After coming back for a 5-1 win last night, the Boston Red Sox look to take the series before heading to the left coast in the finale of a three-game set with the Toronto Blue Jays at historic Fenway Park.
First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 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 catch the game on Rogers SportsNet or TVA Sports (French language). If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.
Jon Lester looks to put things together for the first time in a while as he toes the slab for the 16th time this season. In his previous 15 starts, Lester is 4-5 with a 4.48 ERA. He took the loss in his only start against the Jays back on Aprill 11th after allowing three runs in eight innings (complete game). Lester’s made 19 career starts against the Jays and is 10-5 with a 3.08 ERA. Seven of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 4-1 with a 2.61 ERA.
Former Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell sends his ace Ricky Romero to the hill for the 16th time this season. In his previous 15 starts, Romero is 8-1 with a 4.34 ERA. In his only start this season against the Red Sox, he was matched up with Lester in that Aprill 11th start and got the win after allowing one run in 8.1 innings of work. He’s made 14 career starts against the local nine and is 5-6 with a 6.45 ERA. Half of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 3-3 with a 5.85 ERA.
Click on the read more button below to see today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the overnight and day if you’re on the home page.
Here are today’s lineups:
 38-36 |
 39-35 |
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| 1. Brett Lawrie | 3B | 1. Daniel Nava | LF |
| 2. Colby Rasmus | CF | 2. Dustin Pedroia | 2B |
| 3. Jose Bautista | RF | 3. David Ortiz | DH |
| 4. Edwin Encarnacion | 1B | 4. Cody Ross | RF |
| 5. Ben Francisco | DH | 5. Adrian Gonzalez | 1B |
| 6. Yunel Escobar | SS | 6. Will Middlebrooks | 3B |
| 7. Rajai Davis | LF | 7. Mike Aviles | SS |
| 8. J.P. Arencibia | C | 8. Darnell McDonald | CF |
| 9. Omar Vizquel | 2B | 9. Kelly Shoppach | C |
| Ricky Romero | SP | Jon Lester | SP |
And here is how the hitters have fared against today’s starting pitchers:
NOTES:
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Sox are winners in the end [boston globe]
Ellsbury headed to Florida [boston globe]
Matsuzaka is able to find answers [boston globe]
Sox use rare rally [boston herald]
Reliever Melancon goes back to Arizona roots [boston herald]
Pedroia back in swing [boston herald]
Dicey yet ‘successful’ [boston herald]
Positive swing [boston herald]
Ortiz on Salty making All-Star: ‘He has to’ [rob bradford – weei.com]
Bobby V: Lackey timetable, Salty’s candidacy [rob bradford – weei.com]
Valentine thinks Buchholz looks great [clubhouse insider]
Clay Buchholz released from the hospital and back at Fenway [clubhouse insider]
Red Sox come alive late, beat Blue Jays, 5-1 [csn new england]
Pedroia finishes what Saltalamacchia starts in 7th inning [csn new england]
Matsuzaka responds nicely after first-inning trouble [csn new england]
Valentine thinks Lackey will pitch before 2012 is over [csn new england]
Buchholz returns to clubhouse after 5-day hospital stay [csn new england]
Rapid Reaction: Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 1 [espn boston]
Beckett to return to rotation Saturday [espn boston]
Ortiz discovers fountain of….Or not [espn boston]
Buchholz in clubhouse, taking it slow [espn boston]
An Eph gives this crowd some oomph [espn boston]
Bobby V offers some All-Star picks [espn boston]
Lackey: ‘Arm feels way better’ than last year [espn boston]
Clay Buchholz rejoins Boston Red Sox after 5-day hospital stay [espn boston]
Clay Buchholz feeling fine after ‘scary’ hospital stay for esophagitis [extra bases]
Pregame notes: John Lackey makes some progress [extra bases]
Red Sox complete deals with first-rounder Brian Johnson, third-rounder Austin Maddox [full count]
Closing Time: Red Sox rally past Blue Jays [full count]
On day he steps up in the late innings, Dustin Pedroia says health woes are behind him [full count]
Nuggetpalooza: Do Red Sox hitters struggle more than expected vs. better pitching? [full count]
Bobby Valentine on D&C: Unsure if moving parts affected clubhouse atmosphere [full count]
Dustin Pedroia’s Perseverence May Provide Red Sox With Strength Needed to Flourish as Team [nesn.com]
Red Sox Display Timely Hitting, Rely on Uncharacteristic Rally To Overcome Late Hurdles [nesn.com]
Brent Lillibridge Hopes to Bring ‘Super’ to Super-Utility Role With Red Sox [nesn.com]
Red Sox Bullpen Learns to Deal With Unexpected as Roles Are Defined [nesn.com]
Brent Lillibridge Chooses Grinds’ Coffee Pouches Over Chewing Tobacco [nesn.com]
Does Toronto or Boston Have the Most Dangerous 3-4 Combo in the American League? [nesn.com]
CC Sabathia’s Trip to Disabled List Could Be Just the Opening AL East Needs [nesn.com]
Lillibridge given first opportunity with Red Sox [redsox.com]
Ellsbury expected to join Crawford with GCL Sox [redsox.com]
Beckett set to start in Seattle; six-man staff likely [redsox.com]
Lester sets out to end frustrations in series finale [redsox.com]
Buchholz out of hospital, returns to Red Sox [redsox.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 to the Toronto Star and Toronto Sun websites.
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photo credits: getty images, reuters pictures
