Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 5/10

Derek Lowe (L), Josh Beckett (R)

After losing two-of-three against the Kansas City Royals, the Boston Red Sox return home to the not-so friendly confines of Historic Fenway Park for a six-game homestand. They’ll begin tonight with the first game of a four-game set against the AL Central leading Cleveland Indians.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Indians television market, you can catch the game on SportsTime Ohio (STO). And if you don’t live in either market, you’re in luck as the MLB Network will coverage of the game outside of the Red Sox and Indians television markets. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

After allegedly going golfing with the sore lat that caused him to miss his last start, Josh Beckett returns to the hill to make his sixth start of 2012. In his previous five starts, Beckett is 2-3 with a 4.45 ERA. He made three starts against the Indians in 2011 and was 1-1 with a 3.06 ERA (6 ER/17.2 IP). Beckett’s made 10 career starts and is 4-5 with a 4.84 ERA.

Former Red Sox starter and closer Derek Lowe gets the ball for the Windians tonight in his seventh start of the season. In his previous six starts, Lowe is 4-1 with a 2.39 ERA. Lowe has only faced the Red Sox once in his career and that came in 2009 when he was a member of the Atlanta Braves. In that start at the Fens, he took the loss after allowing three runs in 6.1 innings. He has made 194 career appearances (53 starts) at Fenway going 42-24 with a 3.13 and 39 saves.

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:

17-13		12-18
1. Johnny Damon	LF	1. Ryan Sweeney	RF
2. Jason Kipnis	2B	2. Dustin Pedroia	2B
3. Asdrubal Cabrera	SS	3. David Ortiz	DH
4. Travis Hafner	DH	4. Adrian Gonzalez	1B
5. Carlos Santana	C	5. Will Middlebrooks	3B
6. Shin-Soo Choo	RF	6. Daniel Nava	LF
7. Michael Brantley	CF	7. Mike Aviles	SS
8. Casey Kotchman	1B	8. Marlon Byrd	CF
9. Jack Hannahan	3B	9. Kelly Shoppach	C
Derek Lowe	SP	Josh Beckett	SP

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

Cleveland Indians @ Boston Red Sox batter/pitcher matchups

Notes: As you can see from the Red Sox starting lineup, Nava was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket. To make room on the 25-man roster, the Red Sox optioned Clayton Mortensen back to the PawSox. Also, the designated Justin Thomas for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Nava.

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Coming to the defense of Josh Beckett [Boston Sports Media Watch]

Bobby V: Never seen pitcher get hurt playing golf [Rob Bradford – WEEI.com]

Johnny Damon Should Be the Last Player Red Sox Fans Boo During His Latest Return to Fenway Park [Tom Caron – NESN.com]

No one seems to think Beckett and golf was a big deal [Clubhouse Insider]

Boggs lays into Boyd for racist accusations [CSN New England]

Derek Lowe’s sneaky visit back to Boston [CSN New England]

Microphone will be silent in Beane’s memory tonight [CSN New England]

Red Sox recall Nava, who bats sixth tonight [CSN New England]

Damon: ‘I’m still the same guy’ [CSN New England]

Buchholz looks to return to form [CSN New England]