball Matt trying to give it away.