Evening Red Sox Delight – 7/20

After losing two-of-three to the Toronto Blue Jays, the Boston Red Sox head to the southwest to take on the Texas Rangers at steamy Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.  It will be a matchup of teacher versus student tonight as former Braves John Smoltz and Kevin Millwood square off on the bump.

The game tonight will start at 8:05 PM EDT and will be televised in the Red Sox television market on NESN. If you live in the Rangers television market, you can catch the game on FOX Sports Southwest. 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.

Smoltz has been up-and-down on the mound this season for the Red Sox. He was effective his last time out as he threw 5 innings picking up his first win of 2009. He is now 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA in 4 starts. He’s faced the Rangers four times, all out of the bullpen, and has no record with 3 saves and a 0.00 ERA. One of those saves came in Texas.

Millwood is making his 20th start of the season and is 8-7 with a 3.46 ERA for Ron Washington. He is 1-0 against the Red Sox this season as he gave up an unearned run back on June 5th. Overall in his career, he is 5-4 with 4.07 ERA in 13 starts.

Smoltz admires former pupil Millwood [RedSox.com]

Globe 10.0: What should the Sox do with Buchholz? [Extra Bases]

Who’s up first? [Extra Bases]

Brad Penny’s Boston days numbered? [Projo Sox Blog]

Papelbon may not be available to pitch [Projo Sox Blog]

Ellsbury back in leadoff spot [Projo Sox Blog]

Jason Bay Talks About His Contract [Wicked Good Sports]

Smoltz’s Start Could Determine Deadline Deals [NESN.com]

Penny for sale? [Boston Sports Blog]

Monday Quickie: Halladay Is A Talented Fellow [Nuggetpalooza]

A Trip from Toronto to Texas [Justin Masterson – Wicked Good Sports]

Here are the lineups for tonight’s game:

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