Red Sox vs Marlins June 18 2009

Sox go for sweep of Marlins
Fenway Park on a rainy day is a sad sight. It’s 4:30 in the afternoon and the rain continues to fall. Red Sox Manager was asked in his 4pm press conference on the possibilities of a rain out. With sure confidence of tonight’s game being played, Francona expressed his thoughts saying that according to him the game is on when the gates open.

Francona was pleased to see that future hall of famer John Smoltz has been throwing some good innings with the minor league system these past few weeks. He commented to the press about the six-man rotation he has going with for his pitching staff and knows that when pitching coach John Farrell deems fit, Smoltz will be on the mound, doing what he does best. According to Francona, tonight is all about Lester and the stuff he puts across the plate against the feisty Florida Marlins.

The Red Sox are twenty-three and eight at home this season. David Ortiz is out of his slump, and the Red Sox are turning in impressive victories at home against some top notch clubs. Francona was pleased to see that with a change in the lineup, the bats have begin to come alive. He was happier because the changed proved to make the batting order more balanced.

The clock struck 6:30pm and the grounds crew ran across the infield holding the tarp ready to set the field and play some baseball. The Fenway faithfuls who gathered along both the first and third baselines gave an abrupt applause for the tarp being removed and the good chance of seeing their Red Sox in action.

With an impressive home record of twenty-three and eight, the Boston Red Sox continue to put the emphasis on the AL East. A win streak of five straight games, three of which over AL East foe New York Yankees, Francona wants to see more of a selection when his players are in the batters box. He says that being more selective is not something that everyone can do. But he knows that it is easier to say it than see it be done.

The Red Sox face the Florida Marlins tonight with Sox lefty Jon Lester on the hill taking on Marlins pitcher Ricky Nolasco. Lester has been on a little roll lately, fanning ten or more batters while limiting opponents to a run on three hits or fewer in his last three starts. He has a record of five and five with a 4.76 era.

A continued streak is in the hopes for the Sox when tomorrow they begin a three game series with the Atlanta Braves, who hold a record of thirty and thirty-four in the NL East.