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The Red Sox Are Coming! The Red Sox Are Coming!
By Scott Andes
Dodgers Lineup vs. Boston
Crawford 7Puig 9Gonzalez 3Hanley 6Ethier 8Uribe 5M.Ellis 4Federowicz 2Nolasco 1John Lackey-8-10 vs. Ricky Nolasco-9-9
The Dodgers will be announcing the return of Vin Scully later tonight before the game at a live press conference. I don’t want to take away the spotlight where it rightfully should be, which is on the great Vin Scully. So with the utmost respect to Vin, let’s discuss tonight’s game, and the upcoming three game series against the Red Sox.
The Dodgers haven’t played Boston since a three game interleague series at Fenway Park in 2010. The Boston series will kick off a nine game home stand for the Dodgers. Chicago, and San Diego will follow the Red Sox into town on the home stand. The Dodgers are 37-25 at home, while Boston is 35-31 on the road. The Red Sox come in with the second best record in the American League, (75-54) and a first place position a game in front of Tampa Bay. The Dodgers are 75-52 and have a 9.5 game lead over Arizona in the NL West. The Dodger’s magic number to clinch the west is 27.
Ricky Nolasco-Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
The series ironically marks the one year anniversary almost to the day of the mega trade with Boston. The trade that sent Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett, and Nick Punto to the Dodgers for Rubby De La Rosa, Allen Webster, James Loney, Jerry Sands, and Ivan De Jesus Jr. Loney is currently with the rays, and De Jesus, and Sands are no longer with Boston. The mega trade seems to have payed dividends for both teams. The Dodgers have three quality position players, and Gonzalez has been MVP worthy. While the Red Sox were able to use the trade to free up needed salary space in order to make the moves this past winter that put them back on top of the A.L. East.
Tonight the Red Sox will give the ball to 34 year old right hander John Lackey. The former Angel’s farmhand beat the Yankees in his last start on August 17. In that game he threw 6.1 frames, and allowed one run on six hits, while just whiffing one. Lackey has pitched very well against the Dodgers in the past. He’s posted a 5-2 record, and a 1.89 ERA in 10 starts, with 56 whiffs and 16 walks. He’s allowed just two home runs to the Dodgers and 13 earned runs. Lackey is even better at Dodger Stadium. While pitching at Blue Heaven on Earth, Lackey is 1-1 with a 2.67 ERA. He’s struck out 28 and walked six in those five starts. Lackey is having a solid season after missing all of 2012 recovering from Tommy John surgery. Lackey is 8-10 with a 3.22 ERA. He has 124 whiffs, 32 walks, and an 8.0 SO/9. The Dodgers are batting .323 (61 for 189) against Lackey. Carl Crawford has hit him the hardest to the tune of a .429 (21 for 45) average with two home runs, and nine driven in. Will Lackey pitch like a Lackey?
PA
AB
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
SO
BB
BA
OBP
SLG
Mark Ellis73
62
16
8
0
0
5
8
10
.258
.361
.387
Carl Crawford
47
45
21
3
1
2
9
0
1
.467
.467
.711
Nick Punto
24
24
4
1
0
1
5
0
3
.167
.167
.333
Juan Uribe22
22
7
4
0
0
1
0
3
.318
.318
.500
Andre Ethier15
13
4
1
0
0
0
1
4
.308
.400
.385
Adrian Gonzalez
15
14
6
1
0
0
4
1
3
.429
.467
.500
Jerry Hairston9
9
3
1
0
1
1
0
1
.333
.333
.778
Total
205
189
61
19
1
4
25
10
25
.323
.366
.497
Let’s hope Lackey pitches like a Lackey!-Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
The Dodgers will counter with right hander Ricky Nolasco. Rialto Ricky has been pretty solid for the Dodgers out of the backend of the rotation. Since coming over from the Marlins last month, he is 4-1 with a 2.98 ERA. Nolasco overall is 9-9 with a 3.60 ERA and 124 whiffs. Nolasco has performed poorly versus the Red Sox in the past, with an 8.16 ERA in three starts, and a 1-1 record. Although one of those starts was a complete game, and you know how much I love complete games. Watch out for Stephen Drew who is hitting .524 (11 for 21) with three triples and three home runs versus Nolasco.
PA
AB
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
BA
OBP
SLG
Shane Victorino40
37
6
2
0
0
1
2
7
.162
.205
.216
Stephen Drew
22
21
11
3
1
3
4
1
4
.524
.545
1.190
Ryan Dempster7
6
1
0
0
0
0
0
3
.167
.167
.167
David Ortiz7
4
1
0
0
1
2
2
1
.250
.429
1.000
Dustin Pedroia5
5
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
.200
.200
.200
Jarrod Saltalamacchia4
4
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
.250
.250
.250
Jonny Gomes3
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
.000
.000
.000
Will Middlebrooks3
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
.000
.000
.000
Daniel Nava3
3
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
.667
.667
.667
Felix Doubront2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
.000
.000
.000
Jacoby Ellsbury2
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
.000
.000
.000
Jake Peavy2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
.000
.000
.000
David Ross2
2
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
.500
.500
1.000
Total
102
92
24
6
1
4
8
5
18
.261
.296
.478
Minor notes
Carl Crawford is hitting .300 (181 for 604) with 12 home runs against his former team.
John Lackey has allowed a .271 average with men on base, and a .266 average against with runners in scoring position.
Nick Punto is hitting just .202 (21 for 104) in 112 plate appearances against his former club.
The game will start at 7:10 PM, and televised on Prime Ticket. Everyone will be able to watch the game. There are only nine games remaining on KCAL 9. Join us over here for more fun, Stacie will provide the postgame coverage. We’re almost there guys! Go Blue.