LEFT TURN: The Sox oppose LHP Brian Duensing tonight and are an AL-best 22-12 (.647) when facing a left-handed starter this season, the 3rd-best mark in the Majors behind San Francisco and St. Louis (both 21-11, .656)…Boston is 2nd in the Majors with 48 homers vs. lefties and 2nd in the AL with a .453 SLG, 114 extra-base hits and 517 total bases against southpaws.
ANYTHING BUT AVG: Adrian Gonzalez last night turned in his 5th multi-hit effort in his last 6 contests…He has at least 2 hits in 18 of 34 games since 6/23 and leads the AL with a .396 AVG (53-for-134) in that time…He has at least 1 hit in all but 5 of his last 37 games dating back to 6/20, lifting his AVG to .302 for the 1st time since 4/25.
- Adrian Gonzalez leads the Majors with a .414 AVG (41-for-99) with runners in scoring position this season, including a .548 clip (17-for-31) with RISP since 6/20.
FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH: The Red Sox started 3 players under 25 years old last night (Ryan Kalish, Ryan Lavarnway, Will Middlebrooks) for the 1st time since 10/2/10-G2 (Lars Anderson, Kalish, Josh Reddick, Yamaico Navarro)…It was the 1st time Boston started a catcher, 3rd baseman and right fielder under 25 since 9/21/92 (John Flaherty, Scott Cooper, Phil Plantier).
HALL OF FAMERS: The Red Sox Hall of Fame Class of 2012 was formally inducted into the Hall during ceremonies this afternoon…Marty Barrett, Ellis Burks, Joe Dobson, Hubert “Dutch” Leonard, Curt Schilling, Joe Mooney and John I. Taylor were enshrined during a luncheon in the EMC Club, and will be honored during pre-game ceremonies before tonight’s game…The Sox’ 5-3 win over Minnesota on the final day of the 1967 “Impossible Dream” season was also recognized as a Red Sox ‘Memorable Moment.’
