Florida (32-35) at Boston (40-25)

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fla

Fenway does not faze Nolasco

Joe Frisaro / MLB.com
Marlins pitcher Ricky Nolasco didn't really grow up a baseball fan, so he isn't caught up in the history and presence of Fenway Park. When Florida faces the Red Sox on Thursday, the right-hander is simply focused on winning.
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Marlins probable pitcher

Ricky Nolasco

  • #47 RHP
  • (2-6) 7.62 ERA 50 SO
In his last outing, Ricky Nolasco wasn't involved in the decision. But he certainly pitched well enough to win. Facing the Blue Jays in Toronto, the 26-year-old right-hander was sharp. In six innings, he gave up two runs on five hits. He walked one, but struck out nine, his most since fanning 10 Mets on Sept. 27, 2008. It was Nolasco's second start since being brought back from Triple-A, where he was sent to regain his form. Nolasco threw 110 pitches, his second most on the season. On May 3 at the Cubs, he threw 112. Nolasco was matched against Roy Halladay, who was hurt after three-plus innings. Nolasco has never faced the Red Sox. His last win was on May 8 at Colorado.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 29-27 4.58 430.1 109 346 .272
Season 2-6 7.62 56.2 17 50 .333
June 0-1 2.77 13.0 4 13 .294

Series at a Glance

Standings - 06/18/2009 W L PCT GB Home Away
Florida Marlins (NL East) 32 35 .478 6.0 15-19 17-16
Boston Red Sox (AL East) 40 25 .615 - 23-8 17-17
Stats - 06/18/2009 AVG R HR RBI SB SO ERA IP H BB SO
FLA .254 310 65 294 38 540 4.52 605.1 612 264 514
BOS .273 353 80 335 52 451 4.15 581.1 586 226 507
bos

Pop has returned to Big Papi's swing

John Barone / MLB.com
After stumbling through April and May, Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz recently seems to have rediscovered the power that made him one of the most feared hitters in baseball.
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Red Sox probable pitcher

Jon Lester

  • #31 LHP
  • (5-5) 4.76 ERA 96 SO
Though Lester came away with a no-decision in his last start, it was one of the best performances of the left-hander's career. Over seven innings against the defending World Series champion Phillies, Lester gave up two hits and struck out 11 over seven innings. He became the first lefty in Red Sox history to strike out 10 or more in three straight starts. Lester has 96 strikeouts in 81 1/3 innings. This will be his seventh start of the season at Fenway, where Lester is 3-2 with a 4.06 ERA.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 32-13 3.98 436.0 168 358 .264
Season 5-5 4.76 81.1 28 96 .260
June 1-0 1.13 16.0 4 22 .078

Marlins hitters vs Jon Lester

  2009 2004-2008
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Amezaga, Alfredo - - - - - - - -
Baker, John - - - - - - - -
Bonifacio, Emilio - - - - .000 2 0 0
Cantu, Jorge - - - - .333 3 0 0
Carroll, Brett - - - - .500 2 0 0
Coghlan, Chris - - - - .333 3 0 0
Cousins, Scott - - - - - - - -
Hayes, Brett - - - - - - - -
Helms, Wes - - - - .333 6 0 0
Maybin, Cameron - - - - - - - -
Miller, Jai - - - - - - - -
Paulino, Ronny - - - - 1.000 2 1 1
Ramirez, Hanley - - - - .333 6 1 1
Ross, Cody - - - - .000 2 0 0
Sanchez, Gaby - - - - - - - -
Uggla, Dan - - - - .400 5 1 1

Red Sox hitters vs Ricky Nolasco

  2009 2004-2008
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Anderson, Brian - - - - - - - -
Bates, Aaron - - - - - - - -
Brown, Dusty - - - - - - - -
Drew, J.D. - - - - .000 2 0 0
Ellsbury, Jacoby - - - - .000 2 0 0
Hermida, Jeremy - - - - .500 2 1 1
Iglesias, Jose - - - - - - - -
Kotchman, Casey - - - - .000 3 0 0
Lowell, Mike - - - - .000 2 0 0
Lowrie, Jed - - - - - - - -
Martinez, Victor - - - - - - - -
Ortiz, David - - - - .000 2 0 0
Pedroia, Dustin - - - - .000 2 0 0
Reddick, Josh - - - - - - - -
Varitek, Jason - - - - .000 2 0 0
Wagner, Mark - - - - - - - -
Youkilis, Kevin - - - - .500 2 1 1

Mother Nature gives Marlins a hand (33-35) (40-26)

Marlins 2, Red Sox 1 (6)

Wet win for Florida

Joe Frisaro / MLB.com
Dan Uggla and Ronny Paulino went deep behind Ricky Nolasco, who allowed a homer in the first but retired the next 10 batters. Nolasco was credited with a complete-game win despite pitching just five innings in a game called in the sixth after nearly two and a half hours.

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Series at a Glance

 

Sweep hopes dashed

Ian Browne / MLB.com
Kevin Youkilis got the Sox off to a rousing start, sending a ball into the Monster Seats, but that's all the damage the Boston bats would do off Ricky Nolasco in a game shortened by rain. Jon Lester took the loss after surrendering a pair of homers in the second.
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Marlins 2, Red Sox 1

Florida AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
Coghlan, LF 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .274
Helms, 1B 3 0 1 0 0 2 1 .250
Ramirez, H, SS 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 .325
Cantu, DH 3 0 1 0 0 0 3 .276
Uggla, 2B 2 1 1 1 0 0 2 .218
Ross, C, CF 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
Paulino, C 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 .296
Carroll, RF 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .289
Bonifacio, 3B 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .244
Totals 22 2 8 2 0 4 10  

BATTING
HR: Uggla (12, 2nd inning off Lester, 0 on, 0 out), Paulino (4, 2nd inning off Lester, 0 on, 1 out).
TB: Coghlan; Helms; Ramirez, H; Cantu; Uggla 4; Paulino 5; Carroll.
RBI: Uggla (41), Paulino (14).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cantu; Uggla 2.
Team RISP: 0-for-3.
Team LOB: 5.

FIELDING
E: Bonifacio (12, fielding).
 
Boston AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
Pedroia, 2B 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
Drew, RF 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 .261
Youkilis, 1B 2 1 1 1 0 1 0 .324
Bay, LF 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
Ortiz, DH 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211
Lowell, 3B 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .291
Ellsbury, CF 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .307
Varitek, C 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .224
Green, N, SS 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .291
Totals 17 1 1 1 0 5 3  

BATTING
HR: Youkilis (12, 1st inning off Nolasco, 0 on, 2 out).
TB: Youkilis 4.
RBI: Youkilis (39).
2-out RBI: Youkilis.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Varitek.
Team RISP: 0-for-1.
Team LOB: 1.

BASERUNNING
SB: Ellsbury (29, 2nd base off Nolasco/Paulino).
 
Florida IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Nolasco (W, 3-6) 5.0 1 1 1 0 5 1 7.15
 
Boston IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Lester (L, 5-6) 5.0 8 2 2 0 4 2 4.69

Lester pitched to 1 batter in the 6th.

WP: Lester.
Pitches-strikes: Nolasco 74-48, Lester 114-75.
Groundouts-flyouts: Nolasco 2-8, Lester 8-2.
Batters faced: Nolasco 17, Lester 22.
Umpires: HP: Scott Barry. 1B: Phil Cuzzi. 2B: Tom Hallion. 3B: Jerry Crawford.
Weather: 63 degrees, drizzle.
Wind: 11 mph, Out to LF.
T: 1:44 (2:26 delay).
Att: 37,577.
June 18, 2009

Box score official statistics approved by Major League Baseball Office of the Commissioner