After two straight nights of offensive explosions, the Boston Red Sox look to wrap up the four-game set with the Kansas City Royals with their third straight win this afternoon at Historic Fenway Park.
Today’s first pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. and the game will be broadcast in the Red Sox television market on NESN. If you live in the Royals television market, you can watch the game on FOX Sports Kansas City. And if you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2011 Red Sox Radio Network.
Josh Beckett hopes to get some of that run support his fellow starters have gotten lately in his 20th start of 2011. In his previous 19 starts, Beckett is 9-3 with a 2.07 ERA. He picked up the win in his only start against the Royals in 2010 after allowing three runs in seven innings. Beckett’s had great success against the Royals in his career as he is 6-0 with a 2.26 ERA in eight starts. Three of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 2-0 with a 1.44 ERA.
Luke Hochevar makes a team-leading 22nd start for the Royals this afternoon. In his previous 21 starts, Hochevar is 6-8 with a 5.29 ERA. He last faced the Red Sox in 2009 when he went 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA (11 ER/11 IP) in two starts. Overall in his career, he’s made four career starts against the Red Sox and is 1-3 with a 7.94 ERA. Two of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA (9 ER/12 IP).
Click on the read more button below to see tonight’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day if you’re on the home page.
Here are this afternoon’s lineups:
 43-61 |
 64-38 |
||
| 1. Alex Gordon | LF | 1. Jacoby Ellsbury | CF |
| 2. Mitch Maier | CF | 2. Dustin Pedroia | 2B |
| 3. Billy Butler | DH | 3. Adrian Gonzalez | 1B |
| 4. Eric Hosmer | 1B | 4. Kevin Youkilis | 3B |
| 5. Jeff Francoeur | RF | 5. David Ortiz | DH |
| 6. Mike Moustakas | 3B | 6. Josh Reddick | RF |
| 7. Matt Treanor | C | 7. Drew Sutton |
LF |
| 8. Chris Getz | 2B | 8. Jason Varitek | C |
| 9. Alcides Escobar | SS | 9. Yamaico Navarro | SS |
| Luke Hochevar | SP | Josh Beckett | SP |
And here is how the hitters have fared against today’s starting pitchers:
Check back and/or refresh often as more links will be added if/when they become available before game time.
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Ubaldo or Kuroda? Bedard or Harden? Pitching options for Red Sox [Clubhouse Insider]
Buchholz back condition remains a mystery [Clubhouse Insider]
Red Sox offense historically good [CSNNE.com]
Report: Crawford out with strained elbow [CSNNE.com]
Video: Papi’s swing as good as ever [ESPN Boston]
Video: State of the Nation with Gordon Edes [ESPN Boston]
Crawford gets second day off [ESPN Boston]
Crawford out with elbow strain [Extra Bases]
As concern grows for Buchholz, Red Sox explore the market for starters [Extra Bases]
Drew reveals extent of shoulder injury [Extra Bases]
Red Sox reportedly ‘tried’ for Hunter Pence [Full Count]
David Ortiz on M&M: ‘My heart and my blood is with the Red Sox’ [Full Count]
Dan Lyons, Fenway Park’s Manager of Entertainment, Details Evolution of Fenway’s Pregame Ceremonies [NESN.com]
J.D. Drew: Josh Reddick’s ‘Been Great’ and ‘It’s Been Fun to Watch’ Him Grow [NESN.com]
Carl Crawford Sitting Out Second Straight Game, But Elbow Injury Is ‘Nothing Serious’ [NESN.com]
Crawford out again with elbow strain [Projo Sox Blog]
Buchholz’s slow recovery may impact deadline decisions [Projo Sox Blog]
Beckett looks to keep rolling against Royals [RedSox.com]
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Photo credits: Getty Images, AP Photo
