Sat Aug 30 11:00:25 2008

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Without Beckett, Red Sox send Bowden to hill against White Sox

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(Sports Network) - Boston's rotation took a big blow when it lost starter Josh Beckett to injury. Now the AL Wild Card-leading Red Sox will put the ball into the hands of a minor leaguer for tonight's second installment of a three-game series versus the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park.

Beckett was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a strained right elbow following a visit with noted sports surgeon Dr. James Andrews. Beckett was slated to open this series with Chicago, but was scratched in favor of Daisuke Matsuzaka, who allowed only two hits over eight scoreless innings, striking out seven and walking two for the victory.

Kevin Youkilis and Jason Bay each had three RBI in the 8-0 pounding, while Dustin Pedroia went 4-for-4 with three runs scored. David Ortiz finished with three hits, an RBI and two runs scored in Boston's fourth win in five tries. The Red Sox remained 2 1/2 games ahead of the Minnesota Twins in the wild card standings and 4 1/2 back of Tampa Bay in the American League East division.

Michael Bowden, meanwhile, will be called up from Triple-A Pawtucket to make his major league debut and posted an 0-3 record with a 3.38 earned run average in seven outings for the PawSox. With Double-A Portland, the righty posted a 9-4 mark with a 2.33 ERA.

The Red Sox opened a six-game homestand on a positive note and are 44-18 at Fenway Park this season.

Chicago had its lead in the AL Central trimmed to just a half game over the Twins after Friday's loss. Jermaine Dye and Alexei Ramirez recorded the only hits for the White Sox, who have lost back-to-back contests after a three-game winning streak.

White Sox starter Javier Vazquez was saddled with the loss, allowing 10 hits and five runs -- three earned -- over 5 2/3 innings. The Pale Hose are 2-2 on a nine-game road trip and 30-36 away from the Windy City this season.

Mark Buehrle will try to run his unbeaten streak to five starts when he toes the rubber for the White Sox this evening. Buehrle is 3-0 over his last four starts, all Chicago wins, and is coming off a no-decision versus Tampa Bay on August 24.

Buehrle was reached for five runs -- two earned -- and six hits in 6 2/3 frames of a 6-5 victory over the Rays. The lefty will try to rebound against a Boston club he beat back on August 8, allowing just one run and four hits in seven innings of a 5-3 victory. He also fanned eight Boston players.

The 6-2, 230-pound Buehrle is 5-4 with a 4.16 earned run average in 12 career games, 11 of which have been starts, against the Red Sox.

Boston leads the season series with Chicago by a 3-2 count and is 10-2 in the past 12 encounters with the White Sox.