Chicago @ Boston preview
Fenway Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 4, 2010 ) Chi. White Sox 3, Boston 1
Saturday’s doubleheader sweep left two teams headed in different directions. The Chicago White Sox boosted its playoff hopes with the pair of victories over Boston while the Red Sox appear ready to play out the string.
The two teams complete their three-game series at Fenway Park on Sunday afternoon.
Chicago won both games of the twin bill by identical 3-1 scores, with Bobby Jenks saving both games. The White Sox climbed to within 3 1/2 games of the Minnesota Twins in the American League Central division race with 27 games to play.
The Red Sox, meanwhile, fell 10 games behind first-place New York and, more importantly, 7 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay in the wild card standings. Boston hosts Tampa Bay next week, but even a sweep of the Rays probably wouldn’t matter much to the Red Sox’s playoff hopes.
Chicago’s Manny Ramirez had three hits on Saturday. Sporting No. 99 with his dreadlocks trimmed, Ramirez hopes to spark the White Sox’s playoff push.
He wasn’t needed much on Saturday as John Danks and Gavin Floyd kept the Red Sox offense in check.
And the injuries, which have crushed Boston from the onset of the season, keep coming. Veteran first baseman Mike Lowell disclosed that he broke a rib in a collision with Toronto infielder John McDonald on Aug. 20. Lowell, who expects to retire at the end of the season, had an X-ray but said he intends on playing the rest of the season despite the pain.
Broken ribs ended the season of center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury a month ago. Ellsbury played just 13 games on the season. Jeremy Hermida, who broke five ribs while playing for Boston earlier in the season, was signed by the Oakland Athletics on Saturday.
Mark Buehrle (12-10) starts Sunday as the White Sox go for the series sweep. Buehrle is 6-5 lifetime against Boston with a 4.43 ERA. He has not faced them this year.
Boston’s opening-day starter, Josh Beckett, will go for the Red Sox. Beckett is just 4-4 on the season and spent two months on the disabled list.
He has been a major disappointment. The Red Sox gave Beckett a long-term deal in the first week of the season, something the team usually declines to do.
He has won just one of his last five starts and has a 6.21 ERA on the season. Beckett has surrendered 14 homers in 95 innings.
Boston announced that catcher Jason Varitek will go on a rehab assignment in Pawtucket on Sunday. He will likely catch four or five innings today and serve as the designated hitter on Monday. Varitek’s broken foot was re-examined on Friday and he was told he should be OK to resume playing.
His return will most likely be too late to make a difference.