Beckett Looks to End Sox Losing Streak

After being scratched from his start last week due to illness, Josh Beckett will return to the rubber today against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Beckett will be looking to end the Sox 4-game losing streak that has seen the pitching staff give up 22 runs and the offense only produce 6 runs, 0 in 2 of the 4 games. So far this Spring, Beckett has started 2 games, giving up 1ER in 5 innings while striking out 4.

The Red Sox are putting a strong lineup on the field today, with 4 starters at the top (Mike Cameron, Dustin Pedroia, Victor Martinez and David Ortiz). Ortiz is looking to continue his small hit streak and maybe put another pitch into the bleachers. In the 9 hole is Josh Reddick, who is looking to continue has hot hitting this Spring against RHP Paul Maholm of the Pirates.

There is a familiar name on the Pirates staff slated for today’s game. Relief pitcher Brendan Donnelly played for the Sox in 2007, appearing in 27 games, finishing with a 2-1 record and a 3.05 era. In the Pirates lineup, there is a familiar face Red Sox fans are used to seeing on the Tampa Bay roster, 2B Akinori Iwamura.

Today’s Lineup – 1:05pm in Bradenton, FL (lineups courtesy of Boston.com)

Red Sox (8-7)
Mike Cameron CF
Dustin Pedroia 2B
Victor Martinez 1B
David Ortiz DH
Jason Varitek C
Jeremy Hermida LF
Bill Hall SS
Tug Hulett 3B
Josh Reddick RF

Pitching: RHP Josh Beckett followed by RHP Scott Atchison, LHP Fabio Castro, RHP Ramon A. Ramirez.

Pirates (4-10)
Andrew McCutchen CF
Ronny Cedeno SS
Akinori Iwamura 2B
Garrett Jones DH
Ryan Doumit C
Lastings Milledge LF
Jeff Clement 1B
Andy LaRoche 3B
Delwyn Young RF

Pitching: LHP Paul Maholm followed by RHP Brendan Donnelly, RHP Vinnie Chulk, RHP Evan Meek, LHP Brian Burres.