Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 8/8

Tim Wakefield (L), Scott Baker (R)

After taking two-of-three from their AL East rivals last night, the Boston Red Sox now embark on a six-game, seven-day road trip. They’ll get it started tonight with the first of a three-game set against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.

Today’s first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. and will be broadcast in the Red Sox television market on NESN. If you live in the Twins broadcast area, you can catch the game on Fox Sports North. The game will also be shown nationally (outside of Red Sox & Twins TV markets) on ESPN. Where available, you can also catch the game online at ESPN3.com. And if you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2011 Red Sox Radio Network.

Tim Wakefield makes his third attempt at career win No. 200 in his 16th start (25th appearance) of 2011. In his previous 24 appearances (15 starts), Wake is 6-4 with a 4.99 ERA. He’s made one start against the Twins and took the loss back on May 6th. In that start, he allowed six runs in 4.1 innings of work. Wake has made 28 career appearances (25 starts) against the Twins and is 14-7 with a 4.54 ERA. He’s made 13 starts in the Twin Cities and is 7-5 with a 4.81 ERA. His lone Target Field start came last year when he took the loss after allowing six runs (five earned) in 5.1 innings.

Scott Baker makes his 21st of 2011 for the Twins tonight. In his previous 20 starts, Baker is 8-6 with a 3.01 ERA. He was matched up with Wakefield on May 6th and picked up the win after allowing two runs in eight innings. He’s made five career appearances (four starts) against the Red Sox and is 1-2 with a 3.77 ERA. He’s never faced the Red Sox at home as all five of his career appearances have come at Historic Fenway Park.

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 this evening’s lineups:

70-43		51-63
1. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF	1. Denard Span	CF
2. Carl Crawford	LF	2. Trevor Plouffe	2B
3. Adrian Gonzalez	1B	3. Joe Mauer	C
4. Dustin Pedroia	2B	4. Michael Cuddyer	1B
5. David Ortiz	DH	5. Jason Kubel	RF
6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C	6. Jim Thome	DH
7. Josh Reddick	RF	7. Danny Valencia	3B
8. Jed Lowrie	3B	8. Delmon Young	LF
9. Marco Scutaro	SS	9. Matt Tolbert	SS
Tim Wakefield	SP	Scott Baker	SP

And here is how the hitters have fared against today’s starting pitchers:

Boston Red Sox @ Minnesota Twins batter/pitcher matchups

With Lowrie returning from the 15-day disabled list, reliever Randy Williams was optioned back to Triple-A Pawtucket to make room for him on the 25-man roster.

Check back and/or refresh often as more links will be added if/when they become available before game time.

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Draft countdown: Where the Red Sox stand with their top draft picks [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

Pregame notes: Bobby Jenks hospitalized; Josh Beckett slows the pace [Clubhouse Insider]

Report: Tazawa to be promoted to Pawtucket [CSN New England]

Notes: Youkilis sits, Lowrie gets start at third [CSN New England]

Nation STATion: Playing the field [CSN New England]

Red Sox-Yankees rivalry dead: How to fix [ESPN.com]

Wakefield goes for 200th again at Minny [ESPN Boston]

Video: Schilling’s take on Red Sox-Yankees [ESPN Boston]

Slow game Sunday night? Francona agrees [ESPN Boston]

Of green lights and 3-and-0 counts [ESPN Boston]