POWER OUTAGE: Today’s starter Josh Beckett has not allowed a home run in a career-high 12 straight starts dating back to 5/15…It is the longest streak in the Majors this season and matches the longest single-season homerless streak by a Red Sox since Mel Parnell went 14 straight homerless starts from 6/29-9/11/48.
LEFT IS RIGHT: The Sox oppose LHP Matt Harrison today and are an AL-best 22-13 (.629) when facing a left-handed starter this season…Boston is 2nd in the Majors with 50 homers and 539 total bases vs. lefties and tops the AL with 118 extra-base hits against southpaws while ranking 2nd in the circuit with a .457 SLG.
WILL AND THE KID: Will Middlebrooks launched a 3-run, pinch-hit homer last night in the 7th inning, his 1st career home run in the pinch and his 14th overall, bringing his RBI total to 51 in 72 career Major League games…Since 1918, Middlebrooks is the 2nd Red Sox hitter to record at least 14 homers and 51 RBI in his 1st 72 career games during a single season, joining Ted Williams in 1939 (14 HR, 74 RBI)…In that time, Walt Dropo (1949-50), Norm Zauchin (1951, 1955) and Fred Lynn (1974-75) achieved the feat in multiple years.
BIRTHDAY BOY: Craig Breslow celebrates his 32nd birthday today.
