Series Thread: Red Sox @ Blue Jays (4/17, 4/18, 4/19)
Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 4:29 am
Game One: Tuesday, April 17th @ 7 PM EST on NESN.
Daisuke Matsuzaka vs. Gustavo Chacin
Red Sox: Matsuzaka was solid though not spectacular in his last start, giving up eight hits and three runs over seven innings in a 3-0 loss to the Mariners. Matsuzaka has allowed 14 hits over 14 innings over his first two starts. His control has been as advertised, with Matsuzaka striking out 14 batters while walking just two. Opponents are hitting .240 against him. Thanks to a rainout against the Mariners, Matsuzaka will have five days of rest in this start, which is what he became accustomed to in Japan.
Blue Jays: In his last outing, Chacin recorded his first win of the season and continued his strong start to 2007. The 26-year-old lefty surrendered three runs on five hits over five innings against the Royals. Chacin has experienced a lot of success versus Boston during his three-year career. He is 5-0 with an ERA of 4.29 in seven starts.
Game Two: Wednesday, April 18th @ 7 PM EST on NESN.
Tim Wakefield vs. Tomo Ohka
Red Sox: Wakefield's signature knuckleball had extra bite on a brisk Friday at Fenway, where the 40-year-old starter shut down Vladimir Guerrero and the Angels' bats. Wakefield gave up just five hits and one run in seven innings, lowering his season ERA to a sparkling 1.38. Wakefield yielded just one earned run in his first start of the year against Texas. Wakefield has thrown more Major League innings (217 2/3) against the Blue Jays than any other team. He has a 3.93 ERA against the Jays, but that number rises to 4.75 at Toronto's Rogers Centre.
Blue Jays: Ohka has gotten off to a rough start this season. In his previous outing, the 31-year-old took the loss after allowing four earned runs on eight hits over six innings against the Tigers. That start followed a disappointing performance in Tampa, in which he allowed five runs on six hits over 4 1/3 innings. This will be Ohka's first appearance vs. Boston in his career.
Game Three: Thursday, April 19th @ 12:30 PM EST on NESN.
Julian Tavarez vs. Roy Halladay
Red Sox: Tavarez will be making his first start in 12 days when he finally gets the ball in the series finale against the Blue Jays. Tavarez lost his only start this season on April 7, when he allowed six hits and four runs in four innings. Command was an issue as he walked five while striking out three in his 2007 debut as Boston?s fifth starter. Tavarez has twice had his second start pushed back, with Red Sox rainouts on April 12 and again on Sunday the reason.
Blue Jays: Halladay has been his usual dominant self to start the 2007 season. On Friday, he outdueled Tigers ace Jeremy Bonderman to earn his second win of the season. The former Cy Young Award winner allowed only one run on six hits over 10 innings of work against the Tigers. Halladay is 8-7 with a 4.60 ERA in 27 appearances versus the Red Sox.
Daisuke Matsuzaka vs. Gustavo Chacin
Red Sox: Matsuzaka was solid though not spectacular in his last start, giving up eight hits and three runs over seven innings in a 3-0 loss to the Mariners. Matsuzaka has allowed 14 hits over 14 innings over his first two starts. His control has been as advertised, with Matsuzaka striking out 14 batters while walking just two. Opponents are hitting .240 against him. Thanks to a rainout against the Mariners, Matsuzaka will have five days of rest in this start, which is what he became accustomed to in Japan.
Blue Jays: In his last outing, Chacin recorded his first win of the season and continued his strong start to 2007. The 26-year-old lefty surrendered three runs on five hits over five innings against the Royals. Chacin has experienced a lot of success versus Boston during his three-year career. He is 5-0 with an ERA of 4.29 in seven starts.
Game Two: Wednesday, April 18th @ 7 PM EST on NESN.
Tim Wakefield vs. Tomo Ohka
Red Sox: Wakefield's signature knuckleball had extra bite on a brisk Friday at Fenway, where the 40-year-old starter shut down Vladimir Guerrero and the Angels' bats. Wakefield gave up just five hits and one run in seven innings, lowering his season ERA to a sparkling 1.38. Wakefield yielded just one earned run in his first start of the year against Texas. Wakefield has thrown more Major League innings (217 2/3) against the Blue Jays than any other team. He has a 3.93 ERA against the Jays, but that number rises to 4.75 at Toronto's Rogers Centre.
Blue Jays: Ohka has gotten off to a rough start this season. In his previous outing, the 31-year-old took the loss after allowing four earned runs on eight hits over six innings against the Tigers. That start followed a disappointing performance in Tampa, in which he allowed five runs on six hits over 4 1/3 innings. This will be Ohka's first appearance vs. Boston in his career.
Game Three: Thursday, April 19th @ 12:30 PM EST on NESN.
Julian Tavarez vs. Roy Halladay
Red Sox: Tavarez will be making his first start in 12 days when he finally gets the ball in the series finale against the Blue Jays. Tavarez lost his only start this season on April 7, when he allowed six hits and four runs in four innings. Command was an issue as he walked five while striking out three in his 2007 debut as Boston?s fifth starter. Tavarez has twice had his second start pushed back, with Red Sox rainouts on April 12 and again on Sunday the reason.
Blue Jays: Halladay has been his usual dominant self to start the 2007 season. On Friday, he outdueled Tigers ace Jeremy Bonderman to earn his second win of the season. The former Cy Young Award winner allowed only one run on six hits over 10 innings of work against the Tigers. Halladay is 8-7 with a 4.60 ERA in 27 appearances versus the Red Sox.
