The Giants don't normally get to play Fenway, not since 1915 actually, but the fabled park is exactly where they are headed to continue their Interleague Play on the road, and everyone is looking forward to it.
"It's nice to go in there," Ryan Klesko said. "It's been a while since I've been there, but I don't care who we're playing, as long as we go in there and try to take the series."
The Giants will arrive at Fenway with their first series win since May 23, and are ready to take on the winningest team in baseball. The Giants are 3-6 in Interleague Play this season, but have an 89-81 all-time Interleague record, third best in the National League.
Pitcher Barry Zito is the perfect starter to open the three-game series. Zito, who played in the American League for seven seasons before joining the Giants, is 5-5 against Boston with a 4.78 ERA. He's already had a chance to get used to throwing in the historic park, if Fenway can ever be gotten used to, in his five-game appearances there.
Zito will be opposite right-hander Julian Tavarez, who last faced the Giants in 2005, as a member of the Cardinals.
"We're facing some pretty good pitchers, and, hopefully, the guys will stay fired up, so we can go in there and beat those guys. You can't be intimidated at all," Klesko said.
Fenway is probably pretty intimidating to first-time players, but Klesko has played there enough to know better. He holds a .500 career average with two home runs in the hallowed walls that saw some of the greatest moments in baseball history.
After the three-game series against the Red Sox, the Giants will head to Milwaukee for their next series.
Pitching matchup
SF: LHP Barry Zito (6-6, 4.02 ERA)
Zito has won three starts in dominating fashion sandwiched by two awkward losses to his former team. He lost in Oakland on May 18, giving up seven runs in four innings. Over the next 20 innings, Zito gave up one earned run. In losing to the A's in San Francisco on Saturday, he allowed three earned runs on nine hits over four innings.
BOS: RHP Julian Tavarez (3-4, 5.25 ERA)
Tavarez continues to keep the Red Sox in just about every game he pitches as the No. 5 starter. In his last outing against the Diamondbacks, he yielded three runs over six innings, walking one and striking out five. In fact, Tavarez has allowed three earned runs or less in six of his last eight starts. Tavarez pitched for the Giants from 1997-99. Lifetime against his former team, he is 2-3 with a 3.62 ERA.
Player to watch
Barry Bonds is 0-for-4 against Taveraz, but the slugger's swing was back in top form during the past series and it will be interesting to see if he can keep it going while he serves as designated hitter in Boston.