Red Sox vs. Phillies (June 30, 2011)

Red Sox (45-34) @ Philadelphia Phillies (51-30)

SP - Jon Lester (9-4, 3.66) vs. Cole Hamels (9-4, 2.49)

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Darnell McDonald, RF
3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
4. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
5. Jason Varitek, C
6. Josh Reddick, LF
7. Drew Sutton, 3B
8. Marco Scutaro, SS
9. Jon Lester, P

Three Strikes:

1. Last night's 2-1 loss to the Phillies did provide the Red Sox with a rare look at the "Good" John Lackey.

Lackey scattered eight hits over 7.2 innings and actually drove in the team's only run of the night with a double that nearly cleared the fences in left-center field.  Despite his outing last night, 2011 continues to look like a train wreck for Lackey (5-7, 6.81).

The Red Sox need Lackey to be effective on a consistent basis to justify keeping him in the rotation.  Andrew Miller and Tim Wakefield are his main competition for a spot at the end of the rotation once Clay Buchholz returns from his back injury (which now looks like it will happen after the All-Star Game). 

2. The Lester-Hamels matchup looks like it will be fight to see who caves in first.

In two career starts against the Phillies, Lester is 1-0 with a 0.64 ERA.  Hamels is 3-0 and has a 1.71 ERA in three starts against the Red Sox. 

Don't bet the over today.

3. Curious that with the offense struggling so much that Kevin Youkilis would take a day off.  It's worth watching if it's an injury situation or just a day off for Youk.