Red Sox at Marlins
Throughout the history of baseball, there have been many ways to break a slump. The Miami Marlins may be the first team to do so by opening their roof. Miami played outdoors for the first time since April 18 and snapped a six-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox. The Marlins will host the Red Sox in the second of a three-game series Tuesday and with a 10 percent chance of rain, there is likely to be a 100 percent chance the roof will off again.
The Marlins, who are 3-2 with the roof open, are five games behind Washington in the National League East. The Red Sox, who have lost four straight games and six of seven, are stuck in the American League East cellar, 6½ games behind Tampa Bay and the New York Yankees.
Boston’s Clay Buchholz has turned in three straight strong starts, including a shutout over the Baltimore Orioles in his last outing, and lowered his ERA by more than two runs. He will oppose Miami’s Mark Buehrle, who has lost two straight starts.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NESN (Boston), FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Clay Buchholz (6-2, 5.77 ERA) vs. Marlins LH Mark Buehrle (5-6, 3.49)
Buchholz pitched a four-hitter in the 7-0 victory over the Orioles on Thursday, which was Boston’s only win in its last seven games. Buchholz has a 1.50 ERA and has struck out 19 in his last three starts, but batters are hitting .296 against him this season. He is 2-1 with a no-decision in four road outings. Buchholz, who is 2-0 in three interleague starts, has never faced the Marlins.
Buehrle pitched well enough to win against Atlanta on Thursday when he allowed two runs and three hits in six innings in Miami’s 8-2 loss. He was 4-0 with a no-decision in the five starts prior to his last two. Buehrle is 6-6 in 17 games (16 starts) against Boston during his time with the Chicago White Sox. The Red Sox’ roster is hitting .326 against him, with David Ortiz (20-for-58, two homers, eight doubles, 11 RBIs and Kelly Shoppach (5-for-13, three homers, seven RBIs) doing the most damage.
WALK-OFFS
1. Boston’s Dustin Pedroia is 5-for-27 in seven games since returning to the lineup after injuring his thumb.
2. Buehrle will try to tie Kenny Rogers’ record of 11 consecutive interleague victories.
3. Boston outfielder Daniel Nava has missed the last two games with a left hand injury. Nava, who said he didn’t injure it while playing, received a cortisone shot Sunday.