A look at the Seattle series

Hopefully the trip to Seattle is more successfully than our other trip there in late June (a three game sweep the last two game being one run affairs), where we the offense couldn't get the big hit, as they squandered opportunity after opportunity. It would appear the Sox have the better pitching matchups
Friday: The two lefties Jon Lester versus Horacio Ramirez advantage Lester as he is pitching in his home state of Washington. Patience will be the key for the hitters in this one, both pitchers have a tendency to be a little wild. Ramirez has walked 24 on the season, in 58 + innings, his last time out he had 5 BB against the Athletics.
Saturday: Dice-K versus Jarrod Washburn. Another lefty throwing against the Sox. Dice-K hopes to continue to pitch well, he's been solid his in his previous three outings but only has one win to show for it. Scoring runs has been a problem for the Sox offense, as they have pushed across only 4 runs in the last three Dice-K starts. Washburn in his last three starts has no decisions.
Sunday: Curt Schilling was originally scheduled to return to the rotation however, his start has been pushed back to Monday against the Angels as he returns from his stint on the DL with shoulder issues. In his place will be Josh Beckett opposed by Miguel Batista. Beckett has struggled a little lately for the Sox, as he is 1-3 in his last 4 starts. However, in two of those losses he allowed only just one run, as he was a victim of the Sox offense, so the record is a little misleading. Last time out on Tuesday against the Baltimore he did give up 5 runs. Batista has been pitching well for Mariners, winning 3 of his last 4 decisions, he's coming off a 2-0 shutout win against the Angels, where he went 7 innings and allowed just 4 hits.
The Sox should be prepared to take 2 out of 3 from Seattle this weekend, if not a three game sweep the way the pitching matchups stackup. Seattle is playing much better ball lately, 5-1 with a series sweep of Oakland and taking 2 of 3 from the Angels. in their last 10, they are 5-5. Closer JJ Putz, has struggled blowing two of his last 4 saves opportunities, his latest came on Wednesday against the Angels. With the Sox bullpen strengthened, hopefully they can prevent Seattle, who has 32 come from behind wins from adding to their win total this weekend.