Game Thread: Mets (21-19) vs Red Sox (25-16)

Game Time: 7:10 pm Game Temp: 80's

Record: 5-2 Era:1.36 K:67 BB:11 WHIP: 1.04

METS NOTES:

• The Mets, who went 9-6 against the AL last year, are batting .218 with six runs during the slide after averaging 6.2 runs and batting .312 in winning 11 of the previous 13.

• The two-time Cy Young Award winner, however, is coming off his worst performance of the season. He allowed season highs of six runs — four earned — and 11 hits while striking out seven in seven innings as the Mets (21-19)won 9-6 at San Francisco on Saturday.

• That’s also the last time New York won, as the club has dropped a season high-tying four games in a row after falling 2-1 at Los Angeles on Wednesday

• Manuel said J.J. Putz is still dealing with some neck discomfort, but is available

LINEUP:

Murphy, 1b
Church, rf
Beltran, dh
Sheffield, lf
Wright, 3b
Reed, cf
Santos, c
Martinez, ss
Castillo, 2b

Record: 0-1 Era:12.79 K:5 BB:5 WHIP:3.00

RED SOX TEAM NOTES:

• The Red Sox went 11-7 in interleague play last season, including six wins in nine games at Fenway. They’re 10-8 all-time against the Mets (21-19), sweeping a three-game series in the last meeting June 27-29, 2006.
• The Red Sox (25-16) completed a three-game series sweep of East-leading Toronto on Wednesday with a 5-1 victory. That winning streak has put them one-half game behind the Blue Jays for first place.
• Boston is expected to activate Matsuzaka (0-1, 12.79 ERA) from the disabled list in order for him to make his first start against the Mets. The right-hander has been on the DL with right arm fatigue since April 15, one day after he was tagged for five runs and five hits in one inning of a 6-5, 12-inning loss at Oakland.

LINEUP:

Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
Jason Bay, LF
J.D. Drew, RF
Mike Lowell, 3B
Jason Varitek, C
Julio Lugo, SS

PLAY BALL!!!