If you were looking for me to talk about last night’s game, I’ve got one word. PATHETIC!
After falling last night 6-4, the Boston Red Sox look to salvage some pride and avoid a sweep in the finale of a four-game set with the Minnesota Twins at historic Fenway Park this afternoon.
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 Twins television market, you can catch the game on FOX Sports North. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.
Franklin Morales steps in for the injured Josh Beckett to make his 6th start (34th appearance) of 2012. In his previous 33 appearances (five starts), Morales is 2-2 with a 3.32 ERA. He’s made two appearances against the Twins this season and has no record with a 0.00 ERA (0 ER/1.1 IP). He’s made four career appearances against the Twins and has no record with a 7.36 ERA (3 ER/3.2 IP). He’s never pitched against the Twins at the Fens.
Nick Blackburn steps to the bump for the 17th time in 2012. In his previous 16 starts, Blackburn is 4-6 with a 7.43 ERA. He took the loss in his only start of 2012 against the Red Sox after allowing five runs in three innings of work back on April 24th. He’s made seven career appearances (six starts) against the Red Sox and is 2-2 with a 4.17 ERA. Three of those appearances (two starts) have come at the Fens where he is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA.
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:
 47-60 |
 53-55 |
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| 1. Ben Revere | CF | 1. Jacoby Ellsbury | CF |
| 2. Darin Mastroianni | RF | 2. Carl Crawford | LF |
| 3. Joe Mauer | C | 3. Dustin Pedroia | 2B |
| 4. Josh Willingham | LF | 4. Adrian Gonzalez | 1B |
| 5. Justin Morneau | 1B | 5. Cody Ross | DH |
| 6. Ryan Doumit | DH | 6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia | C |
| 7. Brian Dozier | SS | 7. Will Middlebrooks | 3B |
| 8. Alexi Casilla | 2B | 8. Ryan Kalish | RF |
| 9. Jamey Carroll | 3B | 9. Mike Aviles | SS |
| Nick Blackburn | SP | Franklin Morales | SP |
And here is how the hitters have fared against today’s starting pitchers:
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No relief [boston globe]
Nothing new happened while you were away [boston globe]
From the Maniacal One . . . [boston globe]
Coaching shakeup possible [boston globe]
Morales set to start over [boston globe]
Sox hit new low in latest setback [boston herald]
Deal with it: Jacoby Ellsbury stays [boston herald]
Bobby Valentine, Sox weigh sabermetrics [boston herald]
Bobby Valentine, Sox weigh sabermetrics [boston herald]
Kelly Shoppach aims to cut down on stealing [boston herald]
Red Sox wasting away [boston herald]
Sox have to react and subtract [boston herald]
Three former pros expound on significance of team dynamics [boston herald]
Bullpen implodes, wasting Buchholz’s gem, 6-4 [csn new england]
Sox ruin Ciriaco’s Fenway moment [csn new england]
Buchholz: It’s about the team [csn new england]
Ortiz taking cautious approach [csn new england]
These Sox not playoff worthy [csn new england]
Report: Mother claims Valentine-backed team owes money [csn new england]
Crawford in the lineup on his 31st birthday [csn new england]
Red Sox notes: Ellsbury (leg) back in the lineup [csn new england]
Rapid Reaction: Twins 6, Red Sox 4 [espn boston]
Boston Red Sox hit new low but Bobby Valentine keeps chin up [espn boston]
Ortiz to tackle agility drills [espn boston]
Pregame notes: Crawford going strong [espn boston]
Pregame Twins-Red Sox notes from Fenway Park [extra bases]
Andrew Bailey on bullpen role: ‘I don’t give a [expletive], frankly’ [full count]
Closing Time: Alfredo Aceves, Red Sox bullpen trashed in brutal loss to Twins [full count]
Alfredo Aceves: ‘Why don’t you ask the umpire how he missed the pitch?’ [full count]
Jarrod Saltalamacchia returns to lineup uncertainty: ‘It’s frustrating not knowing’ about role [full count]
‘The clock is ticking’ on these Red Sox [full count]
Franklin Morales Switches Mentalities With Return to Starting, Plans to Adhere to Pitch Limit [nesn.com]
Red Sox Waste Another Golden Opportunity, Continue Making Mistakes in the Clutch [nesn.com]
Pedro Ciriaco Says Red Sox Need to ‘Move On,’ Despite His First Career Home Run [nesn.com]
Bobby Valentine Has Managed Bullpen Brilliantly, Can’t Be Faulted for Saturday Relief Collapse [nesn.com]
How Many More Starts Will Franklin Morales Make for the Red Sox This Year? [nesn.com]
Red-Hot Adrian Gonzalez, Pedro Ciriaco Lead Red Sox at Plate as Team Eyes Rebound [nesn.com]
David Ortiz Frustrated He Can’t Help Reeling Red Sox, But Doesn’t Want to Put ‘Career in Jeopardy’ [nesn.com]
Bard confident he’s returned to form [projo sox blog]
No restrictions on Crawford [projo sox blog]
Morales steps in for Beckett against Twins [redsox.com]
Bobby V adapts approach to fit modern players [redsox.com]
Red Sox have strong showing at sabermetrics seminar [redsox.com]
Rehabbing Bailey to pitch Sunday in Double-A [redsox.com]
Enforced games off for Crawford appear over [redsox.com]
David Ortiz’ injury may be the straw that broke the Red Sox’ back [alex speier – weei.com]
Punto: ‘We’re very mediocre’ [alex speier – weei.com]
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photo credits: getty images, getty images
