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Red Sox vs. A’s: Lineups, Preview & Keys to Victory
Red Sox Look to Bounce Back Against Athletics in Game 3 of Series
What Happened Last Night?
Important: The Red Sox saw their 10-game road winning streak come to an end with a 4-3 loss to the Athletics on Tuesday night.
This was the second game in a four-game series, and the Red Sox offense has now struggled for two nights in a row. The loss highlighted why the team’s recent trade for Curtis Mead hasn’t worked out as planned.
The Curtis Mead Situation
Here’s the short version of what happened with the new player:
- Red Sox traded for Curtis Mead hoping he would help the offense
- Mead got hurt – he has a fractured wrist
- He was placed on the Injured List (IL) – meaning he can’t play for a while
- The team will likely look for more hitting help before next week’s trade deadline
Callout: A "trade deadline" is the last day teams can make trades with each other during the season. After this date, no more trades allowed until the off-season!
Who’s Playing Tonight?
Starting Pitchers (Both Lefties!)
| Team | Pitcher | Record | ERA (Earned Run Average) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Sox | Patrick Sandoval | 0-0 | 3.21 |
| Athletics | Jacob Lopez | 5-4 | 6.12 |
ERA explained simply: Lower is better. It means how many runs a pitcher gives up per 9 innings on average. Sandoval’s 3.21 is quite good; Lopez’s 6.12 means he’s been giving up a lot of runs.
Red Sox Lineup (55-51 Record)
- Jahmai Jones – Left Field
- Ceddanne Rafaela – Center Field
- Wilyer Abreu – Right Field
- Tyler Contreras – First Base
- Caleb Durbin – Third Base
- Romy Gonzalez – Designated Hitter (DH)
- Abraham Monasterio – Shortstop
- Nick Sogard – Second Base New call-up!
- Connor Wong – Catcher
Important: Nick Sogard was called up from Triple-A Worcester (the minor league team) to replace Mead. He’ll be available to play tonight!
Athletics Lineup (45-62 Record)
- Jacob Wilson – Shortstop
- Tyler Kurtz – First Base
- Jordan White – Third Base
- Kyle Soderstrom – Left Field
- Jonah Heim – Catcher
- Daniel Thomas – Designated Hitter
- Denzel Bolte – Center Field
- Lawrence Butler – Right Field
- Alika Williams – Second Base
Game Details You Need to Know
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Game Time | 9:40 p.m. |
| TV Channel | NESN |
| Radio | WEEI-FM 93.7 |
| Game Number | Game 3 of 4-game series |
Key Stats & Matchups
How Red Sox Batters Have Done Against Lopez
- Caleb Durbin: 1 hit in 2 at-bats
- Jahmai Jones: 1 hit in 3 at-bats
- Curtis Mead: 0 hits in 2 at-bats (but he’s injured now)
How Athletics Batters Have Done Against Sandoval
- Jonah Heim: 0 hits in 7 at-bats Great for Sandoval!
- Jeff McNeil: 4 hits in 6 at-bats McNeil hits Sandoval well
- Donovan Walton: 1 hit in 2 at-bats
- Alika Williams: 0 hits in 2 at-bats
Team Stat of the Day
The Red Sox are 17-11 against left-handed starting pitchers this season. That’s a .607 winning percentage – pretty good!
Things to Watch For Tonight
Patrick Sandoval’s Comeback Story
- This is his 4th start since returning from Tommy John surgery (major elbow surgery)
- He hasn’t gotten a win or loss in his first 3 starts (pitchers call this "no decision")
- Last time out: 4⅔ scoreless innings, 5 hits, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts in a 6-4 win over the Blue Jays
Red Sox Are Hot Lately
- Last 28 games: 23 wins, 5 losses
- Run differential: +54 (scored 138, allowed 84)
- Comeback kids: Won 6 of their last 10 games after trailing
Jacob Lopez’s Last Start
- Threw 5 shutout innings (zero runs allowed!)
- Got the win in a 5-4 victory over the Twins
- But his overall ERA is still high at 6.12
Summary
The Red Sox are trying to bounce back after a tough loss that ended their impressive 10-game road winning streak. They’re dealing with an injury to newly acquired Curtis Mead (fractured wrist), so they’ve called up Nick Sogard from the minors. Tonight features a lefty-on-lefty pitching matchup: Patrick Sandoval (looking good since returning from elbow surgery) vs. Jacob Lopez (struggling overall but threw a great game last time out). The Red Sox have actually been great against left-handed starters this year (17-11), and they’ve been one of baseball’s hottest teams lately (23-5 in their last 28 games). First pitch is at 9:40 p.m. on NESN.
FAQ
What is Tommy John surgery?
It’s a surgery to repair a torn ligament in the elbow (the UCL). It’s very common for pitchers. Recovery usually takes 12-18 months, so Sandoval pitching again is a big deal!
What does "Designated Hitter" (DH) mean?
In the American League (where the Red Sox play), one player bats but doesn’t play defense. They just hit. Romy Gonzalez is tonight’s DH.
What is Triple-A Worcester?
It’s the Red Sox’s top minor league team – one step below the majors. Players go there to develop or rehab from injuries. Sogard was playing there before being called up.
What’s a "run differential"?
It’s runs scored minus runs allowed. +54 means the Red Sox have scored 54 more runs than opponents in their last 28 games. That’s a sign of a really good team!
Why does the trade deadline matter?
After the deadline (usually late July), teams can’t trade players anymore. Since Mead got hurt, the Red Sox will probably try to trade for another hitter before that deadline passes.
Follow Andrew Mahoney @GlobeMahoney for more Red Sox coverage.
