pinkgoat_13
06-20-2008, 11:43 AM
It has been one of those years for Adam Kennedy.
Throughout the season, his numbers have been up, down, up and down again. But now that the second baseman seems to be back on track again, his offense couldn't come at a better time.
The Cardinals will play the Red Sox for the first time in the regular season since 2005 and only the third time in Interleague Play. But having played in the American League for most of his career, Kennedy has a little more familiarity with the Red Sox than most of his teammates.
Fifty-four times, Kennedy has played against Boston and all of them were when he was on the Angels. Over that time frame, Kennedy has racked up very strong numbers against one of the top teams in baseball.
"I haven't taken a look at [Kennedy's numbers] yet, but I think he'll play there," manager Tony La Russa said.
Batting .283 lifetime against the Red Sox with 12 doubles, a trio of homers and 17 walks, Kennedy will carry a hot bat into this weekend's series.
In May, Kennedy hit only .161 in 19 games after jumping out to a hot start in April. But through June thus far, Kennedy is batting .290 with a home run and is one of the few Cardinals who is getting on base of late.
Interleague record: 86-80 overall, 2-4 in 2008
2008 Interleague Schedule
May 16 vs. Rays: Lost, 3-1
May 17 vs. Rays: Won, 9-8
May 18 vs. Rays: Won, 5-4
June 17 vs. Royals: Lost, 2-1
June 18 vs. Royals: Lost, 3-2
June 19 vs. Royals: Lost, 4-1
June 20 at Red Sox
June 21 at Red Sox
June 22 at Red Sox
June 24 at Tigers
June 25 at Tigers
June 26 at Tigers
June 27 at Royals
June 28 at Royals
June 29 vs at Royals
Pitching matchup
STL: RHP Kyle Lohse (8-2, 3.77 ERA)
Lohse keeps throwing strikes and pitching deep into games. Not coincidentally, he keeps winning. He's gone at least six innings in six out of seven starts, with the only exception being a rain-interrupted affair in Washington. Lohse has issued a total of six walks in those seven games. That combination will typically add up to some solid results, and what do you know, Lohse has won five straight starts.
BOS: RHP Tim Wakefield (4-4, 4.19 ERA)
After just missing his fifth win of the season in Cincinnati on Saturday when Jonathan Papelbon allowed a game-tying homer, Wakefield gets another chance to get over the .500 mark. Wakefield has thrown at least seven innings in each of his last four starts, including last Saturday when he allowed just four hits and two solo home runs over seven, walking two and striking out six. He is 1-2 with a 5.29 ERA in five career starts against the Cardinals.
Tidbits
Skip Schumaker's five-game hit streak came to an end Thursday against the Royals. Schumaker fell one game short of his season high. ... Lohse will make a team-leading 16th start of the year against Boston on Friday. Lohse is 0-3 with a 6.26 ERA against the Red Sox for his career in seven appearances. ... The Cardinals are 4-2 against the Red Sox in Interleague Play, winning three of their last four games against Boston.
Throughout the season, his numbers have been up, down, up and down again. But now that the second baseman seems to be back on track again, his offense couldn't come at a better time.
The Cardinals will play the Red Sox for the first time in the regular season since 2005 and only the third time in Interleague Play. But having played in the American League for most of his career, Kennedy has a little more familiarity with the Red Sox than most of his teammates.
Fifty-four times, Kennedy has played against Boston and all of them were when he was on the Angels. Over that time frame, Kennedy has racked up very strong numbers against one of the top teams in baseball.
"I haven't taken a look at [Kennedy's numbers] yet, but I think he'll play there," manager Tony La Russa said.
Batting .283 lifetime against the Red Sox with 12 doubles, a trio of homers and 17 walks, Kennedy will carry a hot bat into this weekend's series.
In May, Kennedy hit only .161 in 19 games after jumping out to a hot start in April. But through June thus far, Kennedy is batting .290 with a home run and is one of the few Cardinals who is getting on base of late.
Interleague record: 86-80 overall, 2-4 in 2008
2008 Interleague Schedule
May 16 vs. Rays: Lost, 3-1
May 17 vs. Rays: Won, 9-8
May 18 vs. Rays: Won, 5-4
June 17 vs. Royals: Lost, 2-1
June 18 vs. Royals: Lost, 3-2
June 19 vs. Royals: Lost, 4-1
June 20 at Red Sox
June 21 at Red Sox
June 22 at Red Sox
June 24 at Tigers
June 25 at Tigers
June 26 at Tigers
June 27 at Royals
June 28 at Royals
June 29 vs at Royals
Pitching matchup
STL: RHP Kyle Lohse (8-2, 3.77 ERA)
Lohse keeps throwing strikes and pitching deep into games. Not coincidentally, he keeps winning. He's gone at least six innings in six out of seven starts, with the only exception being a rain-interrupted affair in Washington. Lohse has issued a total of six walks in those seven games. That combination will typically add up to some solid results, and what do you know, Lohse has won five straight starts.
BOS: RHP Tim Wakefield (4-4, 4.19 ERA)
After just missing his fifth win of the season in Cincinnati on Saturday when Jonathan Papelbon allowed a game-tying homer, Wakefield gets another chance to get over the .500 mark. Wakefield has thrown at least seven innings in each of his last four starts, including last Saturday when he allowed just four hits and two solo home runs over seven, walking two and striking out six. He is 1-2 with a 5.29 ERA in five career starts against the Cardinals.
Tidbits
Skip Schumaker's five-game hit streak came to an end Thursday against the Royals. Schumaker fell one game short of his season high. ... Lohse will make a team-leading 16th start of the year against Boston on Friday. Lohse is 0-3 with a 6.26 ERA against the Red Sox for his career in seven appearances. ... The Cardinals are 4-2 against the Red Sox in Interleague Play, winning three of their last four games against Boston.