• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Red Sox-Rangers Preview

Aug 16, 2009 - 5:40 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Boston (66-49) at Texas (64-50), 2:05 p.m. EDT

Playing a day game after a night contest isn't the only reason the Boston Red Sox should consider giving catcher Jason Varitek a day off.

With their captain struggling both at the plate and behind it against the Rangers, the Red Sox will likely replace him with Victor Martinez on Sunday as they play the decisive game of a three-game set with their top competition in the AL wild-card race.

The Rangers (65-50) stole eight bases - their most in a single game since moving to Texas in 1972 - in a 7-2 win over Boston (66-50) on Saturday night, drawing within one-half game of the Red Sox in the wild-card standings.

Texas is 6-2 against Boston this season, and has stolen 17 bases in the last four meetings. Varitek, who started each of those four contests, is expected to get a break Sunday due to the quick turnaround between games.

"I'm making the best throws I can make," he said.

Not only has Varitek had trouble throwing out Rangers baserunners, he's batting .214 with nine strikeouts in eight games against Texas this year.

Martinez, acquired in a July 31 trade with Cleveland, will likely get his sixth start behind the plate for Boston. He played first base Saturday, going 2 for 4 with a solo home run.

The Red Sox, though, went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position. They rested right fielder J.D. Drew, who is also expected to miss the series finale due to a sore groin.

Boston manager Terry Francona said Drew was injured in the ninth inning of the Red Sox's 8-4 victory over the Rangers on Friday night. Brian Anderson, acquired from the Chicago White Sox on July 28, was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket and Francona started him in right field in place of Drew.

He also started shortstop Alex Gonzalez, one day after his acquisition in a deal with Cincinnati. Gonzalez, who also played for the Red Sox in 2006, went 0 for 4.

Rangers rookie shortstop Elvis Andrus swiped three bases and went 3 for 4 with three runs in Saturday's win.

Left fielder Julio Borbon, meanwhile, had four hits and stole four bases, tying a club rookie record shared by Andrus and David Hulse (1993).

"When you can combine speed and power, it's good," Borbon said. "We get on base and our big boys can drive you in."

The Rangers will now face Junichi Tazawa (1-1, 4.05 ERA), who gave up three runs - one earned - while striking out six in five innings as Boston beat Detroit 7-5 on Tuesday night. The 23-year-old right-hander became the youngest Japanese-born pitcher to win his first major league start.

Tazawa suffered a loss in his only other appearance, giving up a two-run homer to Alex Rodriguez in the 15th inning of Boston's 2-0 defeat to the New York Yankees on Aug. 7.

Texas will counter with Dustin Nippert (3-1, 3.62), who struck out a career-high 10 Tuesday night but surrendered five runs in six innings as Texas lost 5-0 at Cleveland.

The right-hander has made one start against Boston, earning a win in Texas' 3-1 victory July 22. He gave up one run and struck out five in 5 2-3 innings.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia will not be Nippert's batterymate after being put on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with recurring numbness in his right hand. Taylor Teagarden becomes the everyday catcher until Saltalamacchia returns.