Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 8/7

After getting their butts handed to them, the Boston Red Sox to look to rebound tonight with their ace on the mound against the New York Yankees

Tonight’s game will start at 7:05 PM and will be covered on the NESN in the Red Sox television market. In the New York area, you can catch the game on YES. 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 right the ship for the Red Sox and Terry Francona tonight. Beckett has made 21 starts this season and is 13-4 with a 3.27 ERA. He’s made 3 starts against the Yankees this season and is 2-0 with a 5.82 ERA. In 15 starts against the Yanks in his career, he is 9-4 with a 5.42 ERA. He’s made 7 starts on the road against them and is 5-2 with a 5.49 ERA. He has won his last 3 starts in New York.

A.J. Burnett had been a Red Sox killer but hasn’t seen the same success against them this season. He’s made two starts against them and is 0-1 with a 12.91 ERA. Overall in his career against the Red Sox, he is 5-1 with a 3.80 ERA in 10 starts. On the season, Burnett is 10-5 with a 3.21 ERA in 21 starts.

The Red Sox were keeping the transactions wires busy this afternoon as they made a bevy of moves. First off, they called up Junichi Tazawa and designated Billy Traber for assignment. They also claimed and activated Chris Woodward from the Seattle Mariners. And last but not least, they designated John Smoltz for assignment.

According to Ian Browne, Tazawa could start on Tuesday for the Red Sox but that will depend on whether or not he is used this weekend. He had been scheduled to start for the PawSox in the Futures at Fenway doubleheader tomorrow afternoon.

Beckett to the rescue? [Extra Bases]

Red Sox did not put waiver claim in on Rios [Extra Bases]

The State of the Sox [Extra Bases]

Time set for Ortiz press conference [Extra Bases]

Bay not optimistic [Extra Bases]

Lowrie frustrated, uncertain [Extra Bases]

Byrd reports to Fort Myers [Extra Bases]

It’s time to make a move [Lou Merloni – Full Count]

Harold Reynolds on Dale & Holley Transcript [Full Count]

Junichi Tazawa’s Blistering Trail to the Majors

Official Press Release For Red Sox Roster Moves [Full Count]

Updates from a chaotic day… and Theo [Full Count]

Melancon didn’t mean to plunk Pedroia [RedSox.com]

Smoltz a Sad Story [Hit and Run with Dan Roche]

Tazawa will start off in bullpen, could join rotation soon [Projo Sox Blog]

Lowrie still sidelined with nerve issue, Woodward brought on board [Projo Sox Blog]

.111 [Center Field]

Six-Game Man [Center Field]

Here are the starting lineups for tonight’s game:

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