Red Sox @ DBacks (6/8, 6/9, 6/10)

[The Rondo Show]

Just got in and Beckett is dealing like an ace. JD Drew is **** kicking the DBacks (2 HR's, 6 RBI's) while his brother watches in awe.

Tomorrow: Tavarez vs. Micah Owings @ 9:40 PM EST.

Sunday: Daisuke vs. RJ at 4:40 PM EST.

[Bleeding Green]

Drew is back.

In a month people are going to be drooling over him.

[sunshinekids99]

Wow both Drew and Lugo doing something in a game, and no less the same game.

[BS007]

Drew went nutty in last nights game (2HR) and Beckett was awsome (9-0). Guess the "slump" is over

[BS007]

Tavarez to face D-backs in Arizona
Boston (39-21) at Arizona (36-26)
9:40 p.m. ET
TV: NESN Radio: WRKO 680 AM
By Ian Browne / MLB.com

A road trip that started with a giant pothole -- three straight losses at Oakland -- now has a chance to end on a good note for the Red Sox.
If the Sox can win the final two games in Arizona, they would go 4-3 on the seven-game journey. Boston sends Julian Tavarez to the mound on Saturday night in hopes of extending a modest winning streak to three games.

Backed by a slump-busting performance by J.D. Drew (two homers, seven RBIs), the Sox took the opener against the Diamondbacks, 10-3.

For the second consecutive game, David Ortiz will play first base thanks to having no designated hitter in the National League park. Mike Lowell will get the night off, with Kevin Youkilis moving across the diamond to third.

Righty setup man Mike Timlin, who went on the disabled list on May 3 with right shoulder tendinitis, will be available in this one.

Pitching matchup

BOS: RHP Julian Tavarez (3-4, 5.33 ERA)
Tavarez has lasted 5 2/3 innings in each of his past three starts. He gave up nine hits to the Oakland A's on Monday night, just one shy of his season-high. He's allowed nine runs in 17 innings following his best outing of the season on May 17 when he gave up one run on four hits in seven innings in beating the Detroit Tigers.

ARI: RHP Micah Owings (4-1, 3.86 ERA)
Owings has not started since May 29 when he faced the Phillies in Philadelphia. The right-hander didn't have his best stuff in that game, but still allowed just one run on seven hits over five innings. Owings has twice been skipped when the team has had off days, but it's not performance based as he has given them more than they could have expected heading into Spring Training. He has lived up to his Minor League reputation of finding a way to win. Last year he was a combined 16-2 at Double-A and Triple-A.

Player to watch
Now that Drew is out of his slump, the Sox hope to get Coco Crisp (.225) on track.

[sunshinekids99]

I'd like to see Drew do it a bit longer than a game to say he's out of a slump. Hopefully this is a building block for him tho. And I'm with you Crisp needs to start doing something. If not the team just has to go with Pena in center.

[Black Jesus 1]

J.D. Drew always kills us, so calm down there.

Last year, he hit .420, hit 7 HR's and had 20 RBI's , OPS of 1.275, OBP of .481 vs. us


I knew we had ZERO chance last night, and probably again tonight.
Owings won't be able to handle you guys, even though he has been great this year.

I smell sweep.

[Bleeding Green]

The NL is a great slumpbuster.

[wetsthebed]

The NL is a great slumpbuster.

[Black Jesus 1]

NL is trash, and Papelbon clowned the sh*t out of all of us.

Sweep coming tomorrow.

[sunshinekids99]

Nice win for the Sox last night. 3 more hits for Drew which was nice to see.

[Bleeding Green]

Go Mike Timlin!

[BS007]

Offense is piss poor