The rubber game of the series versus the Pirates is today, Father's Day, and the Red Sox are looking for a big win. Not only did the Pirates snap our winning streak last night, but they also shut us out -- the first time that has happened to us all season long.
Manny Ramirez is not in the lineup today because of when he was hit in the leg yesterday. The lineup is completely different today, folks. Prepared to be shocked:
RF Nixon
SS Renteria
DH Ortiz
LF Millar
1B Olerud
C Varitek
CF Payton
3B Mueller
2B Bellhorn
I'm happy to see Olerud in the lineup. Not happy to not see Kevin Youkilis in the lineup, though. Why couldn't Francona have changed the lineup even more and move Muller to second and have Youkilis play third?
Matt Clement (7-1, 3.76 ERA) takes the mound for the Sox. And for the Pirates it is Kip Wells (5-5, 3.83). In Wells' last outing he faced the Yankees and only lasted 4.2 innings, giving up seven runs in the process.