Boston @ San Francisco preview
Oracle Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 17, 2007 ) San Francisco 5, Boston 9
The Boston Red Sox have the fourth-best record in baseball yet are not even the American League wild-card leader thanks to East Division foes New York and Tampa Bay.
The Red Sox, who continue to show tremendous offensive skills despite suffering several injuries, open a three-game series Friday against San Francisco, which is in the thick of the National League West race, trailing San Diego by 2 1/2 games.
This could be a prelude to a possible World Series matchup, as both clubs have enough quality pitching. Expect AT&T Park to be a tough place to get a ticket as the Red Sox make their first visit since 2004.
The Red Sox made their overnight flight from Denver to the Bay Area a little more enjoyable thanks to a wild 13-11 victory in 10 innings over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday night.
Dustin Pedroia hit his third homer of the game, a two-run blast in the top of the 10th to snap an 11-11 tie. In fact, Pedroia was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. He had a pair of two-run homers, a solo homer, a double, single, walk and scored four runs.
The five hits and five RBIs tied career highs. No truth to the rumor he piloted the plane overnight, but Pedroia had one of just six three-homer games in the majors this season and the first in June.
The 2008 AL MVP has been on an incredible run, hitting .500 (26-for-52) in 13 games since June 10 with 13 RBIs and nine multiple-hit games.
Boston designated hitter Mike Lowell was placed on the 15-day disabled list with an injured right hip Thursday and the Red Sox reinstated right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka started against Colorado, allowing two runs on five hits in five innings. He left with a 6-2 lead after throwing 105 pitches. Matsuzaka had been out since June 8 with a forearm injury.
The Giants return home after losing back-to-back games to Houston to complete a 2-4 road trip. They hit into four double plays Thursday, giving them 78 this season. They are on pace for 177, which would break the major league record of 174 set by the Red Sox in 1990.
Boston will start knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (2-5, 5.33) against Giants left-hander Jonathan Sanchez (5-5, 2.90).
Wakefield, 43, made his only start in San Francisco on June 18, 2004, allowing seven runs in four innings. Giants center fielder Aaron Rowand is 11-for-17 (.647) with four homers against Wakefield, mostly from his days with the Chicago White Sox.
Sanchez, who has never faced the Red Sox, is coming off a season-low 2 2/3 innings against Toronto. He allowed three runs, three hits and five walks but got a no-decision. Sanchez is 4-2 at home.