AT
Fenway Park
Game 1: Friday, April 17th, 2009
First Pitch: 7:05pm (EST)
Probable Starters: Jeremy Guthrie (2-0, 2.25), RHP (Orioles) / Brad Penny (1-0, 4.50), RHP (Sox)
Orioles: Guthrie threw six shutout innings in his last start and is 2-0 for the first time in his brief career. The right-hander has completed six innings in each of his last two starts, while Baltimore's other pitchers have yet to go that far. Guthrie has held opponents to a .261 batting average this year and has seemingly seen his hard-luck trend from last season reverse itself.
Red Sox: Penny had a successful debut for the Red Sox, scattering five hits and three runs over six innings against the Angels. He walked two in that game. This will be his second career start at Fenway Park, and first since 2003. Pitching for the Marlins at the time, Penny took the loss, giving up nine hits and nine runs over five innings. This will be Penny's first career start against the Orioles.
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Game 2: Saturday, April 18th, 2009
First Pitch: 7:05pm (EST)
Probable Starters: Adam Eaton (0-1, 9.00), RHP (Orioles) / Josh Beckett (1-1, 3.46), RHP (Sox)
Orioles: Eaton got lit up for eight hits and four earned runs in his season debut, which came on an unwieldy 10 days' rest. The right-hander is expected to take a normal rotation turn Saturday in Boston, and he'll hope to rebound from some encouraging work toward the end of his debut. Eaton allowed all four runs in the second inning of his first start but fired two scoreless innings after that. The veteran was spent by that point, though, and was unable to and pitch deeper into the game.
Red Sox: After pitching a gem on Opening Day, Beckett had mixed results in his last start, giving up eight hits and four runs over six innings in a loss to the Angels. Beckett threw 103 pitches in that game, 61 for strikes. This will be Beckett's 10th career start against the Orioles. In the previous nine, he is 4-2 with a 3.73 ERA. Beckett has five walks and 15 strikeouts over his first two starts.
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Game 3: Sunday, April 19th, 2009
First Pitch: 1:35pm (EST)
Probable Starters: Koji Uehara (2-0, 7.20), RHP (Orioles) / Jon Lester (0-2, 9.00), LHP (Sox)
Orioles: Uehara has won each of his first two starts despite not going farther than five innings in either of them. The right-hander allowed seven earned runs in his last outing, which was part of a demolition derby three-game series against the Rangers. Uehara, an extreme strike-thrower, has had problems gripping the American baseball in each of his first two big-league starts. Still, the rookie is one of Baltimore's most experienced starters and will need to pile up lots of innings this season.
Red Sox: Lester has opened the season in a funk, being belted around for 18 hits and 11 runs in losses to the Rays and Athletics. The lefty was the victim of a five-run second inning in his performance against Oakland. In that contest, he walked none and struck out five. Perhaps facing the Orioles will cure what ails Lester. Lester is 6-0 with a 2.81 ERA in eight career starts against Baltimore.
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Game 4: Monday, April 20th, 2009
First Pitch: 11:05am (EST)
Scouting Report: TBA
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