Anyway, here's tonight's matchup:
Red Sox: The right-hander produced a quality start in his last outing, giving up three runs over six innings in a no-decision against the Blue Jays. For Byrd, this will be his first start against the Indians since being traded by Cleveland to the Red Sox on Aug. 12. For the Indians this season, Byrd was 7-10 with a 4.53 ERA. Byrd is 4-2 in seven starts since joining the Red Sox. Only once since coming to Boston has Byrd gone fewer than six innings. In three Fenway starts, Byrd is 1-2 with a 6.05 ERA.
Indians: Carmona has appealed a six-game suspension for his role in Friday's
bench-clearing brawl with the Tigers and, barring a quick appeals process, will make his final start of '08. Before he duked it out with Gary Sheffield
in the seventh inning, Carmona showed much improvement from what he's done in what has become a disappointing 2008 campaign. The right-hander commanded
the strike zone and induced a number of ground balls by locating his nasty sinker where he wanted it. His tendency to overthrow in tight situations
wasn't a problem because, well, he didn't have many to deal with. His only problem was Miguel Cabrera, who knocked a pair of two-run homers off
Carmona before the righty was ejected after 6 1/3 innings. Carmona has yet to face the Red Sox this season, but is 1-2 with a 5.00 ERA in three career
appearances (one start).
Edited to add that J.D. Drew is in tonight's lineup, according to Terry Francona on the Dale & Holley show.
Joan
