After a back and forth battle on Sunday, the Sox and Yankees take center stage for round 2 tonight at Fenway Park. The Sox are looking to win their first series of the season behind their talented young lefty Jon Lester in his 2010 debut. On the other side of the diamond, the Yankees starting pitcher is A.J. Burnett, a 13-game winner last season in his first season in New York will look to stop the Sox in their tracks.
Both lineups remain the same as Sunday, with the exception of Marcus Thames replacing Brett Gardner in left field. The lineup switch is something Joe Girardi will probably make quite often this season, matching up the the righty Thames against lefty pitchers and vice versa for Brett Gardner. The Sox lineup was successful in scoring 9 runs on Sunday night, so there is no reason to make any lineup shifts just yet.
After a stellar opening night for all three of the Sox additions this off-season (Marco Scutaro, Mike Cameron and Adrian Beltre), the Sox are hoping to get their leadoff hitter Jacoby Ellsbury going tonight against the right-hander Burnett. If the Sox are going to be successful in 2010, they need production from the top of the lineup to set the table for the big hitters. It should be another great battle tonight at the Fens.
Today’s Lineups – 7:10pm (Lineups courtesy of Boston.com)
Yankees (0-1)
Jeter SS
Johnson DH
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Cano 2B
Posada C
Swisher RF
Thames LF
Granderson CF
Pitching: RHP A.J. Burnett.
Red Sox (1-0)
Ellsbury LF
Pedroia 2B
Martinez C
Youkilis 1B
Ortiz DH
Beltre 3B
Drew RF
Cameron CF
Scutaro 2B
Pitching: LHP Jon Lester