Marlins at Red Sox
David Price will try to extend his phenomenal run for the Boston Red Sox when he gets the start Wednesday in the finale of a two-game series with the visiting Miami Marlins. Price won his last five decisions and the Red Sox have claimed a victory in each of his last eight starts, the latest of which saw him spin eight scoreless innings against the Cleveland Indians.
Price's club opened the interleague set with a wild walk-off win that saw the teams combine for 10 runs over the final two innings, with a throwing error in the ninth giving Boston the 8-7 victory and snapping its three-game slide. J.D. Martinez had two hits to raise his league-leading average to .338 and scored the game-winning run after singling with one out in the ninth. The Red Sox remained the only team in the majors without a four-game losing streak and they maintained a 6 1/2-game lead on the New York Yankees in the American League East. They've also won six straight at home against the Marlins, who send rookie right-hander Trevor Richards to the mound on Wednesday.
TV: 6:35 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Trevor Richards (3-7, 4.23 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH David Price (14-6, 3.50)
Richards is winless in his last six starts and has yet to post a quality start in four attempts this month. He received a no-decision after allowing two runs while striking out nine in 5 1/3 solid innings at Yankee Stadium last Wednesday. The 25-year-old opened his career with a loss to the Red Sox on April 2, allowing five runs in 4 1/3 innings.
Price has a 1.50 ERA during a seven-start span while recording 48 strikeouts against seven walks. He limited the Indians to three hits while fanning seven in his most recent outing to improve to 7-2 with a 2.87 ERA at home. Starlin Castro is 8-for-20 against Price, who is 15-12 with a 3.32 ERA in his interleague career.
WALK-OFFS
1. Red Sox CF Jackie Bradley Jr. has multiple hits in eight of his last 15 games while raising his average from .206 to .227.
2. Marlins LF Derek Dietrich was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts Tuesday to end his eight-game hitting streak.
3. Boston SS Xander Bogaerts is batting .329 with 20 RBIs in 22 games in August.