The Boston Red Sox hadn’t had much luck against the Tampa Bay Rays or at Tropicana Field this season. With a quality start from Jon Lester last night, they were able to put it behind them for one night. Tonight, they look to do it all over again.
Tonight’s game will start at 7:08 PM and will be covered on the NESN in the Red Sox television market. In the Tampa area, you can catch the game on Fox Sports Florida. And if you aren’t in either market, you can catch the game ESPN. If the television isn’t your cup of tea, You can also catch the game on the radio on one of the many affiliates of the Red Sox Radio Network.
Josh Beckett looks to put a miserable August by his standards behind him tonight. He’s made 26 starts this season and is 14-5 with a 3.80 ERA. He’s made three starts this season against the Rays and is 1-1 with a 5.60 ERA. He’s made thirteen career starts against them and is 6-4 with a 3.63 ERA. In five career starts at the Trop, Beckett is 1-3 with a 3.58 ERA.
Matt “I turn into Cy Young against the Red Sox” Garza starts for Joe Maddon tonight. Garza has made 26 starts this season and is 7-9 with a 3.95 ERA. He has made four starts this season against the Red Sox and is 2-0 with a 1.88 ERA. In ten career starts against the Red Sox, he is 5-1 with a 2.93 ERA.
Sox looking for return to form from Beckett [RedSox.com]
Francona: Varitek behind plate tonight [Extra Bases]
Reddick recalled [Extra Bases]
Pregame notes [Extra Bases]
The new Dave Roberts meets Dave Roberts [Extra Bases]
The legend of Joey Gathright [Full Count]
Terry Francona on Dale and Holley [Full Count]
Papelbon is now locked into playoff mode [Hacks with Haggs]
Papelbon Problem [Hit and Run with Dan Roche]
Pap in Pinstripes? [Hit and Run with Dan Roche]
Sox-Yankee game on Sept. 27 switched to 1 p.m. because of Yom Kippur [Projo Sox Blog]
Bard is 1 of 12 MLB pitchers to hit 100 mph this season [Projo Sox Blog]
Francona gives so-so report on Wakefield’s progress [Projo Sox Blog]
Reddick headed to Boston [Projo Sox Blog]
Wakefield could start Saturday, if not surgery possible [Projo Sox Blog]
Surging Lowell out tonight, in tomorrow [Projo Sox Blog]
A convincing argument from the closer [Tony Massarotti – Boston Globe]
Billy Wagner Building the Perfect Bullpen Bridge [NESN.com]
David Ortiz Brings Big Bat and Big Heart [NESN.com]
Ellsbury Leading the Way for the Red Sox in Wild-Card Race [Heidi Watney – NESN.com]
After Six-Out Save, Papelbon Primed for October Dominance [NESN.com]
Tampa Bay wears out its pen; big deal for rest of series? [Batter-up with Bruno]
Here are tonight’s starting lineups:
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| 1. Jacoby Ellsbury | CF | 1. Jason Bartlett | SS |
| 2. Dustin Pedroia | 2B | 2. Carl Crawford | LF |
| 3. Victor Martinez | 1B | 3. Ben Zobrist | RF |
| 4. Kevin Youkilis | 3B | 4. Carlos Peña | 1B |
| 5. David Ortiz | DH | 5. Pat Burrell | DH |
| 6. Jason Bay | LF | 6. Evan Longoria | 3B |
| 7. J.D. Drew | RF | 7. Gregg Zaun | C |
| 8. Jason Varitek | C | 8. Akinori Iwamura | 2B |
| 9. Alex Gonzalez | SS | 9. B.J. Upton | CF |
| Josh Beckett | SP | Matt Garza | SP |
77-54
71-60And here is how the hitters have fared against tonight’s starting pitchers:
