Red Sox, Matsuzaka Open Homestand Against Orioles
BOSTON (CBS) – The Boston Red Sox return home on Monday a .500 baseball team for the first time in 2011.
Now they just need to keep it going.
The Red Sox swept the Yankees in New York for the first time since 2004 over the weekend, and now sit at 20-20 on the season. On Monday, they open a seven-games in seven-day homestand starting with two against the Baltimore Orioles.
Read: Rainy Week Means Wet Homestand For Red Sox, Fans
Boston dropped two of three to the Orioles in Baltimore in April, also after a Red Sox sweep, but that was when it seemed like the offense could not hit a beach ball. The Red Sox have finally started to click at the plate, with some big hitters crushing the ball as of late.
David Ortiz went 3-for-5 in Boston's 7-5 win on Sunday with a home run and double. Ortiz has his batting average up to .295 after a .340 start to the month of May. Big Papi has five home runs in the month, including three in the last five games.
Read: Finally .500, Red Sox Fans Can Rejoice
As hot as Ortiz' bat is, Adrian Gonzalez' is even hotter. The Red Sox first baseman has eight home runs in May, and has driven in 12 runs in the last seven games. His only two hits against the Yankees over the weekend were home runs.
Gonzalez was 6-for-13 at the plate against the Orioles in April.
Daisuke Matsuzaka will start the series-opener for Boston, after being skipped during the weekend set in New York. He will be going for his second straight win after going six innings, allowing four runs, in the Red Sox 9-5 win over the Twins on May 8.
Matsuzaka is opposed by Chris Tillman of the Orioles, who gave up four runs and five hits in 1 1/3 innings in his only career start against the Red Sox last season.
Pitching Matchup For Two-Game Series vs Orioles
Monday May 16, 7:10 p.m.
- Chris Tillman (2-3, 6.15 ERA) vs Daisuke Matsuzaka (3-3. 4.64 ERA)
Tuesday May 17, 7:10 p.m.
- Zach Britton (5-2, 2.42 ERA) vs John Lackey (2-5, 8.01 ERA)
