UNLIKE PEAVY, BUCHHOLZ WILL GET SOME RUN SUPPORT TONIGHT

Recent Red Sox rookie call-up Mookie Betts.

Once again Jake Peavy received no run support from his teammates.  To make matters worse, instead of striking out three straight in the 4th inning, he got squeezed allowing the top of the inning to extend subsequently giving up the only 2 runs of the ballgame.  If you are keeping track, this is the 7th time this season that Peavy has given up 2 runs or less, yet only has one win. 

In his 17 starts this season the Red Sox have scored a total of 52 runs, most of which have occurred after he has departed.  To put that in perspective, tonight's Red Sox starter, Clay Buchholz, has received 53 runs of support in his 11 starts.  Chances are good that Buchholz will continue to get run support tonight as Edwin Jackson will be on the mound for the Cubs tonight. 

Jackson's ERA this season (5.22) is almost a full run above his career (4.51) average.  During the month of June Jackson made 5 starts none of which went beyond 6 innings.  His ERA during that month was 6.23.  The former Tampa Bay pitcher probably isn't much of a fan of Fenway Park.  His last start in Fenway came during the 2009 season when he lasted 4 innings and gave up 9 hits and 4 earned runs.  During his three starts in 2008, he was 0-3 with a 7.31 ERA.  This was a slight improvement over his 2007 numbers where he had an 8.18 ERA in 2 starts. 

Looking at his splits this season, the Red Sox should look to hop on Jackson early and get him out of the game.  Opponents are hitting .389 against him when the count is 0-0 and .376 during his first 15 pitches. 

My prediction of the night is that Mookie Betts gets his first Major League home run tonight. 

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