Angels at Red Sox, Game 1
The Boston Red Sox have taken two straight series from their closest
competitors in the American League. They will be looking to continue the
run of success when they host the Los Angeles Angels in a day-night doubleheader on Saturday, following a rainout of Friday's scheduled series opener. The Red Sox got a three-run walk-off homer
from David Ortiz to take the rubber game from the Texas Rangers on
Thursday and have the offense humming along in top form.
The
Angels have the bats to do plenty of damage at Fenway Park this weekend,
but they have not been sharp of late. Los Angeles has dropped five of
its last six games and was held to four runs or fewer in all but one of
those contests - an 8-6 loss in 10 innings against the Chicago Cubs on
Wednesday. The Angels are beginning a stretch of nine straight games
against the top three teams in the AL East, with a trip to Baltimore
coming next before a home series against the New York Yankees.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports West (Los Angeles), New England Sports Network (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Tommy Hanson (2-2, 4.19 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Felix Doubront (4-2, 4.88)
Hanson
has made one start since taking some time off following the death of
his stepbrother and was knocked around for five runs (four earned) and
eight hits in 6 1/3 innings to suffer a loss to the Houston Astros on
May 31. The right-hander has not completed seven innings in any of his
six outings. Hanson made one start against the Red Sox as a member of
the Atlanta Braves and surrendered two hits in six scoreless innings to
earn a win on June 28, 2009.
Doubront was in danger of being
dropped from the rotation a few weeks ago but has recovered to post
three straight quality starts. The left-hander snapped a five-game
winless streak by holding the Yankees to one run on six hits in six
innings on June 1. Like Hanson, Doubront has trouble working deep into
games and has yet to complete seven innings in 10 appearances.
WALK-OFFS
1.
Boston CF Jacoby Ellsbury (groin) missed five games but returned to the
lineup and went 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles on Thursday. He has
multiple hits in five of his last six contests.
2. Los Angeles has taken eight straight from the Red Sox, including six in a row at Fenway Park.
3. Boston 2B Dustin Pedroia has hit safely in 10 straight games.