After losing their last two games, the Boston Red Sox look to get back on the track to .500 in the first game of a four-game set with the Minnesota Twins tonight at Fenway Park.
First pitch for tonight’s game is at 7:10 p.m. and the game will be televised by NESN Plus in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Twins television market, you can catch the game on FoxSports North. And if you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2011 Red Sox Radio Network.
Tim Wakefield will step in for Daisuke Matsuzaka who had to pitch during the marathon game on Wednesday. This will be Wakefield’s second start of the season and 10th appearance. In nine appearances (one start), Wake has no record with a 4.08 ERA. Wake made one start against the Twins in 2010, taking the loss after allowing six runs (five earned) in 5.1 innings. He’s made 27 career appearances (24 starts) against the Twins and is 14-6 with a 4.31 ERA and two saves.
Scott Baker takes the hill for the sixth time this season. In his previous five starts, Baker is 1-2 with a 3.16 ERA. He made two starts against the Red Sox last season where he was 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA. He’s made four appearances (three starts) against the Red Sox with all of them coming at Fenway Park. In those four appearances (three starts), he is 0-2 with a 4.35 ERA.
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 this evening’s lineups:
 11-18 |
 14-17 |
||
| 1. Denard Span | CF | 1. Jacoby Ellsbury | CF |
| 2. Trevor Plouffe | SS | 2. Dustin Pedroia | 2B |
| 3. Justin Morneau | 1B | 3. Adrian Gonzalez | 1B |
| 4. Jason Kubel | DH | 4. Kevin Youkilis | 3B |
| 5. Michael Cuddyer | RF | 5. David Ortiz | DH |
| 6. Danny Valencia | 3B | 6. J.D. Drew | RF |
| 7. Ben Revere | LF | 7. Jed Lowrie | SS |
| 8. Drew Butera | C | 8. Carl Crawford | LF |
| 9. Alexi Casilla | 2B | 9. Jarrod Saltalamacchia | C |
| Scott Baker | SP | Tim Wakefield | SP |
And here is how the hitters have fared against tonight’s starting pitchers:
After recalling Scott Atchison yesterday, he was optioned back to Pawtucket. Alfredo Aceves will take his place on the 25-man roster.
Check back and/or refresh often as more links will be added if/when they become available before game time.
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Atchison must clear waivers before PawSox return [CSNNE.com]
Jenks: Mechanical flaws caused arm problem [CSNNE.com]
Red Sox early notes: Sox shuffle rotation [CSNNE.com]
Sox swap relievers, tweak rotation [ESPN Boston]
Jenks on injury: ‘We caught it in time’ [ESPN Boston]
Matsuzaka: ‘It was different to get ready’ [ESPN Boston]
Bill Buckner will work the Chicago Cubs-Boston Red Sox game on May 20 [ESPN Chicago]
Saber Seminar coming up in a few weeks [Extra Bases]
Red Sox can’t afford to give games away [Extra Bases]
Cubs release Max Ramirez [Extra Bases]
Pregame chatter [Extra Bases]
Kevin Millar on M&M: ‘You look around, who’s leading that club?’ [Full Count]
Lowell needs another hip surgery [HardBall Talk]
Bill James Appears on ‘The Colbert Report’ to Promote New Book [NESN.com]
Alfredo Aceves Called Up, Scott Atchison Sent Down in Latest Red Sox Bullpen Shuffle [NESN.com]
Bobby Jenks Glad He Caught Injury Early, Hopes to Return to Red Sox in Two Weeks [NESN.com]
A Series Matter: Red Sox-Twins and Getting into Gear [Projo Sox Blog]
John Lackey losing confidence in his fastball? [Projo Sox Blog]
Matsuzaka feeling good after Friday relief appearance [Projo Sox Blog]
Beckett, Lester flip-flopped in rotation [Projo Sox Blog]
DL’ed Jenks won’t throw again until next week [Projo Sox Blog]
Wakefield slides back into Boston’s rotation [RedSox.com]
Puppet Red Sends Love From the Basement. Just Like the Red Sox. [Surviving Grady]
Photo credits: Getty Images, AP Photo
