Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 7/9

After taking two-of-three games from the Oakland Athletics, the Boston Red Sox now welcome the Kansas City Royals to Fenway Park. They’ll play a four game set before a break for the All-Star Game.

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 Royals’ television market, you can catch the game on FOX Sports Kansas City. 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.

Brad Penny makes his 17th start of the season tonight for Terry Francona. He’s 6-3 with a 4.67 ERA. He’s made one career appearance against the Royals and took the loss after allowing 3 runs in 7 innings as a member of the Dodgers back in 2005.

Luke Hochevar has made 9 starts this season for the Royals and he is 4-3 with a 5.08 ERA. He’s faced the Red Sox twice in his career and is 0-2 with a 6.94 ERA. One of those losses was when Jon Lester threw his no-hitter last year. In that loss and in his only appearance at the Fens, he gave up 7 runs (4 earned) in 6 innings.

Pregame: Lowrie could return on the 18th [Extra Bases]

Baldelli works out at first base [Extra Bases]

Pedroia uncertain, but wants to play in All-Star game [Projo Sox Blog]

No Red Sox on Baseball America’s Top 25 prospects list [Projo Sox Blog]

Question About Throwing [Ask 14]

Youkilis looking to rediscover his stroke [RedSox.com]

Forget Halladay … Red Sox need a bat [NESN.com]

Despite save tally, Papelbon struggling through first half [NESN.com]

Pap Attack [Center Field]

Here are the lineups for tonight’s game:

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