Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 7/30

After watching Brad Penny struggle early on last night and being unable to recover, the Boston Red Sox look to gain a split of their series with the Oakland A’s this afternoon at Fenway Park.

The game this afternoon will start at 1:35 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.

Jon Lester looks to even up the series for Terry Francona this afternoon. Lester is 9-7 with a 3.79 ERA in 20 starts this season. He’s faced the A’s once this season back in April and took the loss after allowing 6 runs in 6 innings. He’s made 7 career starts and is 2-3 with a 4.74 ERA against the A’s.

Bob Geren trots out yet another rookie in Gio Gonzalez. He’s made 8 appearances (5 starts) this season for the A’s and is 2-2 with a 7.75 ERA. He’s never faced in the Red Sox in his career.

Ortiz and Ramirez Said to Be on 2003 Doping List [New York Times]

Halladay rumor roundup: Sox, Jays are not close to a deal [Extra Bases]

Ortiz endorses a V-Mart deal [Extra Bases]

Pregame weather update [Extra Bases]

Latest Victor Martinez trade rumors [Extra Bases]

State of the Sox: Daisuke, Smoltz and the Deadline [38 Pitches]

Bard and Masterson’s Shared Journey to the Majors [Full Count]

Analysis: How Halladay, Gonzalez, and Martinez would help the Red Sox [Tony Massarotti]

And here is how the hitters have fared against this afternoon’s starting pitchers.