Boston Vs. Baltimore...The New Yankee Stadium's Debut Foiled By The 'Pen

It's Friday morning and the Boston Red Sox are FINALLY home at Fenway Park for the first of four games with the Baltimore Orioles. After an opening three game set, the Sox have been on the road, struggling most of the time. The major problem? Other than Kevin Youkilis, the offense has been thin and spotty. That's why they have a woeful record. But home is where the heart is. Just listen to the Boston skipper...

“We haven’t been home very much,” said manager Terry Francona. “Hopefully we’ll take advantage of it. It’s going to be nice to go home. It seems like, out of the last two and a half months (with spring training), we’ve been gone all but three days, so hopefully we can take advantage.”

Here is your four game pitching matchup summary...

Tonight (7:10, NESN & Sox Radio Network): RHP Jeremy Guthrie (2-0, 2.25 ERA) vs. RHP Brad Penny (1-0, 4.50).
Tomorrow (7:10 p.m., NESN & Sox radio network): RHP Adam Eaton (0-1, 9.00) vs. RHP Josh Beckett (1-1, 3.46).
Sunday (1:35 p.m., NESN & Sox radio network): RHP Koji Uehara (2-0, 7.20) vs. LHP Jon Lester (0-2, 9.00)
Monday (11:05 a.m., NESN & Sox radio network): TBA vs. TBA

The Orioles have been playing good ball with timely hitting and solid pitching. As for the Red Sox, nagging injuries have mixed with a suspension, currently under appeal by Boston ace Josh Beckett and the aforementioned lack of lumber. But it's early, too early for any evaluation. As I just said, Beckett will pitch tonight against the Birds and Friday against the pinstriped villians from the Bronx. Brad Penny will be on the mound tonight and try to give his team a great start to the nine game homestand. As for who will pitch on Monday, Patriots Day, who knows? But as Bosox Fan in Wichita mentioned in one of his great comments, Justin Masterson will most likely stay in the bullpen and the Sox will hand the ball to one of their young starters. Thanks, BFW.

The New Yankee Stadium was unveiled on Thursday. It's a beautiful place, one thing that the NY bullpen is not. After Sabathia labored for 5 1/3 innings, he was lifted. The score was still tied at one, but not for long. The Yankee bullpen was buttered, battered and bruised fatally in the seventh when the Indians plated NINE runners. For a Sox fan, it was a joy to watch. They really need Joba in that 'pen for the late innings leading into "Mo" time.

OK, that's it for now. It's my Mom's birthday today, number 82, and Nadia and I are going to visit her at the rest home with cards and colorfully frangrant flowers. Thank you for stopping in to my little corner of the "blue nowhere" and click on this post's title for more Sox stuff. As always, BE WELL. It's so important. GO SOX...see ya.