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In two games against the
Boston Red Sox
this week, the
Kansas City Royals
have been no-hit by a 24-year-old and beaten by a rookie who had never won in the majors.
Now, they'll see how they do against a former
Cy Young
award winner making his Boston debut.
Bartolo Colon
will take the mound for the first time as a member of the Red Sox Wednesday, looking to pitch his new team to a sixth consecutive
win and ninth straight victory at Fenway Park.
It's been only three years since Colon won the AL
Cy Young
award while pitching for the
Los Angeles Angels
, but the burly right-hander has taken a winding path to Wednesday's start.
After going 21-8 with a 3.48 ERA in 2005, Colon quickly declined, winning only seven games in two injury-filled seasons the
last two years. He had a 6.34 ERA in 19 appearances last year for the Angels, battling elbow and back problems.
But the
Red Sox
(29-19) signed him to a minor league contract in February, and he has gone 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA in three starts for Triple-A
Pawtucket, also missing time with an oblique strain. He allowed one hit in six shutout innings in his final minor league start
Thursday.
"We knew he was going to be a big part of what we're trying to accomplish here,"
Red Sox
infielder
Alex Cora
told his team's official Web site. "It was just a matter of time getting him healthy."
Boston manager
Terry Francona
said he expects Colon - who turns 35 on Saturday - to throw around 85-90 pitches.
The veteran will try to follow up a pair of impressive performances by Boston youngsters. After
Jon Lester
's no-hitter on Monday, rookie
Justin Masterson
gave up one run on three hits in 6 1-3 innings Tuesday, as the
Red Sox
won 2-1.
"Rolling through my mind was I wanted to throw a perfect game or maybe back-to-back no-hitters, but that was taken away in
the first inning," Masterson said.
Still, Boston would match its longest winning streak of the season with a victory Wednesday. The
Red Sox
have also won eight straight at home - their longest run at Fenway since they won nine in a row in 2006. Their 19-5 home record
is the best in baseball.
The Royals (21-24) still have to play two more games in Boston this week after mustering only five hits in their first two.
Mark Grudzielanek
,
Jose Guillen
and
Billy Butler
are a combined 0-for-19 in the series.
After being completely shut down on Monday, Kansas City had numerous chances in Tuesday's game, but left eight men on base.
Red Sox
closer
Jonathan Papelbon
struck out Butler with the bases loaded to end the eighth inning.
"I wouldn't say it was more frustrating (than the no-hitter)," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "We are a little bit out
of sync with runners in scoring position."
The Royals will send
Brett Tomko
(2-4, 5.32) to the mound. The right-hander had lost four straight decisions before beating Florida Friday, allowing two runs
in six innings.
"It's nice to get on the W side and get back on track," Tomko said. "I felt like I was in control for the most part."
Tomko hasn't faced the
Red Sox
since 2003, when he allowed nine runs in two-plus innings in his last visit to Fenway while pitching for St. Louis.
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