After taking the last two games, the Boston Red Sox look to end their 11-game homestand and the four-game set with the Minnesota Twins with another win tonight at Fenway Park.
First pitch for tonight’s game is at 7:10 p.m. and the game will be televised by NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Twins television market, you can catch the game on FoxSports North. If you don’t live in either television market, you are in luck as the game will be televised nationally on ESPN. The game will also be available on ESPN3.com (not in Red Sox or Twins TV markets). And if you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2011 Red Sox Radio Network.
Josh Beckett returns to the hill after having his last start shortened due to rain. He’s made six starts in 2011 and is 2-1 with a 2.35 ERA. He didn’t face the Twins in 2010 and is 3-1 with a 3.81 ERA in four career starts against them. Three of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 2-1 with a 4.74 ERA.
Nick Blackburn steps in for Francisco Liriano who was pushed back a day after battling the flu just days after his no-hitter. Blackburn has made six starts in 2011 and is 2-4 with a 4.41 ERA. He didn’t face the Red Sox in 2010 and is 2-1 with a 4.79 ERA in four appearances (three starts) in his career against them. He’s made two appearances (one start) at Fenway Park where he is 0-1 with a 7.04 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 this evening’s lineups:
 12-20 |
 16-18 |
||
| 1. Denard Span | CF | 1. Jacoby Ellsbury | CF |
| 2. Matt Tolbert | SS | 2. Dustin Pedroia | 2B |
| 3. Jason Kubel | DH | 3. Adrian Gonzalez | 1B |
| 4. Justin Morneau | 1B | 4. Kevin Youkilis | 3B |
| 5. Danny Valencia | 3B | 5. David Ortiz | DH |
| 6. Michael Cuddyer | RF | 6. J.D. Drew | RF |
| 7. Ben Revere | LF | 7. Jed Lowrie | SS |
| 8. Rene Rivera | C | 8. Carl Crawford | LF |
| 9. Dusty Hughes |
2B | 9. Jason Varitek | C |
| Nick Blackburn | SP | Josh Beckett |
SP |
And here is how the hitters have fared against today’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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Video: Red Sox Run On Dunkin Blooper Reel [SOX & Dawgs]
Pregame notes: Francona on sizzling Jacoby Ellsbury, Carl Crawford [Clubhouse Insider]
Clay Buchholz: ‘Nothing out of the ordinary’ after rain-impacted start [Clubhouse Insider]
Notes: Red Sox rotation still in flux [CSNNE.com]
SoxProspects: Depth at shortstop [ESPN Boston]
Beckett gets start; Sox close series with Twins [ESPN Boston]
Matsuzaka may be skipped for Yankees series [ESPN Boston]
How Red Sox could upgrade at catcher [ESPN.com]
Epstein on the scouting trail [Extra Bases]
The slump continues for Dustin Pedroia [Extra Bases]
Rotation shuffle in the works for Red Sox [Extra Bases]
Clay Buchholz on track to start Friday [Full Count]
Glut of No-Hitters and Near No-Hitters Makes the Historic Feat Less Special [NESN.com]
Jacoby Ellsbury Using Entire Field, As He Continues to Set Table for Red Sox Lineup (Video) [NESN.com]
Set to hit road, Red Sox seek series win vs. Twins [RedSox.com]
Photo credits: AP Photo, Getty Images
