G143: Red Sox 9, Royals 3

Should Julian Tavarez be considered as a possible starter next season?

In three starts (against Toronto, Chicago and Kansas City), he has allowed eight runs in 14.1 innings, with 16 hits and five walks and 13 strikeouts, for a 4.91 ERA. Not great, but he's been on far more often as a starter (using his changeup more frequently) than when he came out of the pen. (He allowed only two runs in 8.1 innings over his last nine relief appearances.)

David Ortiz was on base in all five of his PA, with three walks, an opposite field single and a two-run home run into the Monster Seats (#48). He scored three runs, as did Kevin Youkilis. Wily Mo Pena, batting cleanup and playing left, had three hits and Mike Lowell had two.

Gabe Kapler had two hits also, but in his three other at-bats, he stranded a total of seven runners -- making the final out in the third, fifth and sixth innings. (Manny had the day off, but that is still no reason to play Krapler. He should be the last guy off the bench every single day. Tito's inexplicable love affair with shitty veterans (see Millar, Kevin and Timlin, Mike) continues. Play Murphy dammit!)

***

Mark Redman (5.26) / Julian Tavarez (4.72), 2 PM

Kansas City has gone 85 consecutive road series without a sweep (since July 11-13, 2003 in Texas). The last time the Royals swept three games from the Red Sox at Fenway Park? April 26-27-28, 1996.

The Red Sox turn to their ace -- Sexy Lips -- to try to salvage one game and end this homestand at 5-5.