After winning 6-1 last night, the Boston Red Sox look to finish off the six-game homestand with another win this afternoon in the finale of a two-game set with the Seattle Mariners at Historic Fenway Park.
First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Mariners television market, you can catch the game on ROOT Sports. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.
The Red Sox will also be honoring former knuckleballer Tim Wakefield before the game. The ceremony is expected to start at approximately at 3:30 p.m. and will be shown on NESN as well. It will also be posted here on the site after the ceremony.
After being booed off the mound in his last start, Josh Beckett looks to continue the good string of starting pitching in his seventh start of 2012 and on his 32nd birthday. In his previous six starts, Beckett is 2-4 with a 5.97 ERA. He made two starts against the Mariners in 2011 and was 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA (6 ER/12 IP). Overall in his career, Beckett has made nine starts against the Mariners and is 6-2 with a 3.39 ERA.
Blake Beavan is also making his seventh start of the season for the Mariners. In his previous six starts, Beavan is 1-3 with a 4.32 ERA. Both of his career starts against the Red Sox came last season when he went 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA (9 ER/13 IP). He took the loss in his lone Fenway start after allowing three runs in 6.2 innings of work.
Click on the read more button below to see today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day if you’re on the home page.
Here are today’s lineups:
 16-21 |
 16-19 |
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| 1. Dustin Ackley | 2B | 1. Ryan Sweeney | CF |
| 2. John Jaso | C | 2. Dustin Pedroia | 2B |
| 3. Ichiro Suzuki | RF | 3. David Ortiz | DH |
| 4. Jesus Montero | DH | 4. Adrian Gonzalez | 1B |
| 5. Kyle Seager | 3B | 5. Will Middlebrooks | 3B |
| 6. Justin Smoak | 1B | 6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia | C |
| 7. Mike Carp | LF | 7. Cody Ross | RF |
| 8. Michael Saunders | CF | 8. Daniel Nava | LF |
| 9. Munenori Kawasaki | SS | 9. Mike Aviles | SS |
| Blake Beavan | SP | Josh Beckett | SP |
And here is how the hitters have fared against today’s starting pitchers:
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Papelbon on facing Red Sox: ‘Cinco Ocho wants bragging rights’ [Clubhouse Insider]
Youkilis to AAA; Doubront OK after scare [Clubhouse Insider]
Stumbling through Beckett’s last 10 starts [CSN New England]
Josh Beckett’s Birthday Gift Guide [CSN New England]
Doubront ‘fine’ after taking ball off head [CSN New England]
Youkilis (back) to begin rehab assignment Wednesday [CSN New England]
Video: Can Beckett bounce back? [ESPN Boston]
Tito: Results will silence Beckett critics [ESPN Boston]
Video: Checking in from Fenway [ESPN Boston]
Middlebrooks knows he belongs [ESPN Boston]
Youkilis to begin rehab stint Wednesday [ESPN Boston]
Notes: Doubront hit by fly ball in pregame [ESPN Boston]
Kevin Youkilis to rehab make start for Pawtucket Wednesday [Extra Bases]
Podcast: A turn around the rotation [Extra Bases]
Daniel Nava and the lessons of adversity in player development [Full Count]
Red Sox pregame notes: A surprising source of strength in Red Sox defense; Youkilis to rehab [Full Count]
Josh Beckett Can Silence Critics for Now by Helping Red Sox Get on Hot Streak, Get Back Into Race [NESN.com]
Red Sox Mow ’49’ Into Fenway Park Grass to Honor Tim Wakefield as Part of ‘Thanks Wake Day’ (Photo) [NESN.com]
Daniel Nava Looks to Continue Improbable Hot Streak in Series Finale With Mariners [NESN.com]
Felix Doubront ‘Fine’ After Being Hit in Head by Baseball During Batting Practice Prior to Game [NESN.com]
Jenny Dell, Red Sox Producers Take Fans Behind the Scenes on Game Day (Video) [NESN.com]
Daisuke Matsuzaka’s Return Will Make Six-Man Rotation a Definite Possibility for Red Sox [Don Orsillo – NESN.com]
Doubront fine after being hit in BP [Projo Sox Blog]
Youkilis to begin rehab on Wednesday [Projo Sox Blog]
Beckett looks to rebound as Red Sox eye sweep [RedSox.com]
Doubrant struck on head by errant fungo [RedSox.com]
Doubront OK after getting hit in ear by ball [RedSox.com]
Youkilis to begin rehab stint Wednesday [RedSox.com]
Doubront hit in head by fly ball [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
Youkilis rehab assignment begins Wednesday [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
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Photo credits: Getty Images, Getty Images
