8/5: Rubber Match

August 5th, 2007 GAME THREAD
Boston Red Sox (67-43) @ Seattle Mariners (60-48)
Josh Beckett, RHP (13-5, 3.41) @ Miguel Batista, RHP (11-7, 4.23)
4:05 PM EDT at Safeco Field (Seattle, WA)
TV: NESN | RADIO: WRKO 680, WROL (Sp.)
AL EAST GAMES: KC @ NYY | TEX @ TOR | BAL @ TB

PRIOR GAME VS. SEA: Boston 4 @ Seattle 3 on 8/4/07 DECISION: W: Daisuke Matsuzaka | L: Jarrod Washburn | S: Jonathan Papelbon STAR OF THE GAME: Matsuzaka struck out 10 while allowing only 2 ER in 7 IP. RED SOX’S PREVIOUS GAME: Boston 4 @ Seattle 3 on 8/4/07

GAME NOTES: Josh Beckett has pitched significantly better on the road this year than at home: his ERA in road starts is 1.62, in home starts is 4.50. He has not allowed more than 2 ER in a road start yet this season. His previous outing against the Mariners was a 14-3 victory on April 10th, at Fenway Park; in that game he went 7 complete, struck out eight and allowed just two baserunners and one earned run…David Ortiz brings the hot bat to Safeco for the Red Sox. Over the last seven days, Papi is 10 for 25 with 3 HRs and a .840 SLG.