After splitting a day/night doubleheader yesterday, the Boston Red Sox look to take the rubber game of a three-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays this afternoon at Historic Fenway Park.
Today’s first pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. and will be broadcast in the Red Sox television market on NESN. If you live in the Rays broadcast area, you can catch the game on Sun Sports. And if you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2011 Red Sox Radio Network.
John Lackey looks for his seventh win in his last eight starts in his 21st start of 2011. In his previous 20 starts, Lackey is 11-8 with a 6.13 ERA. He’s made one start against the Rays this season, picking up the win after allowing three runs in 5.2 innings on July 16th. He’s made 17 career starts against the Rays and is 12-4 with a 3.80 ERA. He’s struggled against the Rays at Fenway though in two starts. In those two starts, he is 1-1 with a 7.84 ERA (9 ER/10.1 IP).
David Price will toe the slab for the 26th time in 2011 this afternoon. In his previous 25 starts, Price is 10-10 with a 3.76 ERA. He’s made three starts against the Red Sox this season and is 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA (8 ER/18.2 IP). He’s made eight career starts against the Red Sox and is 5-3 with a 3.55 ERA. Two of those starts have come at the Fens where is 2-0 with a 1.98 ERA (3 ER/13.2 IP).
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 afternoon’s lineups:
 65-56 |
 74-47 |
||
| 1. Desmond Jennings | LF | 1. Jacoby Ellsbury | CF |
| 2. Johnny Damon | DH | 2. Dustin Pedroia | 2B |
| 3. Evan Longoria | 3B | 3. Adrian Gonzalez | DH |
| 4. Ben Zobrist | 2B | 4. Kevin Youkilis |
1B |
| 5. Casey Kotchman | 1B | 5. Jed Lowrie | 3B |
| 6. B.J. Upton | CF | 6. Darnell McDonald | RF |
| 7. Matthew Joyce | RF | 7. Carl Crawford | LF |
| 8. Reid Brignac |
SS | 8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia | C |
| 9. Kelly Shoppach | C | 9. Mike Aviles | SS |
| David Price |
SP | John Lackey | 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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A reflection on the randomness and rarity of Red Sox triple play [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
Bedard delivers quality, quantity [Boston Globe]
Ellsbury finds keys to driving [Boston Globe]
Triple double [Boston Globe]
Ortiz scratched with sore heel [Boston Globe]
Pedroia was in the middle of this pivotal play [Boston Globe]
Hobbled David Ortiz gets boot [Boston Herald]
Not all lost for Red Sox [Boston Herald]
Red Sox turn triple play [Boston Herald]
Jacoby Ellsbury keeps power on [Boston Herald]
Jon Lester gets into groove [Boston Herald]
David Ortiz hopes to return within a week [Clubhouse Insider]
Red Sox fall to Rays, 6-2 [CSN New England]
Sloppy eighth inning steals thunder from triple play [CSN New England]
Notes: Bedard feels good; Ellsbury goes yard again [CSN New England]
Defense Has Been Underappreciated Part of Red Sox’ Success [Don Orsillo – NESN.com]
Rapid reaction: Rays 6, Sox 2 [ESPN Boston]
Triple play doesn’t undo defensive miscues [ESPN Boston]
Jennings making Rays forget Crawford [ESPN Boston]
Ortiz hopes he’ll be back in a week [ESPN Boston]
Boston Red Sox’s Terry Francona: Neck may be issue with Adrian Gonzalez power [ESPN Boston]
Archery in the Fenway Park outfield [Extra Bases]
Podcast: A bump in the road [Extra Bases]
Ask Nick: What’s up with J.D. Drew? [Extra Bases]
David Ortiz is hoping he won’t be out more than a week [Extra Bases]
A step forward for Ryan Westmoreland [Extra Bases]
Closing Time: Red Sox bats silenced, fall to Rays 6-2 [Full Count]
Despite suffering loss Tuesday Erik Bedard continues to progress [Full Count]
Adrian Gonzalez’s Neck Strain May Be Sapping His Power Some, But Serving as DH Should Help [NESN.com]
David Ortiz Hopes to Return in a Week, Red Sox Likely to Use Rotating DH Until Then [NESN.com]
Francona to Cumberland Little Leaguers: ‘Kick some butt’ [Projo Sox Blog]
Westmoreland to take live BP [Projo Sox Blog]
Ortiz in walking boot [Projo Sox Blog]
Sox settle for split with Rays [Providence Journal]
Red Sox swing triple play [Providence Journal]
Lester takes on an autumn glow [Providence Journal]
Sox capitalize on one mistake as Lester wins battle of aces [Providence Journal]
Red Sox Journal: Ellsbury is no longer hit or miss [Providence Journal]
Lackey looks to win seventh consecutive decision [RedSox.com]
Altered delivery paying off for Papelbon [RedSox.com]
The ‘next Johnny Damon’ is making quite a name for himself [Rob Bradford – WEEI.com]
For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSN New England, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.
And if you must check out the enemy news, head over the to St. Petersburg Times and Tampa Tribune websites.
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Photo credits: AP Photo, Reuters Pictures
