After seeing their ace take a loss last night, the Boston Red Sox now pin their hopes on winning the finale of the series with the Texas Rangers on the right arm of Clay Buchholz.
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. If you don’t live in either market, you’re in luck as tonight’s game will be broadcast on ESPN. 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.
Buchholz has made for start this season, last Friday in Toronto, and is 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA. He does have one career start against the Rangers back on April 21, 2008. In that start, he picked up the win by throwing 6 scoreless innings. This will be his first start in his home state of Texas.
Dustin Nippert fills in for a sick Vincente Padilla and looks to give the Rangers a sweep for manager Ron Washington. Nippert has made 4 appearances (2 starts) this season and is 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA. He has made 3 career appearances out of the bullpen against the Red Sox, all in 2008. In those 3 appearances, he is 0-1 with an 11.05 ERA.
In case you hadn’t heard the good news, the Julio Lugo era is officially over in Beantown as he was shipped to the St. Louis Cardinals for spare parts and a bag of baseballs. All kidding aside, the Red Sox actually received Chris Duncan and the famous PTBNL or cash.
Also, the Red Sox traded two minor leaguers to their farm team in the National League, the Pittsburgh Pirates for first baseman Andy LaRoche. The Red Sox don’t have to remove anyone from the 40-man because Argenis Diaz, who was involved in the trade, was on it. LaRoche will report to the Red Sox on Friday and a corresponding roster move will be made then.
LaRoche trade synopsis [Extra Bases]
Epstein on trade [Extra Bases]
LaRoche reaction [Extra Bases]
Henry: ‘Don’t expect blockbuster(s)’ [Extra Bases]
Theo on the LaRoche trade [Clubhouse Insider]
Terry Francona on Dale and Holley [Full Count]
The LaRoche Press Release [Full Count]
Epstein: ‘We’re a good offensive club in a horrific slump’ [Full Count]
Baseball Prospectus scouting report: Adam LaRoche [Projo Sox Blog]
Mike Lowell reacts to trade [Projo Sox Blog]
Mark Kotsay reacts to trade [Projo Sox Blog]
Jason Bay reacts to trade [Projo Sox Blog]
Reasons to doubt, reasons to believe [Tony Mazz]
What the LaRoche acquisition means for the Red Sox [Tony Mazz]
Rockies Tapped? Colorado May Sign Timlin [NESN.com]
Notes on LaRoche and Halladay [Peter Gammons]
Rice Heading to Hall With One Career Save [NESN.com]
Boston Red Sox clothing by Victoria’s Secret [Victoria’s Secret]
What can LaRoche do for Boston? [Batter-up with Bruno]
Here are the lineups for tonight’s game:
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| 1. Jacoby Ellsbury | CF | 1. Ian Kinsler | 2B |
| 2. Dustin Pedroia | 2B | 2. Michael Young | 3B |
| 3. Kevin Youkilis | 3B | 3. Josh Hamilton | CF |
| 4. David Ortiz | DH | 4. Marlon Byrd | RF |
| 5. Jason Bay | LF | 5. Hank Blalock | 1B |
| 6. J.D. Drew | RF | 6. Nelson Cruz | DH |
| 7. Mark Kotsay | 1B | 7. David Murphy | LF |
| 8. Jason Varitek | C | 8. Taylor Teagarden | C |
| 9. Nick Green | SS | 9. Elvis Andrus | SS |
| Clay Buchholz | SP | Dustin Nippert | SP |
55-38
51-41And here is how the hitters have fared against tonight’s starting pitchers:
