The Red Sox are off to their second-best start at Fenway Park in the last 50 years. The Sox are 19-5 at home (.792), the best home record in the majors. The only time in the last half-century they had a better record after 24 home games was in 1978 when they were 21-3. The Sox have won eight straight at home and five straight overall going into tonight’s game against the Royals.
A light rain began falling an hour before gametime. Although it has continued to drizzle, the tarp was taken off the diamond at about 6:15, and the game is expected to start on time.
Bartolo Colon makes his debut for the Red Sox tonight against veteran Brett Tomko. Colon was 2-0 with an 0.64 ERA in three starts for Pawtucket.
Outfielder and former Lowell Spinner Brandon Moss, who underwent an appendectomy earlier this month, has begun playing in extended spring training games in Fort Myers. In three games he is 8-for-13 with a double, triple, home run, five RBI, and two walks.
Former Spinner Kevin Youkilis’ perch at the top of the AL batting race ended after one day when the Twins’ Joe Mauer, a former batting champ, rocketed past him last night. Mauer is hitting .331 while Youkilis is second at .328. It was the second time this season Youkilis has led the league in hitting for a day.
Youkilis continues to lead the AL in multiple-hit games (19) and is tied for first with the Rangers’ Josh Hamilton in extra-base hits (27).
Former Spinner David Murphy, now with the Rangers, leads all AL rookies in homers (6), RBI (29), hits (50), total bases (85), doubles (15) and multiple-hit games (13).