Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 7/20

Aaron Laffey (L), Josh Beckett (R)

After taking three-of-four from the Chicago Youk’s, the Boston Red Sox will finish up their seven-game homestand. Tonight, they’ll welcome the Toronto Blue Jays for the first game of a three-game set at historic Fenway Park.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. and will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Blue Jays television market, you can watch the game on Rogers SportsNet. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

Josh Beckett looks to finally turn the corner in his 16th start of 2012. In his previous 15 starts, Beckett is 5-7 with a 4.44 ERA. He has not faced the Jays in 2012 and was 1-0 with a 0.84 ERA (1 ER/10.2 IP) in two starts in 2011. He’s made 16 career starts against the Blue Jays and is 4-6 with a 6.30 ERA. Nine of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 3-4 with a 4.97 ERA.

Aaron Laffey makes his fifth start (ninth appearance) of 2012 for John Farrell. In his previous eight appearances (four starts), Laffey is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA. In his only start of 2012 against the Red Sox and picked up no decision after throwing six shutout innings back on June 26th. Laffey has made seven career appearances (two starts) and is 0-1 with a 5.94 ERA. Six of those appearances (two starts) have come at the Fens where he is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA.

Click on the read more button below to see today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day if you’re on the home page.

Here are today’s lineups:

45-47		48-45
1. Anthony Gose	RF	1. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF
2. Colby Rasmus	CF	2. Carl Crawford	LF
3. Edwin Encarnacion	1B	3. Dustin Pedroia	2B
4. Adam Lind	DH	4. Adrian Gonzalez	1B
5. J.P. Arencibia	C	5. Cody Ross	RF
6. Kelly Johnson	2B	6. Will Middlebrooks	3B
7. Yunel Escobar	SS	7. Kelly Shoppach	C
8. Travis Snider	LF	8. Mike Aviles	SS
9. Yan Gomes	3B	9. Pedro Ciriaco	DH
Aaron Laffey	SP	Josh Beckett	SP