The Red Sox-Cubs interleague series started with a whimper, at least as far as Boston is concerned, this afternoon with Chicago (22-42, 14-17 home) survived three errors to blank Boston (31-33, 17-14 away) 3-0 at Wrigley Field.
It's the first time the teams have met in the Windy City since 2005.
Ryan Dempster (3-3) won his third straight start for the Cubs and stretched his scoreless streak to 22 innings with seven shutout innings. He gave up only four hits with three strikeouts and two walks. He even helped himself with a triple (1st since 2002), single and run scored. There's no doubt he'll be a valued commodity at the trade deadline (July 31).
Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-2) had a classic Dice-K start. He allowed two runs in the first inning (after walking the bases loaded) and one in the second (over 50 pitches by then) before settling down and retiring 13 of the last 14 batters he faced. His three runs were all earned, on four hits with three strikeouts and three walks.
Both teams were extremely limited at the plate: Boston had five hits and Chicago only had four. Scott Podsednik (2 hits, 2 stolen bases) and Dempster were the only batters with multiple hits. The difference was that the Red Sox were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and Chicago was 2-for-6.
Steve Clevenger had a two-run double in the first and David DeJesus (who I'm pretty sure has been rumored to be traded to the Red Sox every season for the past decade) had an RBI single in the second inning.
After James Russell pitched a scoreless eighth for his fifth hold of the season, ultra-shaky Cubs closer Carlos Marmol tried to cough up the three-run lead in the ninth. Between a single, error and walk, Boston had the bases loaded with two outs. Dustin Pedroia hit a grounder to third and Luis Valbuena stepped on the bag ahead of Mike Aviles for the final out. It was Marmol's third save of the season, he had to throw 29 pitches so I doubt he'd be available tomorrow night.
Bobby Valentine announced after the loss that Josh Beckett won't start on Sunday night, apparently he is having issues with his right shoulder. Reliever Franklin Morales will be pressed into duty, making his first career start for the Red Sox (1st since 2009 with Colorado) on Sunday Night Baseball.
Tomorrow night (7:15 p.m., FOX), Jon Lester (3-4) will try to get Boston back in the win column against former Notre Dame wide receiver Jeff Samardzija (5-4).
UPDATE 6/16: Beckett went on the 15-day DL today with shoulder inflammation. Clayton Mortensen was recalled from Pawtucket to take his spot on the roster.
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