How we see it goin' down: Sox - Phillies series

First Pitch: Friday 7:05, Saturday 7:15, Sunday 1:35

Arms: Friday: Daniel Bard, RHP (3-4, 4.30 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels, LHP (5-1, 2.28 ERA)

Saturday: Jon Lester, LHP (2-3, 3.71 ERA) vs. Joe Blanton, RHP (4-3, 2.96 ERA)

Sunday: Josh Beckett, RHP (3-4, 4.97 ERA) vs. Cliff Lee, LHP (0-1, 1.95 ERA)

                              Yard: Citizens Bank Park   Watch it:  NESN/FOX (Sat.)  Hear it:  WEEI

The Matchup

Record: 18-20 (Last AL East)	Record: 20-19 (Last NL East)
On road: 9-9	At home: 9-9
Streak: Won 1	Streak: Won 5
Leaders at the plate	Leaders at the plate
Average: Ortiz (.345)	Average:  Ruiz (.363)
Homers: Ortiz (8)	Homers: Pence (9)
RBI: Ortiz/Ross (27)	RBI: Pence/Ruiz (27)
Leaders on the mound	Leaders on the mound
Wins: Buchholz/Doubront (4)	Wins: Hamels (5)
ERA: Lester (3.71) | Atchison/Hill (1.13)	ERA: Lee (1.95) | Bastardo (1.50)
K's: Doubront (44)	K's: Halladay (50)

Last time

The Sox lost two of three in Philly at the end of June. Cliff Lee had Red Sox batters scratching their heads in the first game, as he pitched a complete game, giving up only 2 hits. Vance Worley also subdued the Red Sox in game 2, but could not stop 1 batter...John Lackey. Lackey drove in Josh Reddick on a double that scored the Sox only run. Boston finally got some revenge behind Jon Lester's 7 inning, 2-hitter in the final game. Pedey and Tek homered in the Sox 5-2 win.

This time

Laser Show: Adrian Gonzalez

I am not a fan of historical stats because they mean squat in the present if the player is slumping. Gonzo is less than impressive this season, but his career numbers against the Philly trio are nuts. Against Hamels, Gonzo is batting .333 with 2 solo homers. Against Blanton, a .438 average, with 2 homers and 4 RBI. Finally, versus Lee, Gonzalez has a .538 average with a homer, 3 doubles, and 3 RBI.  I think these guys can help him have the breakout series he needs.

Pitch Around: Carlos Ruiz

Carlos Ruiz is on pace for the best season of his career. Through 35 games, Ruiz  is fifth in the majors in average, 9th in OPS, 6th in slugging percentage, and has only struck out 12 times. He is going to be a tough out for Sox pitching.

Don't Fall Behind: All 3 starters

The Phillies have the best rotation in the majors, and they gave the Sox a taste last season. The difference this season is these starters are not getting the run support. They only need a few runs of support to get the job done and the Sox need to jump on them very quickly. More than ever this season, they need to get to knock the starter out quickly or they will be taken advantage of.

How we see it goin' down

The offense has been able to expose good pitching at times this season, and who is saying they can't do it in this series. Red Sox starters are flying high, leaving us to believe we are going to see some good pitching duels. Boston and  Philly are making comeback bids in their divisions, but I see the Sox offense coming out on top and Boston taking 2 games in the series. The Celtics will beat the Sixers, the Sox will beat the Phillies, and a whole bunch of fat ugly Philly fans will be envious of Boston.