After yesterday's rainout, these two teams finally open their 2009 season with a rematch of last year's ALCS. The Red Sox have won 3 of their last 4 against the Rays.
James Shields takes the mound for the AL Champs. Shields has had two good years but really pitched himself into the Ace role last season, striking out exactly 4 guys for each one he walked. He's not as famous as Scott Kazmir or as annoying as Matt Garza but he's their #1. Pat Burrell makes his Rays debut. Hide that World Series ring, buddy.
For the Red Sox it's the Josh Beckett. You can't spell Ambassador without Badass. Beckett looked good in camp, but more importantly looked healthy. NO JINX NO JINX.
There's still a 40% chance of rain this afternoon so keep your fingers crossed if you have a ticket.
| RAYS | RED SOX |
| BJ Upton, CF | Jacoby Ellsbury, CF |
| Carl Crawford, LF | Dustin Pedroia, 2B |
| Evan Longoria, 3B | David Ortiz, DH |
| Carlos Pena 1B | Kevin Youkilis, 1B |
| Pat Burrell, DH | F.S.S.J.D. Drew, RF |
| Gabe Gross, RF | Jason Bay, LF |
| Dioner Navarro, C | Mike Lowell, 3B |
| Aki Iwamura, 2B | Jason Varitek, C |
| Jason Bartlett, SS | Jed Lowrie, SS |
Rays
1. Akinori Iwamura, 2B
2. Carl Crawford, LF
3. Evan Longoria, 3B
4. Carlos Pena, 1B
5. Pat Burrell, DH
6. Matt Joyce, CF
7. Dioner Navarro, C
8. Gabe Gross, RF
9. Jason Bartlett, SS
-- James Shields, SP
That was absurd, they just had every member of the Red Sox march onto the field one by one from different sections of the stands...was that supposed to be symbolic?? It was weird is what it was