Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 7/28

The offense for the Boston Red Sox broke out of it’s funk last night and Josh Beckett was strong as they took the opener of this 4-game set at Fenway Park. Tonight, they look to make it 2 in-a-row.

The game tonight will start at 7:10 PM EDT and will be televised in the Red Sox television market on NESN. If you live in the A’s television market, you can catch the game on Comcast SportsNet California. And if the television isn’t your cup of tea, you can catch the game on one of the many affiliates of the Red Sox Radio Network.

Be sure to turn into NESN for the pre-game show tonight as at 6:45 PM, the Red Sox will be retiring Jim Rice’s No. 14.

Clay Buchholz makes his third start of the season and second since being recalled when Tim Wakefield went on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back injury. Buchholz is 1-1 with a 3.72 ERA and had Brad Penny-itis last time out with his pitch count. This will be the first career start for Buchholz against the A’s.

Vin Mazzaro makes his 11th start of the season for the A’s since being called up from Triple-A Sacramento on June 2nd. He is 2-7 with a 4.75 ERA and has lost the last 7 games he’s started. He’s never faced the Red Sox in his career.

While I was out today, there was a lot of happenings with the Red Sox.

Mark Kotsay is no longer a member of the Red Sox as he was traded to Chicago White Sox for Brian Anderson. The Red Sox optioned Anderson to Triple-A Pawtucket.

Apparently, Dice-K made some comments to a Japanese newspaper and the Red Sox are none too pleased about this. Be sure to check it all out in the links below.

And as Ken from Fangs Bites said, I probably shouldn’t go out anymore. I always seem to miss the good stuff.

Buchholz brings more maturity, confidence [RedSox.com]

Worlds Apart? Red Sox and Matsuzaka Struggle to Find Middle Ground [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

Red Sox disappointed with Matsuzaka’s criticism of training program [Extra Bases]

Farrell calls Matsuzaka comments ‘disappointing’ [Extra Bases]

Francona ‘disappointed’ by Matsuzaka’s ‘unfortunate’ comments [Extra Bases]

Red Sox trade for outfielder Brian Anderson [Extra Bases]

Pregame: Red Sox Vs. A’s [Extra Bases]

Sox to retire Rice’s number tonight [Extra Bases]

Farrell: ‘There’s no openness’ [Extra Bases]

Team sources dismiss report that Buchholz, Bowden, Westmoreland were offered for Halladay [Extra Bases]

Transcript: John Farrell discusses Matsuzaka on Dale & Holley [Full Count]

Francona: Sox disappointed in Matsuzaka’s “poor judgment” [Clubhouse Insider]

Rumor Mill: Red Sox Make Offer to Jays for Halladay [Full Count]

Sox Offer for Halladay? [Hit and Run with Dan Roche]

Lots O’ Numbers: Retiring the First Batter is Key [Nuggetpalooza]

Masterson and Bard are untouchables in trade market [Batter-up with Bruno]

And here is how the hitters have fared against tonight’s starting pitchers. No one on the Red Sox has faced Mazzaro and the only player on the A’s to face Buchholz is Orlando Cabrera. He is 2-for-6 lifetime against Buchholz.