Orange County Register

JON GARLAND (8-6, 4.20)

Garland had his start pushed back to Sunday from Saturday after coming to work following the All-Star break with a stiff neck. Boston might not be the best team for him to be facing if he is going out there at less than 100 percent. The Red Sox have hit the right-hander hard through the years. Garland is 4-5 against Boston, and his ERA is 5.57 having allowed 39 earned runs in 63 innings. He did beat Boston at Fenway Park in April, but gave up eight hits and four earned runs in six innings of that game and it could have been worse. The Red Sox left five runners on base in those first six innings. Garland will be coming in off his worst start of the season, a loss at Oakland in which he lasted only 2 2/3 innings. The A’s had 10 hits, two walks and scored seven runs before the Angels could get nine outs. The Angels have lost three of the past four games that Garland has started at Angel Stadium, despite the fact he has put togehter an ERA of 3.38 in those starts.

Garland vs. the Red Sox:

Crisp: 6 for 25, .240; 0 HR, 1 RBI

Ramirez: 12 for 23, .522; 3 HR, 9 RBI

Ortiz: 7 for 22, .318; 3 HR, 6 RBI

Casey: 3 for 13, .231; 0 HR, 1 RBI

Varitek: 3 for 12, .250; 0 HR, 3 RBI

Lowell: 3 for 12, .250; 1 HR, 4 RBI

Lugo: 3 for 11, .273; 0 HR, 2 RBI

Drew: 1 for 10, .100; 0 HR, 0 RBI

Youkilis: 2 for 9, .222; 0 HR, 0 RBI

Cora: 2 for 7, .286; 0 HR, 1 RBI

Cash: 1 for 3, .333; 0 HR, 0 RBI

Ellsbury: 1 for 3, .333; 0 HR, 0 RBI

Lowrie: 1 for 3, .333; 0 HR, 0 RBI

Pedroia: 1 for 2, .500; 0 HR, 1 RBI

TIM WAKEFIELD (6-6, 3.60)

The 41-year-old Wakefield has had  some success against the Angels but also had some games that are better forgotton, all subject to the whims of the knuckleball.  When it is good, it doesn’t matter who is standing at the plate - they’re going to struggle. But the Angels have some guys who have splattered the knuckleball pretty good including  Vladimir Guerrero (that figures) and Torii Hunter. Wakefield has not faced the Angels yet this season, but is 2-2 with an ERA of 5.55 over the past three years. The last time he pitched at Angel Stadium,  he was hit hard. On Aug. 7, 2007, the Angels racked up seven hits, three walks and seven runs (six earned) in just four innings of a 10-4 victory over the Red Sox. Wakefield has been pitching very well of late, though. He allowed only two hits and one run in seven innings on July 12 in beating Baltimore and has allowed three runs or fewer in his past nine starts. 

Wakefield vs. the Angels:

Anderson: 18 for 63, .286; 5 HR, 15 RBI

Hunter: 13 for 34, .382; 2 HR, 7 RBI

Matthews: 3 for 19, .158; 1 HR, 4 RBI

Guerrero: 7 for 16, .438; 4 HR, 7 RBI

Figgins: 4 for 12, .333; 0 HR, 1 RBI

Kotchman: 4 for 11, .364; 1 HR, 2 RBI

Rivera: 3 for 7, .429; 0 HR, 1 RBI

Izturis: 3 for 5, .600; 0 HR, 1 RBI

Quinlan: 0 for 3, .000; 0 HR, 0 RBI

Kendrick: 1 for 3, .333; 0 HR, 0 RBI

Napoli: 1 for 3, .333; 0 HR, 0 RBI

Mathis: 1 for 2, .500; 0 HR, 1 RBI

Willits: 0 for 2, .000; 0 HR, 0 RBI   

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.