After going 6-3 on their nine-game 10-day road trip, the Boston Red Sox kick off an 11-game homestand with a three-game set against the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park.
First pitch for tonight is 7:10 p.m. and the game will be televised by NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Mariners television market, you can catch the game on Root Sports. And if you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2011 Red Sox Radio Network.
Daisuke Matsuzaka looks to make his third straight strong start for Terry Francona and the Red Sox. In four starts in 2011, Dice-K is 2-2 with a 4.09 ERA. He made two starts against the Mariners in 2010 and had no record with a 4.50 ERA. He’s made eight career starts against the Mariners and is 2-1 with a 4.11 ERA. Both of his wins have come in Seattle.
Jason Vargas looks to end a personal nine-game losing streak tonight at the Fens. He’s made five starts in 2011 and is 0-2 with a 5.53 ERA. He made one start against the Red Sox in 2010 (7/23), and took the loss after allowing two runs in seven innings. He’s made two career starts against the boys from Beantown and is 0-1 with a 2.19 ERA. This will be his first career appearance at Fenway Park which makes this the 26th ballpark he’s pitched in. He hasn’t pitched at Target Field (Twins), Rogers Centre (Blue Jays), AT&T Park (Giants), Citi Field (Mets), Nationals Park (Nationals) and Turner Field (Braves).
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 tonight’s lineups:
 11-15 |
 11-13 |
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| 1. Ichiro Suzuki | RF | 1. Jacoby Ellsbury | CF |
| 2. Chone Figgins | 3B | 2. Dustin Pedroia | 2B |
| 3. Milton Bradley | LF | 3. Adrian Gonzalez | 1B |
| 4. Miguel Olivo | C | 4. Kevin Youkilis | 3B |
| 5. Justin Smoak | 1B | 5. David Ortiz | DH |
| 6. Jack Cust | DH | 6. Jed Lowrie | SS |
| 7. Adam Kennedy | 2B | 7. Mike Cameron | RF |
| 8. Michael Saunders | CF | 8. Jason Varitek | C |
| 9. Brendan Ryan | SS | 9. Darnell McDonald | LF |
| Jason Vargas | SP | Daisuke Matsuzaka | SP |
And here is how the hitters have fared against tonight’s starting pitchers:
Check back and/or refresh often as more links will be added if/when they become available before game time.
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Podcast: Schilling talks Red Sox [ESPN Boston]
25th anniversary of Clemens’ 20 K’s [ESPN Boston]
Red Sox sit Crawford against lefty Vargas [ESPN Boston]
Manny Ramirez hints he might play winter ball in Dominican Republic [ESPN Boston]
Some random thoughts on a Friday [Extra Bases]
The Red Sox are following the NBA and NHL playoffs, too [Extra Bases]
Kevin Millar on M&M: ‘Papelbon’s back’ [Full Count]
Peter Gammons Filling In for Jerry Remy During Friday Night’s NESN Red Sox Telecast [NESN.com]
Friday Nuggetpalooza! [Nuggetpalooza]
A Series Matter: Red Sox-Mariners and Romantic Poetry [Projo Sox Blog]
Return of old changeup has sparked Dice-K revival [Projo Sox Blog]
Police: Derek Lowe was drunk, racing another driver [Projo Sox Blog]
Matsuzaka looks to continue red-hot streak tonight vs. Seattle [Providence Journal]
Vargas set for first appearance at Fenway Park [RedSox.com]
Photo credits: AP Photo, Getty Images
