After fighting through another rain delay on Saturday afternoon, this time with a win, the Boston Red Sox look to make it two in a row against the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park this afternoon.
First pitch for today’s game is at 1:35 p.m. and the game will be televised by NESN 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.
After taking the loss during the Wednesday night marathon game, Daisuke Matsuzaka returns to the hill for the Red Sox. He’s made six appearances (five starts) this season and is 2-3 with a 4.33 ERA. He didn’t face the Twins in 2010 and is 2-1 with a 2.30 ERA in four career starts against them. Two of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 1-0 with a 1.17 ERA.
Former one-time Red Sox farmhand Carl Pavano will toe the rubber for the Twins today. This will be Pavano’s seventh start of 2011 and he is 2-3 with a 5.84 ERA. He made one start against the Red Sox in 2010 (4/12) and picked up the win after allowing one run in six innings of work. He’s made seven career starts against the Red Sox and is 3-3 with a 6.09 ERA. Three of those starts have come at Fenway where he is 1-2 with an 11.70 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 afternoon’s lineups:
 12-19 |
 15-18 |
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| 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. Jason Varitek | C |
| Carl Pavano | SP | Daisuke Matsuzaka |
SP |
And here is how the hitters have fared against today’s starting pitchers:
Shortstop phenom Jose Iglesias has been called up from Triple-A Pawtucket. He’ll take the place of Marco Scutaro on the 25-man roster. Scutaro was placed on the DL with an oblique injury he suffered during yesterday’s game.
Check back and/or refresh often as more links will be added if/when they become available before game time.
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Day of the ace: Breaking down Buchholz’ extraordinary effort [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
Buchholz, Sox weather storm [Boston Globe]
Bullpen delivers in clutch [Boston Globe]
Scutaro to DL; Iglesias on his way [Boston Globe]
Red Sox taking a dive [Boston Herald]
High five for Clay Buchholz [Boston Herald]
Jose Iglesias ‘likely’ on way up [Boston Herald]
Red Sox bullpen impressively gets job done [Boston Herald]
Fenway Park maintains sense of history, tradition [Boston Herald]
Jose Iglesias recalled, will be used off bench [Clubhouse Insider]
Marco Scutaro wants to be cautious with strained left oblique [Clubhouse Insider]
Buchholz saves Sox by returning after rain delay [CSNNE.com]
Red Sox notes: Pedroia working through slump [CSNNE.com]
Jose Iglesias joins Red Sox sooner than expected [CSNNE.com]
Rapid reaction: Red Sox 4, Twins 0 [ESPN Boston]
Sox put Iglesias on alert with Scutaro hurt [ESPN Boston]
A single, a walk. For Pedroia, a start [ESPN Boston]
Scutaro to DL, “happy, excited” Iglesias activated [ESPN Boston]
Iglesias would be youngest Sox SS in 40 years [ESPN Boston]
Sox will miss Liriano, who is pushed to Tuesday [ESPN Boston]
MLB, Red Sox, celebrate Mother’s Day by raising breast cancer awareness [Extra Bases]
Iglesias called up [Extra Bases]
Closing Time: Red Sox 4, Twins 0 [Full Count]
Red Sox infield depth suffers a hit as Scutaro, Navarro injured [Full Count]
Iglesias ‘surprised’ to be called up so soon [Full Count]
Terry Francona expects to be without Marco Scutaro ‘for a while’ [Full Count]
Terry Francona has a ‘conversation’ with MLB and other Red Sox notes [Full Count]
No Easy Climb For Red Sox [Hartford Courant]
Red Sox Pitching Staff Provides Group Effort in Shutout of Twins [NESN.com]
Development of Jose Iglesias Could Be Aided, Not Hurt, by Time on Red Sox Bench [NESN.com]
Marco Scutaro Placed on 15-Day Disabled List With Oblique Strain [NESN.com]
Iglesias called up; Scutaro to DL [Projo Sox Blog]
Buchholz gives a little extra in win over Minnesota [Providence Journal]
Jed Lowrie: The makings of an elite-hitting shortstop [Providence Journal]
Red Sox Journal: Francona waiting to hear about possible suspension [Providence Journal]
Pavano looks to keep emotions in check vs. Boston [RedSox.com]
Varitek to start behind plate Sunday, Monday [RedSox.com]
Top prospect Iglesias gets first taste of Majors [RedSox.com]
For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSNNE, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.
And if you must check out the enemy news, head over to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer-Press websites. You can also check out our Bloguin brother, Twins Target.
Photo credits: AP Photo, Getty Images
