Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 8/22

After a 20-11 shellacking at the hands of the New York Yankees last night, the Boston Red Sox look to rebound this afternoon at Fenway Park.

The game this afternoon will start at 4:10 PM EDT and will be televised to a mostly national audience on FOX. Click here to see if you’re getting the game. 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.

Junichi Tazawa makes his fourth appearance and third start since being called up from Triple-A Pawtucket back on August 7th. On the season with the Red Sox, he is 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA. His MLB debut came against the Yankees in relief back on August 7th where he gave up the game-winning two-run homer to Alex Rodriguez in the 15th inning. That was his only appearance against the Yankees this season and in his career.

A.J. Burnett makes his twenty-fifth start of the season for Joe Girardi this afternoon. On the season, he is 10-6 with a 3.69 ERA. He’s faced the Red Sox three times this season and is 0-1 with a 6.46 ERA. Two of those starts this season have come at Fenway Park where he’s given up 11 earned runs in 7 2/3 innings. He’s made 11 career starts against the Red Sox and is 5-1 with a 3.39 ERA. In five career starts at the Fens, he is 3-1 with a 3.56 ERA.

As we learned after the game last night, Michael Bowden was sent back to Triple-A Pawtucket. Today, the Red Sox announced that Enrique Gonzalez had been recalled from Pawtucket to take Bowden’s spot on the roster. Gonzalez made his big league debut against the Yankees back on August 8th, giving up two runs on three hits in 1 2/3 innings.

Terry Francona also announced this afternoon that Tim Wakefield will be activated from the disabled list on Wednesday and take Brad Penny’s turn in the rotation. Penny’s role with the club is undetermined at this time.

And a happy 70th birthday goes out to Baseball Hall of Famer and Boston Red Sox legend #8 Carl Yastrzemski.

Wakefield to start Wednesday; Penny’s role uncertain [Extra Bases]

Wakefield will take Penny’s next turn – Penny’s future unclear [Projo Sox Blog]

Lowrie to begin make-or- break rehab assignment in Pawtucket Monday [Projo Sox Blog]

Pedroia or Cano? Baseball executives pick Pedroia [Projo Sox Blog]

Wakefield looking to return to form [Full Count]

Red Sox Relievers Puzzled About Wagner Claim [Full Count]

Here are the lineups for this afternoon’s game:

And here are how the hitters have fared against this afternoon’s starting pitchers: