Boston Red Sox at San Francisco Giants
When the Red Sox announced during the offseason the team was going to focus on pitching and defence, many expected the potent Boston lineup to regress.
“I didn’t really understand the questions that we wouldn’t have a good offence,” Victor Martinez said. “We lost a good guy in Jason Bay. But because you lost one guy, it doesn’t mean that your offence is completely lost.”
Falling behind the Rays and Yankees through the first two months of the season magnified Boston’s offensive struggles. After a resurgent June that has the Sox just two games out of first place, the team is leading MLB in runs, hits, RBIs and OPS.
“We’re getting contributions from all over the map,” said manager Terry Francona. “I think that’s why you’re starting to see more personality, more enthusiasm, more energy during the games.”
Going into Friday, the BoSox had plated 19 runs in their previous two games. San Francisco will be trotting out fresh mound meat Joe Martinez, who has only one start this season, and Boston should feast on the right-hander Saturday.
Pick: Over
Chicago Cubs at Chicago White Sox
The clubhouse curse must have floated from the South Side of the Windy City to the North Side.
On a day that should have been uplifting for the Cubs with the return of third baseman Aramis Ramirez from the disabled list, starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano made it a gloomy one.
After giving up four runs in the first inning, the temperamental Zambrano laid into teammate Derrek Lee for not diving for a ground ball down the line. Big Z was seen screaming at the team and Lee and eventually the two players had to be separated by manager Lou Piniella and bench coach Alan Trammell.
Piniella sent Zambrano into the clubhouse and Tom Gorzelanny replaced him on the mound in the second inning. It looks as if serious repercussions will be administered.
“It’s unacceptable behaviour is what it is,” Piniella said. “He was upset that some of our players didn’t dive for those balls. He was ranting and raving and out of control. I had a discussion with our general manager to see what we do. I couldn’t tolerate it.”
Carlos Silva has been stellar this season for Chicago but a number this low backing a team with a 10-game win streak is a bargain. And with the state the Cubbies are currently in, the South Siders should take all three games from their counterpart in the Crosstown Classic.
Pick: White Sox